José Díaz-Balart (b. 7 November 1960, Fort Lauderdale, Florida) is a Cuban-American journalist and television anchorman.[1] He is currently the anchor for Noticiero Telemundo, the network's news program as well as the network's Washington DC-based public affairs Sunday morning program Enfoque. Sometimes described as the Brian Williams of Telemundo, Diaz-Balart delivers political news that affects the Latino community.[2]
In August 1996 he made history by becoming the first Cuban-American to host a network news program when he became anchor for the CBS News program This Morning.[1] He co-hosted with Maria Antonieta Collins in Telemundo public affairs show "Cada Día con Maria Antonieta."
Díaz-Balart received two Emmy awards while he was working at WTVJ-TV, an Associated Press Award and four Hispanic Excellence in Journalism Awards, all in the 1980s.[1] He also received a Du Pont and Peabody as well as the Orchid award for best news anchor in the U.S. in 2006. Media 100 has named him best anchor three times, and Hispanic Business Magazine named him one of the "100 most influential people in the U.S." He was given the Silver Circle Award by the National Academy of Television Sciences in 2010. As of June 2011, Diaz-Balart has filled in for MSNBC anchor Contessa Brewer at the 12pm time slot, hosting the one hour MSNBC Program, MSNBC Live.
For the second time Diaz-Balart made history when he substituted for MSNBC Live anchor Contessa Brewer for the week of June 20 through 24, 2011 in the show’s 12 PM time slot, making him the first U.S. journalist to broadcast both English and Spanish newscasts on two networks simultaneously.[2]
Díaz-Balart is the son of Rafael Diaz-Balart y Guitierrez (a former Cuban politician). He has three brothers, Rafael Diaz-Balart (a banker), Mario Diaz-Balart (a US Congressman) and Lincoln Diaz-Balart (a former US Congressman). His aunt, Mirta Diaz-Balart, was Fidel Castro's first wife. His uncle, Waldo Diaz-Balart, is a Cuban painter. He is married and has two daughters.