Laura Diaz (TV anchor)
Encyclopedia
Laura Diaz is a Southern California newscaster. In September 2011, Diaz announced that she would be leaving KCBS-TV after nine years to pursue producing projects under her own banner.
A Southern California native and first-generation Mexican-American, Diaz had served as solo anchor of the weekday editions of CBS2 News at 6 p.m. since April 2010, until she left the station. In addition, she produced and hosted a series of “Eye on Our Community” specials for CBS2. Prior to that, Ms. Diaz was the lead anchor at CBS2 and ABC7 in Los Angeles. She was the first person of her heritage to hold that prestigious position at a Southern California English-language television station.
, and a first generation Mexican American
. She was born in Santa Paula, California
a small community in Ventura County California. Her family moved to the Santa Clarita Valley
when she was four years old.
Diaz graduated from Hart High School before moving to San Luis Obispo, California
to attend California Polytechnic State University
where she earned a Bachelor of Arts
degree in English. Her first job in television was at KSBY in San Luis Obispo followed by one at KFSN in Fresno, California
. Laura Diaz anchor returned to Southern California in 1983 as a reporter for KABC-TV
at the station's bureau in Orange County
. She covered several major stories as a reporter at KABC-TV including the 1986 Los Angeles Central Library Fire, the 1992 Los Angeles Riots
and the Northridge earthquake
in 1994.
In 1985, she began working as a weekend anchor and three years later, she began anchoring KABC-TV'S 6 p.m. weekday evening newscast. In 1997, she became part of Los Angeles
television history when she was named lead anchor for the station’s centerpiece 5 p.m. and 11 p.m. newscasts. This promotion made her the first female Hispanic
weekday news anchor at an English language television station
in Los Angeles.
Diaz joined KCBS-TV
in September 2002 as co-anchor
of the CBS 2 News at 5 and 11 p.m. with Harold Greene
and in 2004 Paul Magers
joined her as co-anchor. Diaz was also one of the original hosts of the groundbreaking Vista L.A. on KABC-TV, one of the first public affairs program in Southern California to serve the English speaking Latino audience in the region. That program won the coveted Imagen Award twice while she was co-host. Her work on Vista L.A. also won three prestigious Emmy Award
s. In August 2011 Laura Diaz won a third Imagen award when “Eye on Our Community” was selected as Best Local Informational Program. Laura Diaz (anchor, journalist, and producer) is one of the leading Hispanic television personalities in the nation and a fourteen-time Emmy Award winner. In addition, Diaz has won numerous other honors from industry, community and civic organizations, including several that have recognized her as a pioneer and a role model for young women.
A Southern California native and first-generation Mexican-American, Diaz had served as solo anchor of the weekday editions of CBS2 News at 6 p.m. since April 2010, until she left the station. In addition, she produced and hosted a series of “Eye on Our Community” specials for CBS2. Prior to that, Ms. Diaz was the lead anchor at CBS2 and ABC7 in Los Angeles. She was the first person of her heritage to hold that prestigious position at a Southern California English-language television station.
Early life and career
Diaz is a native of Southern CaliforniaSouthern California
Southern California is a megaregion, or megapolitan area, in the southern area of the U.S. state of California. Large urban areas include Greater Los Angeles and Greater San Diego. The urban area stretches along the coast from Ventura through the Southland and Inland Empire to San Diego...
, and a first generation Mexican American
Mexican American
Mexican Americans are Americans of Mexican descent. As of July 2009, Mexican Americans make up 10.3% of the United States' population with over 31,689,000 Americans listed as of Mexican ancestry. Mexican Americans comprise 66% of all Hispanics and Latinos in the United States...
. She was born in Santa Paula, California
Santa Paula, California
Santa Paula is a city within Ventura County, California, United States. The population was 29,321 at the 2010 census, up from 28,598 at the 2000 census...
a small community in Ventura County California. Her family moved to the Santa Clarita Valley
Santa Clarita Valley
The Santa Clarita Valley is the valley of the Santa Clara River in Southern California. It stretches through Los Angeles County and Ventura County. Its main population center is the city of Santa Clarita. The valley was part of the Rancho San Francisco Mexican land grant...
when she was four years old.
Diaz graduated from Hart High School before moving to San Luis Obispo, California
San Luis Obispo, California
San Luis Obispo is a city in California, located roughly midway between San Francisco and Los Angeles on the Central Coast. Founded in 1772 by Spanish Fr. Junipero Serra, San Luis Obispo is one of California’s oldest communities...
to attend California Polytechnic State University
California Polytechnic State University
California Polytechnic State University, or Cal Poly, is a public university located in San Luis Obispo, California, United States. The university is one of two polytechnic campuses in the 23-member California State University system....
where she earned a Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
degree in English. Her first job in television was at KSBY in San Luis Obispo followed by one at KFSN in Fresno, California
Fresno, California
Fresno is a city in central California, United States, the county seat of Fresno County. As of the 2010 census, the city's population was 510,365, making it the fifth largest city in California, the largest inland city in California, and the 34th largest in the nation...
. Laura Diaz anchor returned to Southern California in 1983 as a reporter for KABC-TV
KABC-TV
KABC-TV, channel 7, is an owned-and-operated television station of the Walt Disney Company-owned American Broadcasting Company, licensed to Los Angeles, California. KABC-TV's studios are located in Glendale, California...
at the station's bureau in Orange County
Orange County, California
Orange County is a county in the U.S. state of California. Its county seat is Santa Ana. As of the 2010 census, its population was 3,010,232, up from 2,846,293 at the 2000 census, making it the third most populous county in California, behind Los Angeles County and San Diego County...
. She covered several major stories as a reporter at KABC-TV including the 1986 Los Angeles Central Library Fire, the 1992 Los Angeles Riots
1992 Los Angeles riots
The 1992 Los Angeles Riots or South Central Riots, also known as the 1992 Los Angeles Civil Unrest were sparked on April 29, 1992, when a jury acquitted three white and one hispanic Los Angeles Police Department officers accused in the videotaped beating of black motorist Rodney King following a...
and the Northridge earthquake
Northridge earthquake
The Northridge earthquake was a massive earthquake that occurred on January 17, 1994, at 04:31 Pacific Standard Time in Reseda, a neighborhood in the city of Los Angeles, California, lasting for about 10–20 seconds...
in 1994.
In 1985, she began working as a weekend anchor and three years later, she began anchoring KABC-TV'S 6 p.m. weekday evening newscast. In 1997, she became part of Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
television history when she was named lead anchor for the station’s centerpiece 5 p.m. and 11 p.m. newscasts. This promotion made her the first female Hispanic
Hispanic
Hispanic is a term that originally denoted a relationship to Hispania, which is to say the Iberian Peninsula: Andorra, Gibraltar, Portugal and Spain. During the Modern Era, Hispanic sometimes takes on a more limited meaning, particularly in the United States, where the term means a person of ...
weekday news anchor at an English language television station
Television station
A television station is a business, organisation or other such as an amateur television operator that transmits content over terrestrial television. A television transmission can be by analog television signals or, more recently, by digital television. Broadcast television systems standards are...
in Los Angeles.
Diaz joined KCBS-TV
KCBS-TV
KCBS-TV, channel 2, is an owned-and-operated television station of the CBS Television Network, located in Los Angeles, California. KCBS-TV shares its offices and studio facilities with sister station KCAL-TV inside CBS Studio Center in the Studio City section of Los Angeles, and its transmitter...
in September 2002 as co-anchor
News presenter
A news presenter is a person who presents news during a news program in the format of a television show, on the radio or the Internet.News presenters can work in a radio studio, television studio and from remote broadcasts in the field especially weather...
of the CBS 2 News at 5 and 11 p.m. with Harold Greene
Harold Greene
Harold Greene is a former award-winning journalist, best known for working at KCAL 9 News and CBS 2 News in Los Angeles. Before joining the CBS duopoly, Greene enjoyed a long television news career, mostly in Southern California....
and in 2004 Paul Magers
Paul Magers
Paul Magers is a television news anchor for the CBS owned and operated television station KCBS in Los Angeles, California. He was born in Santa Maria, California, but grew up in Ellensburg, Washington...
joined her as co-anchor. Diaz was also one of the original hosts of the groundbreaking Vista L.A. on KABC-TV, one of the first public affairs program in Southern California to serve the English speaking Latino audience in the region. That program won the coveted Imagen Award twice while she was co-host. Her work on Vista L.A. also won three prestigious Emmy Award
Emmy Award
An Emmy Award, often referred to simply as the Emmy, is a television production award, similar in nature to the Peabody Awards but more focused on entertainment, and is considered the television equivalent to the Academy Awards and the Grammy Awards .A majority of Emmys are presented in various...
s. In August 2011 Laura Diaz won a third Imagen award when “Eye on Our Community” was selected as Best Local Informational Program. Laura Diaz (anchor, journalist, and producer) is one of the leading Hispanic television personalities in the nation and a fourteen-time Emmy Award winner. In addition, Diaz has won numerous other honors from industry, community and civic organizations, including several that have recognized her as a pioneer and a role model for young women.