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Scottsdale’s Javier Soto debuts at ABC15
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By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski torytelling drives new ABC15 anchor Javier Soto. I n h i s 1 8 - y e a r c a re e r i n Arizona, the Emmy Awardwinning journalist has covered the Jodi Arias murder trial, the Yarnell Hill wildfire, Senate Bill 1070 and the major protests that followed, the contemptof-court cases against former Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio, the Phoenix serial shooter, and the death of Sen. John McCain. “That’s why I got into the news business,” says Soto, a Scottsdale resident. “It’s never the same thing every day. You never know what to expect. The amazing storytelling is what drives me in telling the stories that sometimes are untold. “That’s what excites me: those personal stories we share with the public.” Partnered with Katie Raml, Soto debuted on ABC15’s 5 p.m. newscast on June 13 after spending nearly two decades years at Arizona’s Family stations, channels 3 and 5. Soto replaces Steve Irvin, who retired in May after well-documented heart problems. “I have been friends with Javier for more than a decade,” Raml says. “He is deeply committed to this community. He represents the values of ABC15. I am energized to now work alongside him every day.” Soto graduated from California State University in Long Beach, starting his career as a producer at KTLA in Los Angeles. His first on-air position was at KPVI in Pocatello, Idaho, as a reporter/ anchor. After two years, he accepted a job as
the Northern Arizona bureau chief for KTVK. After taking over as the morning reporter on the station’s morning newscasts, he was promoted to weekend anchor and then morning anchor before joining ABC15. “ABC15 has an amazing repu- Javier Soto says he has a passion for storytelling and a desire for honesty. (ABC15/Submitted) tation in Arizona,” Soto says. “I am thrilled to be part of a brings a passion for journalism and his station that values communitychanging journalism. I cannot wait to get efforts to “get it right.” “I think the love for the community is started.” Mitch Jacob, ABC15 news director, has right up there at the top as well,” he says. “As a journalist, it’s not typical to stay long been impressed with Soto’s passion in one place this long — especially just for storytelling. “He understands the needs of Arizona coming up through the ranks. I absolutely and will hit the ground running day one fell in love with Arizona. This is the home in the newsroom. Javier is a wonderful to me and my wife for the rest of our lives.” When he’s not at the desk, Soto and his addition to ABC15,” he says. Being a journalist is challenging, in the wife of eight years, Beatrice, enjoy exploring Arizona, supporting various causes light of “fake news” claims. Soto says he did not think the negative and attending sports events. “We’re very involved in the community comments and finger pointing would snowball. He says he discussed the and various organization, especially when issue with TV news anchor Scott Pelley, it comes to events,” he says. “I was fortunate to be part of many when he was in Phoenix accepting the Walter Cronkite Award for Excellence in events as an emcee. I married a foodie. She’s constantly telling me about the new Journalism. “I’ll never forget what he told me,” he restaurants that are opening. After those restaurants, we have to stay in the gym to says. “He says, ‘That alone should make you keep the weight off. It’s a vicious circle.” He says he loves what Arizona has to work harder. We need to get everybody grounded and back to the pillars of journal- offer as much as Valley residents have ism to make sure we do it right — cross our embraced him. “They’ve always shown me love, and I Ts and dot our Is,’” Soto recalls. “If we stick to those pillars and continue hope that they know when I’m on TV or off doing what we’re supposed to do — double TV, I do everything with a great passion,” checking and getting it right — we’ll Soto says. “I give them 100%, and I’m just me. At surpass this slogan and take journalism to the end of the day, that’s all I can be, and I the next level.” That said, with ABC15, Soto says he hope it resonates with people.”
14 / SCOTTSDALE AIRPARK NEWS / JULY 2022
