Investigative reporter Arnold Diaz, whose popular “Shame On You” consumer series ran for more than 20 years, has died at the age of 74.
Diaz suffered from multiple myeloma, the longtime journalist’s son, Alex, told the Daily Beast.
Multiple myeloma is a “blood cancer that develops in plasma cells in the bone marrow,” according to the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation.
Who was Arnold Diaz?
Arnold Diaz was an American television consumer watchdog journalist, last employed by WPIX-TV in New York.
Diaz was known for his Shame on You series of consumer reports which aired on WCBS-TV for over twenty years.
Diaz also worked for ABC News and WNYW in similar capacities, with the latter taking a page from WCBS and naming the segment Shame Shame Shame.
He focused most of his reports on exposing wrongdoings and incompetence by private industry and government agencies. His reports have led to jail time for a number of scam artists.
Diaz obtained his degree from Florida State University where he was a Phi Beta Kappa.
He later received his master’s degree in journalism from the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University in Chicago, Illinois.
Diaz first reported for WPLG-TV in Miami from the early to mid-1970s, then moved to WCBS-TV in New York, where he served from the mid-1970s to the early 1990s. During his time at WCBS, Diaz won 25 local Emmy Awards.
He won a total of 48 Emmy awards in the course of his career. Diaz later worked for ABC’s 20/20 as the show’s Consumer Investigative Reporter from 1995 to 2003.
During his time with 20/20, he won the National Press Club Consumer Journalism Award and the Consumer Federation of America Media Service Award.
He returned to WCBS in 2003 and revived the Shame On You segment, lasting there until moving to WNYW in 2006, where Diaz’s segment continued under the new title of Shame, Shame, Shame.
In 1995, Diaz was inducted into the National Academy of Arts and Sciences Silver Circle. In January 2014, it was announced Diaz would no longer be working for WNYW-TV.
On March 31, 2014; Diaz joined WPIX as part of the newly-formed “PIX11 Investigates” unit with longtime reporters Mary Murphy and chief investigator Howard Thompson. Diaz retired from WPIX on March 29, 2022.
About Arnold Diaz’s Wife
Arnold Diaz’s wife is Shawn Diaz, a remarkable woman who has lived a full and rich life.
She is the mother of their four children, who have followed their father’s footsteps in engineering and journalism.
She was by his side until his death on October 24, 2023, after a long battle with multiple myeloma. She is also a grandmother of twin boys, who were born in 20205.
She has been described as a loving and supportive partner to Arnold Diaz, who was a legend in the New York news scene and a champion for the everyday consumer.
About Arnold Diaz’s Children
Arnold Diaz and his wife Shawn Diaz had four children together: Nicole, Tayler, Morgan, and Alex.
They followed their father’s footsteps in engineering and journalism. Nicole is a civil engineer who works for the New York City Department of Transportation.
Tayler is a producer for ABC News. Morgan is a reporter for WPLG-TV in Miami, where Arnold Diaz started his career.
Alex is a software engineer who works for Microsoft. They are all proud of their father’s legacy and achievements as an investigative journalist and consumer watchdog.
About Arnold Diaz’s Parents
Arnold Diaz was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, but his parents were of Puerto Rican descent.
About Arnold Diaz’s Siblings
It is not clear if he had any siblings or other relatives. He was very private about his personal life and focused on his career
Arnold Diaz Net worth
Arnold Diaz’s net worth is estimated to be around $5 million as of 2023.
This includes his assets, money, and income from his work as a journalist.
Arnold Diaz Cause of death
Arnold Diaz died on October 24, 2023, after a long battle with a type of cancer called multiple myeloma.
Arnold Diaz was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in 2018 and underwent several rounds of treatment.
He retired from his 50-year career as an investigative journalist and consumer watchdog in 2022.
He is remembered as a legend in the New York news scene and a champion for the everyday consumer.
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