Jim Avila, a distinguished broadcast journalist whose investigative reporting earned him the highest honors in television news, has died at age 70. His death on November 13, 2025, was announced internally by ABC News President Almin Karamehmedovic, who confirmed Avila passed away after a long illness.
Avila served as a senior correspondent for ABC News and as a correspondent for the network’s investigative program “20/20” before departing in 2021. Based in Los Angeles, he specialized in politics, justice, law, and consumer investigations, building a reputation for thorough reporting on complex national stories that demanded both accuracy and speed.
“Jim was a gifted journalist and a generous colleague,” Karamehmedovic said in an email to staff. The ABC News president added that the network sends heartfelt condolences to Avila’s family, including his three children, Jamie, Jenny, and Evan, and thanked him for his many contributions and unwavering commitment to seeking out the truth.
During his tenure at ABC News, Avila covered the White House from 2012 to 2016, documenting President Barack Obama’s second term in office. His White House reporting earned him the prestigious Merriman Award from the White House Correspondents Association for breaking the news that the United States and Cuba had reopened diplomatic relations. This exclusive report demonstrated the kind of enterprise journalism that defined his career, as he consistently pursued stories of national significance while working under demanding deadline pressure.
As senior law and justice correspondent, Avila covered some of the most high-profile trials in recent American history. His reporting spanned the Jerry Sandusky trial at Penn State, the Michael Jackson trial, and the O.J. Simpson trial. These assignments required navigating complex legal proceedings while translating technical details for viewers across the country. His ability to distill complicated judicial matters into clear, compelling narratives made him a trusted voice during major national legal events.
Avila’s reporting extended to immigration issues, where he made several trips to the southern border to document stories about immigrants. He also provided extensive coverage of the death of Freddie Gray and the subsequent civil unrest in Baltimore, reporting that required both sensitivity and journalistic rigor during a period of national tension over police conduct and community relations.
His distinguished career earned him numerous accolades, including two National Emmy Awards and five Edward R. Murrow Awards. The Edward R. Murrow Awards, named after the pioneering broadcast journalist, recognize excellence in electronic journalism and are among the most respected honors in the field. Avila also received the Cine Golden Eagle Award, the Mongerson Prize for Investigative Reporting, and five Chicago-area Emmy Awards in the category of Spot News.
The National Association of Hispanic Journalists honored Avila as Reporter of the Year in 1999, recognizing his contributions to journalism and his role as a prominent Hispanic voice in broadcast news. Two decades later, in 2019, the organization named him a Hall of Fame honoree, cementing his legacy within the Hispanic journalism community. He also garnered three Peter Lisagor Awards from the Headline Club of Chicago for his coverage of the Peru drug wars and the death of Mayor Harold Washington, and was named Best Reporter of 1989.
Before joining ABC News in 2004, Avila worked as a national correspondent for NBC News. His extensive experience in local television included positions at multiple stations across the country, providing him with a foundation in community-focused journalism that informed his later national work.
Avila faced significant health challenges in recent years, including undergoing a kidney transplant from his brother in 2018. Despite these health issues, he continued contributing to journalism through opinion writing and local reporting. Sources vary regarding additional details about his medical condition, but reports indicate complications from a fall contributed to his declining health, and he spent six weeks in hospice care.
After leaving ABC News in 2021, Avila joined KGTV in San Diego in December 2023 as a senior investigative reporter, where he continued to pursue investigative stories with the same intensity that characterized his network career. Even as his health challenges mounted, Karamehmedovic noted that Avila continued covering a wide range of stories with depth and fairness, sharing his experience and deep curiosity to tell the stories that mattered most to his community and viewers. This commitment to journalism, maintained even during personal difficulties, exemplified the dedication that earned him respect throughout the industry.
Broadcast journalism relies on correspondents who can quickly assess complex situations, verify information under pressure, and communicate clearly to mass audiences. Avila’s career embodied these qualities across decades of reporting on politics, legal affairs, and social issues. His work helped viewers understand pivotal moments in American life, from presidential policy decisions to courtroom verdicts that captured national attention.
Avila is survived by his three children, who witnessed their father’s commitment to journalism throughout his career. His brother, reporter Jaie Avila, donated the kidney transplant that extended his life and allowed him to continue working in the field he loved. The journalism community has lost a colleague known for both his professional excellence and his generosity in mentoring others in the craft of broadcast reporting.