Merijoel Durán is no longer on the air at Univision 41 in New York. The “Al Despertar” morning anchor was laid off this week.
According to a company spokesperson, Durán’s position was eliminated as part of the recent company restructuring reported at the end of July, but her exit was not made effective until this past Tuesday, August 7, after she anchored that day’s morning show.
An Emmy-award winning journalist, Durán joined Univision 41 in December 1999 as a freelance news reporter and traffic reporter for “Al Despertar,” before getting hired full time in 2002. She would later become the morning show’s co-anchor.
A native of the Dominican Repuvlic, Durán started her journalism career at Telemundo 47 in 1994 as a production assistant, before getting a shot as a back-up weather anchor for the station. She also worked in radio as a freelance reporter for Super KQAM, Mega 97.9 FM, Amor 93.1 FM.
Also announced this week, writer Carlos Zubieta took a voluntary buyout. He will remain at Univision 41 until the end of August.