Thank you, Jorge!

By: Elián Zidán

It feels surreal to be writing these words. As journalists, we never truly retire from this profession, but as we all know, everything in life has its own cycle.

It’s hard to believe that the person who’s been the face of Spanish-language news in the U.S. for nearly 40 years will, starting Monday, no longer be sitting in the same chair he’s occupied for over three decades.

I first heard my parents mention Jorge when I was a child living in Mexico. From afar, I knew he was the most prominent Mexican journalist in the U.S., the one who always asked the tough questions.

When I traveled, I’d see him on TV, and when my family moved to the U.S., his newscast became a source of comfort for us, helping ease the homesickness we felt for the country we had left behind.

In college, my passion for journalism grew even stronger, and that’s when I first started analyzing his work—not as a viewer, but as a fellow journalist.

I remember watching many of his interviews—from the iconic one with former Mexican president Carlos Salinas de Gortari, where he countered every claim with facts and sharp arguments, to the one with Enrique Peña Nieto, when he asked about the cause of his wife’s death, and the former president couldn’t provide an answer.

And of course, who could forget when, alongside a Univision news team, he was expelled from Venezuela for standing up to Nicolás Maduro’s dictatorship while simply doing his job?

When I moved from New York to Miami, one of the things I looked forward to most was the chance to meet Jorge in person.

It was Christmas, and I was on vacation. But one day, as I walked through the newsroom, I unexpectedly ran into him. To my surprise, he immediately recognized me and knew exactly what my role would be at the 24/7 news channel.

For anyone who loves soccer, it was like meeting Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo on the field—But not only did they welcome you to the team, but also knew exactly where you’d play.

Over time, I had the privilege of talking with him about Mexico, journalism, soccer, and his journey in the field.

The more I got to know him, the more I realized that he was the most grounded person in the newsroom: always greeting everyone, showing up on time, never complaining about long hours, and always present when history was being made.

If we take a quick look back at the most defining events of the past 35 years, Jorge was there, reporting firsthand—from wars and terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center to hurricanes, earthquakes, and presidential inaugurations across several countries.

His discipline has been one of his defining traits throughout the years, and those who know him would agree.

During Mexico’s historic 2024 elections, I had the opportunity to work alongside him for countless hours. It allowed me to get to know the man behind the journalist even better, and honestly, everyone should have the chance to speak with him—even if it’s just for five minutes.

Without fear, as one of his books is titled, I took a chance and asked him for advice on how to read scripts more naturally. Without skipping a beat, he came to my office and showed me exactly how to do it. I still keep that script inside the very same book I read back in college, never imagining he would sign it for me.

But his generosity didn’t end there. One day, I told him I was thinking of starting to write columns, but I wasn’t sure if I should take the leap.

Not only did he encourage me to pursue it, but he also took the time to read my first column—now framed in my office.

Jorge is truly a generous person, both on-screen and off. He’s someone who, has a deep love for soccer, for his profession, for his family, and for his colleagues.

One of the greatest privileges of my career has been the chance to learn from and work alongside him.

As I’ve told him before: “I didn’t have enough time to learn from you, George.”

Even though we won’t see him continue in the same role he’s had for nearly 40 years, I’m certain that Jorge Ramos will continue to make an impact for years to come.

This young immigrant, who, like so many of us, dreamed of telling stories, seeking the truth, and giving a voice to the voiceless, can only say: thank you.

Thank you, Jorge, for being and continuing to be a leading figure in this profession.

While we’ll miss hearing you say, "Thank you for trusting Univision," or "See you next week when we go Al Punto together," I have no doubt that this chapter is simply the beginning of the next one.

I’m sure that from that iconic Japanese desk, you’ll continue writing the next chapters of your life, reminding us, "Without fear," as you cross borders and share the other side of America, from this land of all.

This isn’t goodbye. It’s simply “See you soon, colleague.” See you soon, Jorge.