Tom Llamas Honored with Raúl Juliá Award at Hispanic Heritage Gala

NEW YORK, Sept. 18, 2025 - Veteran NBC News anchor Tom Llamas received the prestigious Raúl Juliá Award tonight at the annual Hispanic Heritage Gala in Manhattan, recognizing his groundbreaking role as the first Latino anchor of a major network evening newscast and his dedication to elevating Latino voices in journalism.

What Happened and Why It Matters The Raúl Juliá Award honors Latinos whose professional achievements and community leadership reflect the late actor’s legacy of cultural advocacy and artistic excellence. Llamas, who stepped into the anchor chair for NBC Nightly News in June, accepted the accolade before an audience of industry peers and nonprofit leaders, emphasizing the importance of authentic representation in national media.

Key Details

  • Llamas joined NBC News in 2021 as host of Top Story with Tom Llamas and was named managing editor and anchor of NBC Nightly News on June 2, succeeding Lester Holt and marking a milestone for Latino representation in network news.
  • In his acceptance remarks, Llamas cited his Cuban-American heritage and upbringing in Miami as driving his commitment to telling stories that resonate across diverse communities.
  • Gala organizers highlighted Llamas’s Emmy and Edward R. Murrow Award-winning reporting-and his mentorship of young journalists through NBC’s diversity initiatives-as central to their choice.

Additional Context Since taking over Nightly News, Llamas has led coverage of major national stories, including federal interest-rate cuts and state visits abroad, while maintaining robust digital engagement through NBC News NOW. Colleagues praise his “hands-on management style” and editorial rigor, qualities he credits to lessons learned under predecessor Lester Holt.

What’s Next Llamas will continue anchoring Nightly News and hosting Top Story, while participating in a TODAY All Day special on Hispanic Heritage Month airing September 29. He also announced plans to launch a mentorship program this fall to support aspiring Latino journalists.