Former ABC News senior correspondent Jim Avila has died at the age of 69 following a battle with a long illness, the network reported on Thursday (November 13), citing an internal email sent to staff by ABC News President Almin Karamehmedovic .

"Jim was a gifted journalist and a generous colleague," Karamehmedovic said.

Avila, who joined the network in 2004, also worked as a correspondent for 20/20 , specializing in politics, justice, law and consumer investigations, before departing in 2021. The veteran journalist won the Merriman Award for his coverage of the reopened diplomatic relations between the United States and Cuba during former President Barack Obama 's administration and had covered a wide range of topics during his tenure.

"He won the prestigious Merriman

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