Jala Washington is an Emmy award-winning bilingual journalist who speaks English and Spanish. She joined the NBC 5 and Telemundo 39 team in January 2026.
Jala has a bachelor’s degree in journalism, telecommunications and Spanish linguistics from Ball State University.
Before moving to North Texas, Jala was the weekend morning anchor at the NBC affiliate in Austin.
Though born and raised in Indianapolis, Indiana, Jala considers Texas her home away from home, as she’s spent almost a decade chasing and telling impactful stories across the Lone Star State.
Her career in broadcast journalism has taken her around the world, beginning in Amarillo as a bilingual multimedia journalist. She would go on to work as a bilingual multimedia journalist and fill-in anchor on the U.S.-Mexico border in El Paso. Later, in Austin, Jala was also a Texas political correspondent for local TV news stations across the state before becoming an anchor.
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Aside from daily news and politics, Jala, a former Division I gymnast, also enjoys covering sports. Most notably, she covered the 2024 Minneapolis Gymnastics Olympic Trials, the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing and the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.
She’s worked on countless special projects, documentaries and news specials, some of which have aired across the country. From covering the El Paso Cielo Vista Walmart and Uvalde Robb Elementary mass shootings to the July 2024 Kerr County floods and high-profile trials, Jala finds true purpose in keeping communities informed and holding those in power accountable.
In addition to the big stories, Jala is especially passionate about telling positive stories in minority communities.
She’s known for her bubbly personality and is committed to serving the communities she joins.
When Jala’s not on TV, she’s likely trying a new restaurant, shopping online, looking for a good show to stream, traveling, or exploring nature with her pup.
Don’t hesitate to connect with Jala on her social media or via email!
The Latest
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North Texas World Cup memories to live on through new UTA digital archive
The matches may be over, but the memories of the 2026 FIFA World Cup are here to stay. The University of Texas at Arlington is asking fans, volunteers and community members to submit their photos, videos from the tournament for a new digital collection documenting the historic event in North Texas. NBC 5’s Jala Washington explains how you can be...
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UT Arlington asks community to submit World Cup memories for digital archive
The University of Texas at Arlington is asking people to submit their best world cup photos and videos to them for a new special digital collection that will preserve the historic moments here in our host city.
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4-year-old left on Crowley school bus for hours, ISD fires driver
Family says a 4-year-old never made it to school and was found about six hours later at a transportation lot. The bus driver was fired.
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4-year-old girl left alone on hot school bus for hours, mother demands answers
A family is demanding answers after a 4-year-old girl was left alone on a school bus for hours in dangerous heat. The bus driver has been fired following the incident, but the child’s mother says she wants to know how her daughter was forgotten in the first place. NBC 5’s Jala Washington reports on what happened, the questions surrounding the...
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Family mourns loss of mother and two daughters in Kaufman County crash
A North Texas family is grieving after a horrific crash in Kaufman County on Sunday night. NBC 5’s Jala Washington spoke with the family.
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Mother, daughters, and family dog killed in Kaufman County crash involving 18-wheeler
Two children and one adult are dead after a crash involving an 18-wheeler in Kaufman County on Sunday night.
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Why more Texans are opposing new data centers
As data center development accelerates across Texas, more families and community groups are raising concerns about the impact these facilities could have on their neighborhoods. Opponents are becoming increasingly organized and are planning efforts to bring their concerns directly to Gov. Greg Abbott. NBC 5’s Jala Washington explains what’s driving the growing movement and what residents hope to accomplish.
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‘Week of action': Groups against data centers ramp up pushback measures in Texas
This will be a big week for groups and families against data centers in the state. As quick and fast development happens, many are worried about how the facilities impact their neighborhoods.
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Two fatal Fort Worth officer-involved shootings unfold within 24 hours
Fort Worth police are investigating two separate officer-involved shootings that happened less than 24 hours apart, leaving two people dead in unrelated incidents.
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Family renews call for justice in killing of D'Lisa Kelley
On what would have been her 37th birthday, loved ones urged Dallas police to use new DNA technology to solve the cold case.
