Diane Dimond Biography
Diane Dimond is a well-known American investigative journalist, author, syndicated columnist, and television commentator, celebrated for her in-depth work in crime and legal reporting.
She gained significant recognition for her early coverage of child molestation allegations against singer Michael Jackson, as well as her reporting on the subsequent criminal trial. Throughout her career, she has collaborated with major media outlets like Hard Copy, Extra, NBC, Entertainment Tonight, Court TV, and Investigation Discovery.
Diane kicked off her journalism journey at KOB Radio, where she focused on legal and police issues. In 1976, she was honored with a Silver Gavel Award from the American Bar Association for her investigative work uncovering the misappropriation of funds within the Albuquerque Sheriff’s Office.
That same year, she made her way to Washington, D.C., where she anchored news programs for NPR’s All Things Considered. From 1980 to 1986, she took on the role of congressional and political correspondent for the RKO Radio Networks.
In 1986, Diane made the leap to television journalism at WCBS-TV in New York City. During her four years there, she gained acclaim for her investigative stories on significant public interest cases, including chromium poisoning in New Jersey, a child abuse case on Long Island, and the Mary Beth Whitehead “Baby M” surrogacy case.
In 1990, she joined the tabloid news program Hard Copy as an investigative journalist. Over the next seven years, she covered a slew of high-profile and controversial criminal cases, including the O.J. Simpson trial, and interviewed notable figures like Heidi Fleiss, Pamela Smart, Kenneth Bianchi, James Earl Ray, Jeffrey MacDonald, and Richard Allen Davis.
Diane Dimond NBC News
In 1998, Dimond made her debut with NBC News, teaming up with Geraldo Rivera on UpFront Tonight, a CNBC evening newscast. During this time, she co-anchored significant national stories, including the impeachment trial of former President Bill Clinton.
She then transitioned to MSNBC, where she took on the role of a daytime anchor, covering the 2000 presidential election and the intense Florida recount. After parting ways with MSNBC in 2001, Dimond ventured into freelance journalism, stepping in as an anchor for Court TV.
In the wake of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, she played a key role in Fox News’ “War on Terror” coverage as an anchor. Throughout her freelance journey, she also made appearances as a guest correspondent on various programs and networks, including CNN.
Diane Dimond Career
Dimond worked as a receptionist at KGGM, a CBS-owned television station in Albuquerque. She began her career in radio journalism and later as a reporter at KOB Radio, where she covered legal and policy issues. She was awarded the Silver Gavel Award by the American Bar Association in 1976 for her work on the Albuquerque Sheriff’s Office’s abuse of funds. In 1976, she relocated to Washington, D.C., where she worked as an anchor for NPR’s All Things Considered. From 1980 until 1986, Dimond worked for RKO Radio Networks as a legislative and government reporter. Dimond obtained her first on-air television job in 1986 at New York City’s flagship CBS station, WCBS-TV.
For the previous four years, she’s been nominated for a number of high-profile scandals, including a New Jersey chromium poisoning investigation, a Long Island child harassment case, and the Mary Beth Whitehead/Baby M surrogacy case. Dimond began working as an investigative journalist for the television news show Hard Copy in 1990. During her seven-year tenure, she covered some of the world’s most infamous court cases. In addition to the OJ Simpson case, Heidi Fleiss, Hollywood Madame; Pamela Smart, who was accused of persuading her high school student/lover to kill her husband; Kenneth Bianchi, Hillside Strangler; James Earl Ray, Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassin; Jeffrey McDonald, Green Beret Killer; and Richard Allen Davis, Polly Klass’s assassin were interviewed.
In 1998, Dimond joined NBC News, where she co-anchored UpFront Tonight, a weekly CNBC broadcast with Geraldo Rivera, and covered some of the most high-profile stories of the day, including former President Bill Clinton’s trial. She went on to cover the 2000 general election and later worked as a daytime correspondent for MSNBC. Dimond began her freelance career after leaving MSNBC in the summer of 2001, working as an anchor for Court TV then, following the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, as an anchor for FOX News’ War on Terror coverage. Dimond has been on a variety of other shows and networks, including CNN, as a guest on-air reporter.
Diane Dimond Age
How old is Diane? Dimond is 73 years old as of 2026. She was born on 15 November 1952 in Burbank, California, United States. She celebrates her birthday on 15th November every year.
Diane Dimond Education
She attended Mark Twain Elementary School, Jefferson Middle School, and Highland High School.
Diane Dimond Nationality | Ethnicity
What ethnicity is she? Diane belongs to a white ethnicity/heritage. She was born and raised in Burbank, California, the United States, she holds American nationality and citizenship by birth.
Diane Dimond Height
Diane stands at a height of 5 feet 7 inches (1.70 m).
Diane Dimond Family | Siblings | Parents
Dimond Hughes is the only child of Ruby and Allen Hughes and was born in Burbank, California. Her parents owned and operated the Hughes Meat Co. in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and the family moved there.
Diane Dimond Husband | Married
Dimond has been married twice. She first tied the knot with news anchor Chuck Dimond in April 1971, and together they welcomed a daughter named Jenna. Unfortunately, their marriage didn’t last, and they eventually divorced. Currently, she is happily married to Michael Schoen, a broadcast journalist, whom she wed in January 1991.
Diane Dimond Salary
How much does Dimond earn? Dimond earns an annual salary ranging between $90,000 – $ 116,500.
Diane Dimond Net Worth
Diane earns a decent salary and has a good net worth as an investigative journalist, author, syndicated columnist, and TV. She has an estimated net worth ranging between $1 m – $3m which she has earned through being a journalist.
Diane Dimond Books
- Diane Dimond: Volume I
- Be Careful Who You Love: Inside the Michael Jackson Case
- Thinking Outside the Crime and Justice Box
Diane Dimond Michael Jackson
Living with Michael Jackson, a documentary by British journalist Martin Bashir, was released in 2003 and focused on the tale of Gavin Arvizo, a teenage cancer survivor, and his family, who had been living with Jackson since 2000. In the documentary, Jackson reported having sleepovers with Arvizo and other kids. The film enraged viewers, prompting a new investigation into allegations of child mistreatment. Following the filing of new allegations against Jackson, Court TV convinced Dimond to join them as their full-time Chief News Correspondent to cover the case and eventual prosecution.
