Voices From the Field: Ilia Calderon

Anchor
Noticiero Univision

America's local radio and television stations and broadcast networks are on the front lines covering monumental stories that impact our local communities and nation. Broadcasters are a pillar of American democracy, a free and open press whose resolve to bring truth to light cannot be broken. Hear from these voices from the field on why they are passionate about being broadcasters and what drives them to always be there for their communities.

Ilia Calderon, co-anchor of Univision Network's flagship evening newscast, Noticiero Univision, talks about her career as the first Afro-Latina anchoring an evening newscast for a major broadcast network in the U.S. while juggling a busy home life and serving America's Hispanic communities with trusted news and information.

• Ilia Calderon Bio

  Ilia Calderon is co-anchor of Univision Network’s flagship evening newscast, Noticiero Univision. She is the first Afro-Latina anchoring an evening newscast for a major broadcast network in the United States. Calderon also co-hosts the network’s primetime newsmagazine show, Aquí y Ahora.

  Prior to joining Jorge Ramos on Noticiero Univision in 2017, she was co-anchor of Univision's Noticiero Univision Edición Nocturna. Previously, she was co-anchor of Univision's Primer Impacto (First Impact). And also served as co-anchor of the weekend edition, Primer Impacto Fin de Semana.

  Before joining Univision, Calderon was co-host of the weekday morning program on Telemundo Network. She also co-anchored Telemundo's weekend national newscast where she covered major national and international events, including the 9/11 terrorist attacks, the invasion of Afghanistan, the Iraq war, the capture of Saddam Hussein, and the devastation left by Hurricane Katrina. Calderon was also news anchor for the international cable network Telemundo Internacional, and has interviewed numerous prominent politicians and celebrities, among them former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, former Colombian president Álvaro Uribe, and world-famous singer/songwriter Shakira.

  Calderon began her career in 1994 in Colombia, anchoring a local newscast in the second largest city, Medellín. Three years later she became the anchor of a highly respected nightly national newscast and worked on a travel program, roles she held until she moved to the United States in 2001. In her native country she was the first black woman to ever host a national news program: Noticiero CMI.

  As a respected journalist, Calderon has received several recognitions during her professional career. A second national Emmy award in 2018 for her interview with KKK leader Chris Barker and the Hispanic Public Relations Association Bravo Award for journalist of the year. In 2005, she received the Premio Orquídea award, which honors Colombians abroad, for best international journalist of the year. In 2002, she was named one of the 100 most important Hispanic journalists by the Hispanic Media 100 organization. She was also nominated for a Peabody Award for the border crisis coverage on Aqui y Ahora and five 2019 Emmy nominations.

  In August 2020 Calderon published her first book, My Time to Speak, an inspiring, timely, and conversation-starting memoir. She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in social work from Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana. She currently resides in Miami, Florida, with her husband Eugene and daughter, Anna.