Our Supporters

Francisco Pinto

Francisco Pinto serves as Presenter and as one of the Conductors of Primera Edicion for KMEX-TV, the nation’s number one Spanish-language television station.  Pinto joined the station’s news team in August of 1999.  Before forming part of Univision 34 KMEX-TV, Pinto was news and sports presenter for KUVS-TV, Univision 19, an affiliate of Univision in the Stockton, Modesto, and Sacramento area since 1996. 

During his journalism trajectory in Univision 34, Pinto has interviewed some of the most important sports figures and has covered the most transcendental sporting events including the 2002 Korea/Japan World Cup and the 2006 Germany World Cup.  Before the beginning of the 2002 Korea/Japan World Cup he traveled to the Orient where he presented a preview show of the World Cup, “Road to Germany: Visiting Japan.”  In this series Pinto and the rest of the sports team introduced viewers to one of the two impressive countries that hosted the first World Cup of the new millennium.  Months later he visited South Korea, the other co-host of this event.  In South Korea he reported live coverage of the daily happenings revolving the World Cup from Seoul and other stadiums that hosted the World Cup.  Another highlight of his career is interviewing Pele, who some consider to be the best soccer player in history, in 2006.

Additionally, Pinto has conducted the Pasadena Rose Parade in two occasions, therefore marking his presence in events that are more relevant and important for the Latino community. 

It is worth mentioning that in 2005 he realized a 20-minute live interview for the 6p.m. newscast, with El Salvador President, Antonio Saca. 

Recently the Organization of Latin American Journalist Association and Elite magazine recognized Pinto for his great journalism work by awarding him with the “Elite” Trophy as the Best Sports Journalist of the Year.  This award highlights Latino personalities that seek to improve the quality of life of our people. 

In 2002 Pinto was the only California Spanish television reporter to cover the 2002 MLS Championship match between the Los Angeles Galaxy and the New England Revolution in Boston, Massachusetts.  Also, Pinto closely followed and reported on the construction of only the second stadium exclusively built for Soccer in the United States, The Home Depot Center in Carson, California.  This soccer stadium is considered to be the best in the country. 

Before realizing his career as a journalist, Pinto was a soccer and squash player in his native country of Chile.  As an active individual, professionally and at the community level, Pinto served as a mentor for a high school student in the program Univision/Communities In Schools in Sacramento.

Born in Concepción, Chile, Pinto studied Physical Education in the University of Concepcion, near Santiago, Chile, which complemented his sports medicine studies he obtained from Masters College in Santa Clarita, California.