Manolo Reyes, one of the first Spanish-language broadcasters in Miami, died Thursday of complications from Parkinson’s disease.
In 1960, Reyes convinced WTVJ’s execs to let him produce a Spanish newscast for the Cuban exiles in Miami. News En Español debuted on August 28 of that year. It only lasted 15-minutes and aired weekdays at 6:45 a.m. and at 1 a.m., but it had a loyal following.
Reyes had his own newscast at the station for 19 years, eventually becoming Latin news editor and regular contributor for Walter Cronkite’s CBS Evening News. His show received an Emmy award. You can read more about Reyes in today’s Miami Herald.