Dax Tejera was a prominent American television producer, journalist, manager, and entrepreneur who worked for ABC News as the executive producer of This Week with George Stephanopoulos. He was known for his passion, energy, and skill in producing live daily shows, long-form documentaries, and special events. He also had a rich experience in working with various media outlets and personalities. He passed away suddenly of a heart attack at the age of 37 on December 23, 2022.
Early Life and Education
Dax Tejera was born in 1985 in Miami, Florida, United States. He attended Palmer Trinity School, a private college preparatory school in Palmetto Bay, Florida. He graduated from Dartmouth College in 2007 with a bachelor’s degree in history. He was interested in journalism and media since his college days and participated in various activities related to them. He also attended Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism from 2016 to 2017, where he honed his skills and knowledge in the field.
Career and Achievements
Dax Tejera started his career in media in August 2007 when he joined NBC Universal Media as a news associate. He worked there for five years in different roles such as researcher, overnight assignment editor, and producer. He covered various topics such as politics, business, entertainment, sports, and international affairs. He also produced segments for shows such as Today, Nightly News with Brian Williams, and MSNBC Live.
In January 2013, he moved to Fusion Media Network, a joint venture between ABC News and Univision Communications. He became the executive producer of AMERICA with Jorge Ramos, a daily news show hosted by the renowned Mexican-American journalist. He also produced other shows and specials for Fusion such as Soul of the Nation Presents: Corazón de América – Celebrating Hispanic Culture, a program that highlighted the diversity and contributions of Hispanic Americans; and Hate Rising, a documentary that explored the rise of hate groups and hate crimes in America.
In February 2017, he joined ABC News as a senior producer based in Washington, D.C. He was responsible for producing live daily shows such as Good Morning America, World News Tonight with David Muir, Nightline, and This Week with George Stephanopoulos. He also produced special events such as presidential debates, elections, inaugurations, state of the union addresses, and breaking news coverage. In February 2020, he was promoted to the position of executive producer of This Week with George Stephanopoulos, one of the most popular and influential political talk shows in America. Under his leadership, the show achieved its highest ratings in six years and became the number one show among adults aged 25-54 according to People.
Dax Tejera was an award-winning producer who received several accolades for his work. He won two Emmy Awards for Outstanding Live Coverage of a Current News Story – Long Form for his coverage of the 2016 presidential election night and the 2017 presidential inauguration. He also won a Peabody Award for his documentary Hate Rising. He was nominated for several other awards such as the Edward R. Murrow Award, the Alfred I. duPont-Columbia University Award, and the GLAAD Media Award.
Personal Life and Family
Dax Tejera was married to Alejandra Diaz-Tejera, a pediatrician who works at Children’s National Hospital in Washington, D.C.. They had two daughters named Sofia and Lucia. They lived in Chevy Chase, Maryland. Dax was a loving husband and father who enjoyed spending time with his family. He also loved traveling, sports, music, and movies.
Death Cause and Tributes
Dax Tejera died suddenly of a heart attack on December 23, 2022. His death shocked and saddened his colleagues, friends, and fans who expressed their condolences and tributes on social media. ABC News president Kim Godwin said that Dax was “a friend and colleague” who “shined every Sunday morning” with his “energy, passion and love” for his show. George Stephanopoulos, the host of This Week with George Stephanopoulos said that Dax was “a brilliant producer” who “made every show better” with his “creativity” and “commitment”. Jorge Ramos said that Dax was “a great journalist” who “always had a smile on his face” and “a positive attitude”. Many other journalists and media personalities such as David Muir, Martha Raddatz, Cecilia Vega, Jonathan Karl, Sunny Hostin, Linsey Davis, and Byron Pitts also paid their respects and praised Dax for his work and personality.
Dax Tejera was a talented and respected television producer who left behind a remarkable legacy in the media industry. He will be remembered for his contributions, achievements, and passion for journalism. He will be missed by his family, friends, and fans.
ncG1vNJzZmibkaeypr7GnpirZpiau7CyjZympmeemsS0e9KtpquxX5muuXnTnqGeqpFixKq3yGaroZ1dobansYyapZ1lnJq0oq%2FYZqafZZFiwaK4xKernpxdqcNuvNGom66blad8