Juan Manuel BenÃÂtez Fernel (born in Badajoz, Spain) is a Spanish-born American bilingual journalist, television anchor, podcaster, and professor of journalism based in New York City. He holds the Philip S. Balboni Professorship of Local Journalism at the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.
BenÃÂtez was born in Badajoz, Spain. He earned a bachelorâÂÂs degree in Anglo-German Language and Literature from the University of Extremadura. He holds a masterâÂÂs degree from Columbia UniversityâÂÂs School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA). He also studied at the Heidelberg University, the University of Lisbon, and Kalamazoo College.
BenÃÂtez began his journalism career as a reporter for Hispanic Market Weekly.
In 2003, he joined NY1 in New York City and helped launch its Spanish-language sister channel, NY1 Noticias (later Spectrum Noticias). At NY1/NY1 Noticias, he hosted the weekly political affairs show Pura PolÃÂtica and co-hosted the bilingual podcast Off Topic/On Politics. He covered successive New York City mayoral administrations and national elections, and moderated numerous televised debates. BenÃÂtez has also served as a guest host on The Brian Lehrer Show on WNYC, and has appeared as a political commentator on MSNBC, NTN24, and other outlets. He has written opinion columns for El Diario La Prensa.
In 2025, BenÃÂtez launched the weekly interview podcast Juan Manuel BenÃÂtez Wants to Know, which features in-depth conversations with political leaders, policy thinkers, and cultural figures shaping New York City and beyond. The show blends policy analysis and personal storytelling, with guests including Brad Lander, Kathryn Wylde, Mark Levine, Eric Adams, and Curtis Sliwa.
BenÃÂtez has reported on climate change and adaptation, earning a New York Emmy Award for his coverage. He is also the recipient of awards from the New York Press Club, the New York State Associated Press Association, and the HOLA Excellence in TV Award.
Before joining Columbia, he taught bilingual journalism at the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at CUNY, where he helped design the bilingual journalism curriculum.
He became the Philip S. Balboni Professor of Local Journalism at Columbia Journalism School in 2023. He also serves on the jury of the Alfred I. duPontâÂÂColumbia University Awards|duPontâÂÂColumbia Awards.
BenÃÂtez resides in Manhattan.