Veteran ABC News Correspondent Jim Avila Passes Away at 69

(NEW YORK) — Jim Avila, a former longtime ABC News senior correspondent known for his impactful investigative journalism, passed away at age 69. His death, resulting from a prolonged illness, was confirmed by ABC News President Almin Karamehmedovic in a staff email.

Karamehmedovic described Avila as a “gifted journalist and a generous colleague.” Avila served as a 20/20 correspondent based in Los Angeles before leaving the network in 2021. His work spanned politics, justice, law, and consumer investigations.

His ABC News biography highlighted that Avila reported on significant trials, including those of Jerry Sandusky, Michael Jackson, and O.J. Simpson. He also notably covered immigration issues, taking multiple trips to the southern U.S. border, and reported on civil unrest following the death of Freddie Gray in Baltimore.

From 2012 to 2016, Avila served as the White House correspondent during President Barack Obama’s second term. He received the prestigious Merriman Award from the White House Correspondents Association for breaking the news that the United States and Cuba had restored diplomatic relations.

Throughout his career, Avila garnered numerous honors, including two National Emmy Awards, five Edward R. Murrow Awards, and the Cine Golden Eagle Award. He was named Reporter of the Year by the National Association of Hispanic Journalists in 1999 and was an honoree in their Hall of Fame in 2019.

Most recently, Avila worked as a senior investigative reporter at KGTV, the ABC affiliate in San Diego. Despite health challenges, he remained committed to journalism, contributing opinion pieces and local reporting, sharing valuable stories with the community.

Karamehmedovic extended heartfelt condolences to Avila’s family, including his three children, Jamie, Jenny, and Evan, expressing gratitude for his contributions to journalism and dedication to truth-seeking.