Jim Avila on the set of "20/20."

TV journalist Jim Avila, a former senior news correspondent for ABC News, has died. He was 69.

Avila, who also appeared as a correspondent on the ABC series "20/20," died after a "long illness," "ABC News Live" anchor Diane Macedo announced on Thursday, Nov. 13. Additional details on Avila's condition were not disclosed.

"Jim was an L.A.-based correspondent specializing in politics, justice, law and consumer investigations for nearly two decades," Macedo said. "He also worked in the White House and broke the news that the U.S. and Cuba had reopened diplomatic relations. That story earned him the prestigious Merriman Award from the White House Correspondents Association."

USA TODAY has reached out to ABC for comment.

Macedo also noted that Avila previously faced health challenges, including a kidney transplant.

ABC News President Almin Karamehmedovic paid tribute to Avila's journalistic legacy in a statement Thursday.

"We send our heartfelt condolences to his family, including his three children, Jamie, Jenny and Evan," Karamehmedovic said. "And we thank him for his many contributions and unwavering commitment to seeking out the truth."

After Avila's tenure at ABC News came to a close in 2021, the news personality joined the network's San Diego affiliate, KGTV, as a senior investigative reporter.

A memorial service for Avila will be announced by his family, Karamehmedovic shared in an internal memo obtained by USA TODAY.

Jim Avila blazes trail in TV news with hard-hitting crime, politics coverage

During his time at ABC News, Avila shone a light on the heart of American politics, covering the White House from 2012 to 2016.

Aside from his award-winning political coverage, Avila served as the TV network's senior law and justice correspondent. Over the course of his five-decade broadcast career, the TV journalist covered landmark trials including Pennsylvania State University football coach Jerry Sandusky, pop star Michael Jackson and NFL alum O.J. Simpson.

Additionally, Avila reported extensively on immigration, making several trips to the southern border to capture the experiences of immigrants.

Prior to his stint at ABC, Avila worked at NBC News, where he served as national correspondent for the network's "NBC Nightly News" program beginning in January 2000.

Avila covered a wide range of domestic issues, such as the 9/11 terrorist attacks and the 2002 D.C. sniper shootings. The reporter also took to the field, embedding at NBC's Baghdad hotel compound in Iraq during and after its bombing by terrorists.

Avila received plenty of flowers for his journalistic endeavors. He won a National Emmy Award for his coverage of the 1997 Red River flood in Grand Forks, North Dakota, and another Emmy for his work covering undocumented workers during the Southern California wildfires in 2008.

The news personality also received five Edward R. Murrow Awards and was awarded the prestigious Cine Golden Eagle Award for his coverage of a Los Angeles immigrant couple, who supported their son's college education by collecting reusable cans.

This story has been updated to add new information.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Jim Avila, former ABC News correspondent, dies at 69 after 'long illness'

Reporting by Edward Segarra, USA TODAY / USA TODAY

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