Former ABC News and 20/20 correspondent Jim Avila has died at the age of 70 following a lengthy illness. Avila’s death was announced internally Thursday by ABC News president Almin Karamehmedovic.

“Jim was a gifted journalist and a generous colleague,” Karamehmedovic said in an email.

During his time with ABC News, Avila covered politics, justice, law and consumer investigations. From 2012 to 2016, Avila covered the White House during President Barack Obama’s second term. Earlier in his career he covered the OJ Simpson trial and provided coverage during the conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq

According to his ABC News bio, his work earned him several honors.

“He won the prestigious Merriman Award from the White House Correspondents Association for breaking the news that the United Stat

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