In a seismic shift for Spanish-language TV news in America, Univision anchor Jorge Ramos is leaving the network after a 40-year tenure.
TelevisaUnivision said that Ramos and Univision News both agreed not to renew his contract, which is soon to expire. He will step down as co-anchor of Noticiero Univision at the end of 2024, after the U.S. Presidential Election.
Ramos has been the anchor or co-anchor of Noticiero Univision, which is the most-watched Spanish-language evening news broadcast in America, for 38 years, a tenure that began in 1986. He was the face of Univision’s news division for decades, drawing comparisons to Walter Cronkite for his length of tenure and the trust he had with viewers.
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However, as he himself noted in a 2021 column, the TV landscape of 1986 bears little resemblance to that of the present day.
“I started at a time when the big network’s TV anchors – Peter Jennings, Diane Sawyer, Tom Brokaw, Barbara Walters, Dan Rather, Connie Chung, Katie Couric and others – dominated the news,” he wrote. “No politicians could be elected if they were not on television. It was the medium with the most impact. Not anymore.
“The Internet changed everything,” he continued. “The younger generations handle the new technologies much better than those of us who were raised without cell phones or laptop. Today, eight out of 10 U.S. residents get their news on their phones, tablets or computers. A giant wave is sweeping traditional TV audiences toward social networks and digital pages. It’s like extraterrestrials had kidnapped them.”
It is not immediately clear what Ramos will do when he leaves, though in a statement he indicated that he has an idea of what is in store, perhaps on the internet.
“This is not a farewell. I will continue anchoring Noticiero Univision until December, and afterwards I will share my professional plans. I am deeply grateful for these four decades at Univision and very proud to be part of a team that has established strong leadership over the years,” Ramos said.
“I want to express my respect and gratitude for Jorge Ramos and all he has done for Univision and the growing community we serve each and every day. As we look to 2025 and beyond, our talented team is well equipped to continue the tradition of journalistic excellence that has defined Noticiero Univision since the beginning,” said Univision News President Daniel Coronell.
