Phil Ponce joined The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer as national correspondent on September 1, 1997.

Prior to his arrival at The NewsHour, Ponce spent five years at Chicago PBS station WTTW, where he was a correspondent for Chicago Tonight, a 30-minute nightly news analysis program. In addition to reporting for that program, he also has served as the regular Tuesday evening anchor and as the principal backup for Chicago Tonight's main anchor, John Callaway. Ponce has hosted television specials on a range of topics, including education reform, immigration, religion and the changing American workplace. He also wrote a monthly column for the Chicago Tribune.

Prior to his work at WTTW, Ponce spent nine years as a reporter for WBBM-TV, Chicago, where he anchored a public affairs series entitled, "Common Ground." He began his journalism career as reporter for the ABC television affiliate in Indianapolis.

Ponce earned his undergraduate degree in English literature at Indiana University and a law degree from the University of Michigan. He practiced law for seven years before choosing a career in journalism.

In 1993, Ponce received a Peter Lisagor Award for Exemplary Journalism from the Chicago chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists. Ponce was one of three media panelist for the only televised debate in the 1994 race for Illinois governor and the 1996 Illinois race for the U.S. Senate. In 1996 he received recognition for his reporting from the Illinois Associated Press, and he was awarded an honorary Doctor of Letters from Calumet College of St. Joseph in Hammond, Indiana. He received two more Lisagor awards for excellence in business and sports reporting in 1997.

Phil and his wife, Ann, who is an artist, have three children.