Joe Torres
After high school, Joe continued his education at SUNY Brockport, where he earned a B.S. in Communications. Along with his wife Fran and their two boys, Joe still lives in the town where he grew up.
Joe joined the Eyewitness News team as a general assignment reporter in 1996. Throughout the last two decades he has established himself as one of the premier street reporters here in the nation's #1 television market. Versatility is his strength. Crime, politics, religion, education, transportation, business, whatever the subject, Joe has covered it all with an engaging and energetic style that fellow New Yorkers have come to know and love.
Perhaps most memorable for viewers has been Joe's extensive coverage of Pope's John Paul II, Benedict XVI and Francis. Before the death of John Paul II, Joe followed the globe-trotting Pontiff on his trips to Cuba, Mexico, and the Holy Land, providing New Yorkers with local angles to worldly events. Joe was at the Vatican for the Pope's Silver Anniversary and for his death, when millions flocked to Rome to say goodbye to the spiritual leader. Joe was at St. Peter's Square in April of 2005 when the white smoke from the Sistine Chapel informed the world of the election of Pope Benedict the XVI. Three years later Joe provided in-depth coverage of Pope Benedict's visit to New York. Joe returned to the Vatican and St. Peter's Square in March of 2013 for the historic election of Pope Francis, the church's very first Pontiff from Latin America.
Two days a week Joe comes in from the street and heads to the anchor desk. Each Saturday and Sunday evening Joe serves as Co-Anchor of the 5, 6 and 11 o'clock editions of Eyewitness News This Weekend.
Joe also serves as Host of 'Tiempo,' a 30-minute public affairs program aimed at the ever-growing Latino population in the New York metropolitan area. 'Tiempo' airs each Sunday morning at 11:30.
Joe's distinctive storytelling ability garnered him a Peabody Award and the Edward R. Murrow Award for his reports on the world-changing events of September 11th. Joe also earned an Emmy Award for his coverage of the Greenpoint Gas Tank Implosions in 2001.
Joe started his television career in 1987 as an NBC Page in New York. His first reporting job was at WSAV-TV in Savannah, Georgia where he served as a general assignment reporter and beat reporter covering county government. Joe then moved to ABC affiliate WNEP-TV in Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania to work as a Consumer Reporter, general assignment reporter and Weekend Anchor. In 1992 Joe landed a job as the Jersey Shore correspondent for Disney/ABC-owned WPVI-TV in Philadelphia.
Joe's Stories
Former Obama adviser in custody, faces hate crime charges after halal cart confrontation
The owners of the cart say there have been several ugly confrontations at the cart over the last two weeks amid conflict in the Mideast.
Staying healthy this Thanksgiving as cases of flu, RSV, and Covid spread
Doctors and medical experts worry family get-togethers this week will lead to a spike in cases of RSV, the flu and even Covid.
Tiempo 11/12/23: 50 years of Nuyorican Poets Café, and latest study on NY's Latino registered voters
On this episode of "Tiempo," we celebrate 50 years of a New York City cultural icon, Nuyorican Poets Café.
Volunteers pick up shifts to help UES café after baristas walk out over war in Gaza
Many volunteers stepped in to Caffé Aronne on Tuesday to volunteer their services after five employees walked off the job in protest of the 'Kidnapped' posters and Israeli flag hanging in the front window.
Community rallies in support of café owner after workers walk out in protest over conflict in Gaza
Employees at an Upper East Side cafe walked off the job Tuesday in protest against the crisis in the Mideast. The community stepped in to help.
Gov. Hochul says $192 million from opioid settlement fund will be allocated to addiction services
Gov. Hochul stated that $192 million from the state's opioid settlement fund will go to organizations working to help reduce the staggering number of opioid deaths.
Tiempo 10/29/23: Migrant crisis, Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of NY, and Shamir Arzeno
In this episode of Tiempo, Joe Torres continues to dig deeper into the migrant crisis in New York and speaks to representatives from the Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of New York about how to help.
Roc Nation & Caesars Palace host free event to promote Times Square casino bid
Roc Nation and Caesars Palace, who hope to win the bid for a glitzy casino in Times Square, held an eight-hour free lunch and dinner buffet for people who live and work in the area.
Tiempo: Mayor Eric Adams reflects on 4-day trip to Latin America amid migrant crisis
The mayor said he has a new perspective on the asylum seeker crisis now that he has visited Latin America.
Police searching for predator accused of sexual sexually abusing multiple women in Brooklyn
The disturbing attacks took place in Sunset Park, Cobble Hill and Park Slope.