Wendy Halloran
Wendy Halloran likes fighting for the "little guy." She's an Emmy Award winning Investigative Reporter who exposes con-artists, unscrupulous contractors, shady businesses, identity thieves and government corruption. She holds the powerful accountable. Halloran is perhaps best known for exposing a threat to our national security when she uncovered workers in missile defense with top secret security clearance... were holders of counterfeit credentials. She got the attention of Congress. Halloran came to Phoenix from WHNT-TV in Northern Alabama where the "dirt" is knee-deep. She was the Chief Investigative Reporter. Now, she is here fighting for you in Arizona.
In 2011 she won an Emmy for investigative reporting from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. Halloran's investigations have garnered 6 Emmy nominations for investigative reporting, business/consumer reporting, writing and enterprise reporting in addition to multiple awards from the Associated Press. Each year Halloran worked at WHNT-TV her exclusive investigations were awarded with top honors. She was awarded Best Investigative Reporter for 2008 and 2009 by the Alabama Associated Press. Twice, the Alabama Associated Press named Halloran that state's "Best Specialized Reporter of the Year," for her consumer investigations. She was also awarded Best Series by the Alabama AP for "Where's the Justice?" an investigation that exposed a loophole in Alabama's DUI law that allows drunk drivers who kill-to keep their driver's license.
In 2009 she broke a national investigation after uncovering fake college diplomas had infiltrated all levels of the U.S. Army including the Army Aviation and Missile Command. The investigative reports triggered a U.S. Army probe as well as a Commander's Inquiry on Redstone Arsenal, the premiere site of the U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Command. In 2010, the expose resulted in a federal bill, U.S. House Resolution 4535, "The Diploma and Accreditation Integrity Protection Act." If passed by Congress, it would make using a fake diploma a federal crime. In 2011 Breach of Trust garnered an Emmy Award in the Investigative Series category.
Also in 2009-2010 Halloran's hidden camera investigation into an air duct cleaning scam by a company called Pure Kleen revealed a con that's happening all across the country. WHNT-TV teamed up with the Better Business Bureau of North Alabama and was able to expose homeowners being systematically ripped off to the tune of hundreds of thousands of dollars with bait and switch tactics. Pure Kleen told the homeowners they had mold in their home even when they didn't. The investigation revealed Pure Kleen was being operated by a criminal syndicate and was actually one of a large group of related air duct cleaning businesses running similar "bait and switch" advertisements. The multi-part investigation shined the light on Pure Kleen and within days of being exposed on the local newscast Pure Kleen closed its doors. After Halloran left Alabama, the BBB of North Alabama partnered with Dateline NBC for an episode of The Hansen Files which further exposed these rogue companies.
Following the deadly shootings at the University of Alabama in Huntsville-allegedly at the hands of Professor Amy Bishop, Halloran dug deeper into the campus police department's handling of the crisis. Not only was there almost a one hour delay in activating the emergency alert system, she uncovered how campus police officers were being persuaded or forced to change the classification of crimes so as to avoid having to report them. She uncovered corruption and a possible violation of federal law when an undercover producer was denied access to the last 60 days of the daily crime log-caught on hidden camera. The series of hard-hitting reports prompted a federal investigation by the U.S. Department of Education.
Prior to Alabama, Halloran worked at the ABC affiliate in Las Vegas where she specialized in consumer investigations. She held the dubious distinction of being dubbed "a poodle with teeth" for her confrontational skills where she held people accountable for their actions. Her investigations have led to resignations, firings, arrests, grand jury indictments, felony convictions and prison sentences. Wendy's hidden camera stings and consumer advocacy reporting has changed lives and laws to better protect the consumer. Over the last five years, she has recovered more than a million dollars for consumers. Her work has also led to an FDA recall involving blankets used in hospitals nationwide during MRI's. That recall caused the company to re-label the blankets after a tiny cancer patient received third-degree burns.
Wendy is passionate about holding the powerful accountable, righting wrongs and giving a voice to the voiceless. Halloran is a member of Investigative Reporters and Editors, (IRE) the professional organization for investigative journalists.
She attended San Diego State University where she received a B.S. in Criminal Justice Administration with an emphasis on Criminal Law and completed the Broadcast Journalism program at the University of Nevada-Reno Donald W. Reynolds School of Journalism. Halloran is originally from the West Coast and has worked as a television journalist for more than a decade.
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Read more: http://www.azcentral.com/12news/bios/articles/wendyhalloranbio071510.html#ixzz1nmZic1QY
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