Peña named SVP of Univision Local Media Television News

Univision News announced the appointment of Chris Peña as Senior Vice President of Local Media Television News. Peña joins the Company to lead Univision News’ efforts in enhancing collaboration between network news and local news operations. He will be responsible for implementing local news editorial guidelines; serve as mentor for Univision’s owned-and-operated local television station news directors as well as liaison between them and Univision Network News and Marketing. Peña will work with general managers, news teams and senior management across the company to ensure the Company continues to deliver the best in local news to the multicultural audience it serves.

Peña comes to UCI from MSNBC where as Senior Executive Producer he oversaw weekend live news programming, standby breaking news operations and led newsgathering resources with NBC News Group as well as the editorial efforts of multiple programs. At MSNBC, Peña also worked with the Legal, Standards & Practices and Rights & Clearances teams to minimize risk while ensuring producers had access to tools and content in an effort to help them grow and improve the editorial process. Prior to MSNBC, Peña was founder and executive editor of NBC Latino where he spearheaded the formation of groundbreaking English-language digital properties targeting U.S. Hispanics. At NBC Latino, Peña performed as the company’s architect of business, creating and executing NBC Latino’s editorial vision while partnering with its Sales force to secure revenue. Peña began his career in 1995 when he joined KNWS, an independent television station in Houston, TX, as on-air reporter, photojournalist, editor, writer and producer. Peña is a graduate from the Punch Sulzberger Leadership Program at Columbia University.
 
Univision News also announces the promotion of Lourdes Torres to Senior Vice President of Political Coverage & Special Projects. In her new role, Torres will expand on the work she has done over the years delivering award-winning political coverage across all platforms. Torres joined Univision in the mid-eighties when the Company was known as Spanish International Network. Since then, she has served under different capacities within Univision News, holding titles such as Assignment Editor, Executive Producer and most recently, Vice President of Regional News and Director of Special Projects. She is recipient of numerous honors including two Emmy® Awards as well as a Walter Cronkite® Award for Excellence in Political Journalism. Torres possesses a deep understanding of the Company’s mission and style, but also of the Hispanic audience that Univision proudly serves. Her proven success in leading complex developments is instrumental in keeping an unrivaled standard of journalistic excellence throughout Univision News’ political coverage and special projects.

“Chris Peña comes to us with a wealth of experience and knowledge about the Hispanic community, as well as national, local and digital news production. We look forward to having him contribute to the continuous growth and innovation that has made Univision a staple in the millions of households it reaches in local markets across the country,” said Daniel Coronell, President of News, UCI. “I am also excited to announce the promotion of Lourdes Torres. She is an award-winning journalist who understands our audience and the wider news landscape unlike anyone else. In such a pivotal election year, Lourdes will leverage her expertise to ensure we are delivering unrivaled political coverage to the Hispanic community, so that they have all the news and information they need to make an informed decision in November and beyond. I also want to thank Lourdes for her continued and successful commitment to Univision Network News.”

“The appointment of Chris Peña and the promotion of Lourdes Torres are two key strategic appointments that will allow Univision to strengthen and deepen its political coverage and local media operations,” said John W. Eck, Chief Local Media Officer and EVP of Technology, Operations and Engineering. “They allow us to continue serving the Hispanic community with the best news and information at both the local and national level.”

Lourdes Torres will continue to be based in Miami FL, reporting to Daniel Coronell, President of News for UCI. Chris Peña will also be based in Miami and report to Coronell as well as John W. Eck, Chief Local Media Officer and Executive Vice President of Technology, Operations and Engineering.