Tom Jarriel: A Pioneering Voice in Journalism Passes Away at 89

The Emmy-winning journalist, whose impactful reporting helped shine a light on some of the world's most pressing human rights issues, has died.

Tom Jarriel, a distinguished ABC News reporter known for his extensive and impactful work on the newsmagazine "20/20," has passed away at the age of 89. His death occurred on Thursday at a nursing facility in Annapolis, Maryland, confirmed by his son Steve, following a debilitating stroke he suffered the previous year.

Joining ABC News in 1979, the same year "20/20" debuted, Jarriel made significant contributions to the program over a 23-year span. His journalism often focused on dire global issues, including the plight of child victims in Mozambique's civil war, the resurgence of the Khmer Rouge in Cambodia, and the devastating famine in Ethiopia. "We did not do happy stories together," said longtime producer Janice Tomlin, highlighting the serious nature of their collaborative reporting.

Jarriel identified a series of impactful reports on neglected and malnourished orphans in Romania as the defining work of his career. He and Tomlin unearthed shocking conditions in state-run orphanages that were kept hidden from the outside world. “These are not the orphanages seen before on American television. These are state-run asylums shrouded in secrecy,” he stated in one report from 1990, which revealed harrowing conditions resembling those in concentration camps.

Tomlin recounted chilling memories of their investigation, recalling children in cages and in dire health due to malnutrition. Jarriel's dedication to journalism was evident in his relentless pursuit of the truth, and his storytelling left an indelible mark on the field, making him a respected figure in broadcast journalism who earned 19 Emmy Awards during his esteemed career.