Alex Perez

Reporter Alex Perez joined the award-winning NBC Chicago news team in July of 2005.

He is a Chicago native and was born and raised in the city's Pilsen neighborhood. He graduated from St. Laurence High School in Burbank and holds a Bachelors Degree in Journalism from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

"The best part of my job is that everyday I’m given an opportunity to not only tell someone's story, but in some cases also make a difference," he said.

Alex's career has given him opportunities he only dreamed of as a child.

Like most reporters, Alex has interviewed Presidents, Governors, celebrities, and other prominent figures. But he said what stands out the most are the stories and interviews with the average citizens; the working moms, struggling dads and aspiring teenagers.

Alex received Chicago Emmy nominations for Spot and Breaking news coverage of the 2005 Midway Airport runway accident, for coverage of the verdict in the trial of former Governor George Ryan and for coverage of the arrest of Drew Peterson.

"Being a broadcast journalist is a job that comes with an unbelievable amount of responsibility that I have grown to love and respect. On a regular basis viewers trust me to investigate and gather important information and deliver it to them," he said.

While in New Mexico, Alex was recognized for a series of stories on the lack of health care available to the state's indigent residents. He also received an award for coverage of the HIV/AIDS community in Southern New Mexico. While in the Land of Enchantment (NM), Alex was also one of the first reporters to cover the controversial Minuteman Project along the U.S-Mexico Border. In Michigan he helped create the Alpena area's first Crimestoppers program.

Alex says one of the most rewarding stories he's done in Chicago was a special report he did on Black Latinos. In that story, he interviewed baseball legend Minnie Minoso and discussed some of the unique issues the Black Latino community faces.

Alex has volunteered with the March of Dimes, Chicago Urban League, Hispanocare, National Latino Education Institute, the Chicago Public Schools and a number of other local community-based groups.

Alex is a member of the National Association of Hispanic Journalists and sits on the Board of Directors for the University of Illinois Latina/Latino Alumni Association.

Alex is also a Brother of Sigma Lambda Beta International Fraternity, Inc.

Before NBC Chicago, Alex was a reporter at KVIA-TV in El Paso, Texas. Alex has also worked at WBKB-TV in Alpena, Mich., and, WICD-TV and WPGU-FM, both in Champaign, IL.