Linda Alvarez ’63

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Award-winning journalist Linda Alvarez ’63 has been in front of the camera with CBS 2 News since 1993 as an anchor and special assignment reporter.

Throughout her career, Alvarez has been on the front line of many breaking news stories locally and abroad, from earthquakes and wildfires to wars. In 2003, she spent a month in the Persian Gulf embedded with the U.S. Marines, Navy and Coast Guard during Operation Iraqi Freedom, filing live reports daily back to viewers in Los Angeles.

She has earned numerous awards and commendations for her work, including 12 Emmy awards and Press Club Honors. Additionally, Alvarez was awarded eight prestigious Golden Mike Awards honoring excellence in news anchoring and recognizing her special reports profiling people who are successful in their efforts to improve the community.

She has received recognition from American Women in Radio and Television, National Foundation of Women Legislators, National Association of Hispanic Journalists, Humane Society of The United States, California Teachers' Association, Ruben Salazar Award for Journalism, Hispanic Americans for Fairness in Media and California News Media Association.

Alvarez has been honored for her ardent community involvement. She was named Woman of the Year by several organizations including the YWCA of Los Angeles, Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund, Variety Boys and Girls Clubs, and Mexican American Opportunities Foundation. She received the Pioneer Award from Big Sisters of Los Angeles and was named Alumnus of the Year by the UCLA Latino Alumni Association.

She started her career in journalism at WMAQ-TV in Chicago. She moved to Phoenix where she anchored three daily newscasts at KPNX-TV and also served as executive producer and reporter of the award-winning documentary unit. In 1985, Alvarez joined KNBC as anchor and reporter, and in 1986 became the first Hispanic to anchor a weekday newscast in Los Angeles's English speaking media.

Prior to her career in television, Alvarez worked as a teacher and administrator in schools in Los Angeles, Venezuela, Chicago, Connecticut and New York. She also taught Spanish at the United Nations Secretariat in New York City.

Alvarez was born and raised in Los Angeles and is married to Leo Perez.

“She exemplifies what is good about our profession and what is good about humanity.” -- Laura Diaz, CBS2 anchor and reporter