Diaz-Balart @ Telemundo & NBC In South Florida.

Jose Diaz-Balart, award-winning journalist and longtime presence in South Florida, will return to WTVJ/NBC 6 effective July 1. The announcement was made by Tim Geraghty, NBC 6 Vice President and News Director.

In an unprecedented joint venture, Diaz-Balart will perform double-duty on NBC 6 and the Telemundo Network. He will co-anchor the NBC 6 News at 5pm with Jennifer Valoppi, while continuing to co-anchor “Hoy En El Mundo,” Telemundo’s national morning news program. This arrangement allows both organizations to benefit from Diaz-Balart’s extensive experience in English and Spanish language, as well as local, national and international news.

“I’m delighted that Jose is coming back home,” said Geraghty. “He shares the station’s commitment to journalistic excellence and serving the community. Our team is stronger than ever with Jose on board.”

Joe Peyronnin, Executive Vice President Telemundo News and Information Programming, said “Jose is a most respected journalist and this innovative assignment underscores NBC’s commitment to provide quality journalism to both the national and local audience.”

Since viewers last saw Diaz-Balart on WTVJ, he has been a familiar face at the national level – most recently as co-anchor of “Hoy En El Mundo” and anchor on Telemundo’s “Enfoque,” a monthly public affairs program and co-anchor on Telemundo Internacional, which is seen throughout the Americas. Diaz-Balart also co-anchored Telemundo’s award winning coverage of the World Trade Center terrorist attack in September 2001 and the war in Iraq. In 1996, Diaz-Balart formed part of the original team on CBS “This Morning” as news anchor. He also was host of “Against The Law,” on CBS’ cable program “Eye On People.”

During his original tenure at WTVJ, which began in 1988, Diaz-Balart was co-anchor of the weekend, midday and 5pm newscasts in succession. He garnered two Emmy Awards and was part of the WTVJ team honored with the prestigious George Foster Peabody and Alfred I. DuPont-Columbia University awards for outstanding coverage of Hurricane Andrew.