Jorge Ramos (news anchor) facts for kids

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal family name is Ramos and the second or maternal family name is Ávalos.

Quick facts for kids Jorge Ramos
Ramos speaker for NASA's Hispanic Education Campaign, January 2010
Born	Jorge Gilberto Ramos Ávalos (1958-03-16) March 16, 1958 (age 67) Mexico City, Mexico
Citizenship	American, Mexican
Education	Ibero-American University (BA) University of Miami (MA)
Occupation	Journalist, author, activist
Employer	Univision (1985-2024)
Notable credit(s)	Noticiero Univision co-anchor (1987–2024) Al Punto host (2007–2024) Fusion host (2013–2021)
Spouse(s)	Gina Montaner (divorced) Lisa Bolivar (divorced) Chiquinquirá Delgado (2014–)
Children	2, including Paola Ramos

Jorge Gilberto Ramos Ávalos (born March 16, 1958) is a famous Mexican-American journalist and author. He is known as one of the most trusted Spanish-speaking news anchors in the United States. Many people have called him "The Walter Cronkite of Latin America," meaning he is a very important and respected news person.

Based in Miami, Florida, he used to host the Univision news show Noticiero Univision. He also hosted Al Punto, a Sunday morning political show, and America with Jorge Ramos on Fusion TV. Jorge Ramos has reported on many big events, from the fall of the Berlin Wall to wars. He has won ten Emmy Awards and the Maria Moors Cabot Prize for his excellent journalism. Time magazine also named him one of "The World's Most Influential People."

Early Life and Education
Journalism Career
Personal Life
Awards and Recognition
Images for kids
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Early Life and Education

Jorge Gilberto Ramos Ávalos was born on March 16, 1958, in Mexico City, Mexico. He grew up in a Catholic family in a suburb of Mexico City. His father worked as an architect.

Ramos studied communications at the Universidad Iberoamericana in Mexico City. Later, he earned a master's degree in International Studies from the University of Miami. In 2007, the University of Richmond gave him an honorary Doctor of Letters degree.

Journalism Career

Jorge Ramos, September 2014

Ramos interviewing U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders, January 2016

Ramos moderating the Iowa Brown and Black Forum, January 2016

Jorge Ramos started his career working for a TV network in Mexico City. He worked on a show similar to 60 Minutes. When he was 24, he left this job because a story he made about the Mexican government was not allowed to be shown.

In 1983, he moved to Los Angeles, United States, on a student visa. He wanted to study journalism there. In 1984, he got a job at KMEX-TV, a Spanish-language TV station. Ramos felt he could speak freely in the United States. He said it gave him chances his home country could not, like freedom of the press.

Three years later, he became the host of KMEX's morning show. In 1987, he joined the national network, which later became Univision. Since 1987, Ramos has been the main anchor for Noticiero Univision, a nightly Spanish-language newscast. He also hosted Al Punto, a weekly Spanish-language public affairs program.

Covering Major Events

In 1989, Jorge Ramos watched the fall of the Berlin Wall. He realized then why he loved his job. He has covered many important world events. These include the Salvadoran Civil War, the Persian Gulf War, and the end of the Soviet Union. He also reported on the 9/11 terrorist attacks. During the War in Afghanistan, Ramos went there on his own vacation because his network would not send him. He has covered five wars in his career.

By 2014, his news shows on Univision 34 were very popular with young viewers. They even had more viewers than English-language news shows. He has interviewed many world leaders. These include Barack Obama, George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, Fidel Castro, and Hugo Chávez.

Ramos also writes a newspaper column in two languages. It is published around the world. He often appears as a guest on English-language TV channels like CNN and MSNBC. Many polls show that he is one of the most trusted Hispanic people in America.

In 2002, he started Despierta Leyendo (Wake Up Reading). This was the first book club on Spanish-language television.

Speaking Up for Latinos

In 2012, Jorge Ramos spoke out because there were no Latino hosts in the U.S. presidential debates. He said the debate committee was "stuck in the 1950s." When Univision held its own events with candidates Barack Obama and Mitt Romney, Ramos questioned them. He asked about their immigration plans. He challenged Romney's "self-deportation" idea, which Ramos felt was insulting to Latinos. He also questioned Obama about deporting many people.

Ramos is known for his "advocacy journalism." This means he often speaks up for groups that might not have a voice. He has said, "Our position is clearly pro-Latino or pro-immigrant... We are simply being the voice of those who don't have a voice."

Interactions with Donald Trump

In 2015, when Donald Trump became a presidential candidate, Ramos tried for months to interview him. Trump had sued Univision because they stopped showing the Miss Universe pageant after his comments about Mexican immigrants. When Ramos sent Trump a handwritten request, Trump posted Ramos's letter online. This showed Ramos's cell phone number, but Trump later removed the post.

On August 25, 2015, Ramos went to a news conference held by Trump. Ramos knew Trump often moved on to another reporter if he was asked a question he didn't like. So, Ramos kept asking Trump about his immigration plans even when Trump tried to move on. Ramos insisted on his right as a reporter to ask a question. Trump's security then escorted Ramos out of the room. About 15 minutes later, Trump allowed Ramos to come back. They had a strong discussion about immigration.

Ramos accused Trump of "spreading hate" with his ideas for mass deportations and ending birthright citizenship. He also questioned if Trump could win Latino votes.

This incident inspired Ramos to make his documentary Hate Rising. It focused on the rise of racial hatred and violence in the country. For the documentary, Ramos met with members of different hate groups, like the Ku Klux Klan. He also met with Latino and Muslim victims. This journey lasted nine months and was often dangerous for him.

Recent Events

In 2019, Jorge Ramos and his team were held in Miraflores Palace after an interview with Nicolás Maduro, the leader of Venezuela. During the interview, Maduro said there was no humanitarian crisis in Venezuela. Ramos then showed him pictures of Venezuelans eating garbage to prove there was a crisis. After being released, Ramos said they were held because this upset Maduro.

In April 2019, Ramos had a strong discussion with Mexican president Andrés Manuel López Obrador about crime rates in Mexico. This led to a public debate about how crime figures are used.

On September 9, 2024, Jorge Ramos announced he would leave Univision after the 2024 United States presidential election. He had worked there for 39 years. His last newscast was on December 13, 2024.

Personal Life

Jorge Ramos earned a master's degree in international studies from the University of Miami in Florida.

In 2008, Ramos became a United States citizen. He had felt unsure about it for many years, seeing himself as a "Mexican with a green card." But on his 50th birthday, he realized he had lived half his life in Mexico and half in the U.S. He understood he was from both countries and would not go back to live in Mexico.

Ramos has been married twice. His first wife was Gina Montaner, and they had a daughter named Paola (born 1988). They divorced in 1990. In 1992, he married Lisa Bolivar. They had a son named Nicolas, and they divorced in 2005. Since 2011, he has been in a relationship with Venezuelan TV host and actress Chiquinquirá Delgado. He lives in Miami.

Although he was raised Catholic, Ramos does not believe in God. He calls himself an agnostic. He is registered as an independent voter. In 2015, Ramos shared that his daughter, Paola Ramos, was working for Hillary Clinton's 2016 presidential campaign.

Awards and Recognition

Jorge Ramos has won eleven Emmy Awards and the Maria Moors Cabot Prize for his excellent work in journalism.

In 2015, Time magazine chose Ramos as one of the "World's 100 Most Influential People." That same year, he received the International Career in Journalism award from the Ondas Awards.