Gio Benitez

CBS4 Reporter Gio Benitez

Gio Benitez has been a reporter for CBS4 News since June 2009. His first story on the air made television history because it was shot entirely with the iPhone 3GS.

In January 2010, he was the first reporter to arrive in the Florida Keys just minutes after U.S. Marshals captured Paul Michael Merhige, the man accused of killing four members of his family on Thanksgiving Day in 2009. Merhige had been on the run for a month.

Gio also traveled to Port-au-Prince, Haiti to cover relief efforts following the most devastating earthquake to ever hit the region. But instead of making a direct return, the plane was diverted to the island of Curacao, just off the coast of Venezuela, carrying injured evacuees from Haiti. While in Curacao, Gio interviewed the Prime Minister of the Netherlands Antilles.

He joined CBS4 News as an investigative producer with the CBS4 I-Team in May 2008. He worked on stories involving Medicare fraud, daycare safety, toxic soil, government corruption, and public safety.

As a college student, Gio was a work-study scholar at CBS through the Emma L. Bowen Foundation for Minority Interests in Media, a national organization which prepares minority youth for careers in the media industry. He was honored with the Foundation’s “Student of the Year” national award in his senior year.

Before joining CBS4 News, Gio was a correspondent for the nationally syndicated radio show, “Into Tomorrow with Dave Graveline,” covering consumer electronics and technology.

Gio is also the recipient of two regional Emmy Awards from the NATAS Suncoast Chapter.

He graduated from Florida International University’s School of International and Public Affairs with a degree in Sociology and Anthropology.