Michele Gillen
Michele Gillen
Michele Gillen is chief investigative reporter at WFOR-TV, Miami, Florida. Gillen, who has served as an anchor and investigative reporter on both network and local television news, is the recipient of 23 National Academy of Television Arts and Science (NATAS) Emmy awards, the Columbia DuPont Silver Baton, the Edward R. Murrow Award for Investigative Reporting, three Green Eyeshade Awards, and has been honored twice by the Foundation of American Women in Radio and Television.
Gillen came to WFOR from KCBS-TV, the CBS station in Los Angeles, where she worked as investigative reporter since June, 1995. Prior to joining KCBS, Gillen produced and reported a number of investigative series for the nationally-syndicated news magazine The Crusaders. From 1993 to 1994, Gillen worked at WTVJ (NBC) Miami, as anchor of the 6 and 11 PM newscasts and investigative reporter. Before joining WTVJ, she served as investigative correspondent for NBC News from 1988 to 1993. During her last two years at NBC News, Gillen was a featured investigative correspondent on the news magazine broadcasts Exposé and Dateline NBC. She worked from 1980 to 1988 at WPLG (ABC), Miami, as anchor and investigative reporter. Gillen began her broadcast journalism career as morning anchor and reporter for WLBZ-TV (NBC) in Bangor, Maine. Later, she moved to WCSH-TV (NBC), Portland, Maine where she served as the evening news co-anchor.
Gillen has a long history of initiating investigative reports which result in significant legislative and/or law-enforcement policy changes. While at KCBS, she reported and produced a special investigative series titled “Mammography- Too Young to Die”. The series, which was selected best of show for all investigative reporting (local and network) by the Foundation of American Women in Radio and Television, exposed a flawed government policy on mammography and was credited by members of U.S. Congress.
Michele produced a pioneering five-part special report for “The Crusaders,” which focused on domestic violence, particularly in South Florida. Her reporting resulted in a county-wide task force which provided cameras to police agencies to use in documenting domestic violence reports. At WTVJ, she won two Emmy Awards for an investigative series on elderly abuse at state-licensed South Florida nursing homes. The series helped initiate important legislative and law-enforcement changes to fight elderly abuse. While working for “NBC Nightly News with Tom Brokaw,” she conducted a four-month investigation of substandard mammography equipment which resulted in the creation and passage of the first federal law setting national standards for mammography.
Gillen graduated valedictorian from Emerson College in Boston, Massachusetts, with a Bachelor of Arts degree in speech and mass communications. A native of Jackson Heights, Queens, New York, she served on the Board of Overseers at Emerson College.
Focus on South Florida: “Independence on the Runway-No Limits”
The second annual event presented by the Center for Independent Living in Broward County supports the 20-year mission of the center: to empower and offer asistance to people with disabilities. We focus on how the unique fashion show changes lives
Focus on South Florida: School for Advanced Studies
South Florida’s School for Advanced Studies is honored by Newsweek magazine as the sixth best in the nation. We take you inside SAS to see what makes it so special and talk with the school’s principal and two of its students.
Focus on South Florida: Veterans & PTSD
Janine Lutz has started up a nonprofit to help troubled veterans and their families, after her own son, who was suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, committed suicide.
CBS4 Investigates: Soldier Battling PTSD Ends His Life
A South Florida soldier battling post-traumatic stress disorder whose struggles were previously profiled by CBS4 News has taken his own life.
Focus on South Florida: Mother’s Day
The focus is on the Guardian ad Litem program and how the program helps abused, abandoned, and neglected children. We meet a young man whose Guardian ad Litem has been like a mother to him over the six years they have been in each other’s lives.
Focus on South Florida: Brain Banks
Brain banks are changing the way doctors are treating patients. At the University of Miami, brain tissue is studied at the Brain Endowment Bank and sent to researchers worldwide. We focus on the work done there, and how it helps unlock the mysteries of diseases like Alzheimer’s.
Focus on South Florida: Victim’s Rights
The survivor of a brutal crime that killed her daughter and 2 other people is speaking out to help others like her. The focus is on local efforts to increase public awareness of, and knowledge among crime victims and survivors about the range of rights and services available to them.
Focus on South Florida: Asian-Pacific American Heritage
May is Asian-Pacific American Heritage month. The Museum of Discovery & Science in Fort Lauderdale is hosting its second annual event to promote awareness of what has become a national celebration in May.
Focus on South Florida: Youth Town Hall
An upcoming Youth Town Hall meeting is designed to provide a platform for young people to organize and discuss issues like South Florida’s epidemic of street violence, education challenges, and childhood obesity. The think tank-like environment will help set the stage for inspiring students to create real solutions.
Focus on South Florida: Adverse Possession
The Florida legislature’s action to close a loophole in the old and outdated Adverse Possession law will affect all of us and the local economy. We take CBS4 Chief Investigator Michele Gillen’s report on the contorversy surrounding Adverse Possession one step further to discuss the impact.
CBS Miami Sections
Shopping Around South Florida
Best Shopping Centers & Malls
From Sawgrass Mills to the Falls, these are your best bets for malls.
Best South Florida Thrift Stores
Malls too expensive? Check out the bargains and be thrifty.
