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
Tiempo 5/18/25: Celia Cruz, the Queen of Salsa, posthumously honored with Walk of Fame star in NJ
The ceremony took place at the Barrymore Film Center in Fort Lee, where the multiple Grammy Award winner lived for decades.
Knicks will look to close out series against Celtics at home after Game 5 loss in Boston
The New York Knicks will try to put away the Boston Celtics when they return home Friday night after a 127-102 loss in Boston on Wednesday.
Tiempo 5/11/25: Immigration attorney discusses mass deportations under the Trump administration
The federal crackdown has produced fear and confusion across migrant communities, sparked street protests and spurred a historic showdown between the executive and judicial branches over the legality of the deportations.
What to expect at this week's papal conclave
Eyewitness News Anchor Joe Torres will be in Vatican City to cover the papal conclave -- the ancient tradition to elect the next pope.
Tiempo 5/4/25: New book explores Latino histories, communities and cultures in New Jersey
The book "Latinas/os in New Jersey: Histories, Communities and Cultures" is a compilation of research writings that explore a wide range of topics about New Jersey's Latinos and Latinas.
Doctor shares best steps for allergy sufferers to protect themselves as spring continues
Dr. Kirk Sperber says late April/early May is the peak of the dreaded tree pollen season, which is far worse than the soon-to-follow grass pollen season.
Tiempo 4/27/25: Impacts of chronic power outages on Puerto Rico and potential solutions
Last week, an island-wide blackout plunged Puerto Rico into darkness. LUMA Energy restored power the next day and said an underground power line may have led to the outage.
Tiempo 4/20/25: Trump administration creates registry for undocumented immigrants in the US
Under the new registry, the administration says all undocumented immigrants must register, give fingerprints, and provide an address to the Department of Homeland Security.
Tiempo 4/13/25: White House proposes sanctions, directs DHS to investigate immigration attorneys
Last month, the White House issued a presidential memorandum directing the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to investigate immigration attorneys.
Tiempo 4/6/25: NYCLU releases updated 'Know Your Rights' guide amid federal immigration crackdown
The New York Civil Liberties Union is making sure New Yorkers know their rights if they are stopped by immigration enforcement agents or caught up in an immigration raid.