Michelle Gallardo ABC7 Chicago Bio, Age, Husband, Net Worth

Michelle Gallardo Biography: ABC7 Chicago News Reporter & Adventurous Ironman Athlete

Michelle Gallardo is an Emmy Award-winning journalist and general assignment reporter for ABC7 Chicago (WLS-TV). Known for her dynamic storytelling and global perspective, Gallardo has built a career that bridges cultures, languages, and continents.

Early Life and Education

Born in Mexico City, Mexico, Michelle grew up immersed in two cultures—spending her school years in Mexico and summers with her American family in New York.

This bicultural upbringing shaped her bilingual fluency in English and Spanish and her deep appreciation for diverse perspectives.

Gallardo earned her Bachelor’s degree in International Relations from Universidad de las Américas-Puebla in Mexico and later obtained a Master’s degree in Broadcast Journalism from Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism.

Career at ABC7 Chicago

Michelle joined ABC7 Chicago (WLS-TV) in 2004, where she continues to serve as a General Assignment Reporter. Her work covers a wide range of topics—from breaking local stories to national and international news.

Over the years, Gallardo has become known not only for her professionalism and engaging on-air presence but also for her commitment to telling stories that matter to Chicago’s diverse communities.

Career Highlights and Achievements

• Emmy Award Winner – Honored for excellence in journalism.

• Documentary Production – Produced and reported in the aftermath of the 2004 Asian tsunami in Thailand and Sri Lanka. Her work aired on The Weather Channel and National Geographic’s Storm Stories, earning “Best Documentary” honors at the 2005 Telly Awards.

• Global Reporting Experience – Her assignments have taken her to Washington, D.C., Mexico City, Hollywood, Sri Lanka, and Uganda, reflecting her passion for international storytelling.

Before joining ABC7, Gallardo worked at Univision Chicago as a weather anchor and reporter for three years. She also spent time at Television Azteca in Mexico City, where she covered entertainment news and interviewed major celebrities across the U.S.

Personal Life and Interests

Currently residing in downtown Chicago, Michelle leads an active and adventurous lifestyle. She is a two-time Ironman finisher, an Everest Marathon finisher, and an avid scuba diver. Her athletic pursuits have taken her to events across the globe, including marathons in Tokyo and South Africa.

Gallardo’s journey into fitness began in 2007, when she decided to make her health and endurance a personal priority. Since then, she has embraced challenges that push her beyond her limits—both mentally and physically.

Outside of sports, Michelle describes herself as a foodie, a theater and film enthusiast, and a passionate traveler. She also enjoys reading, cooking, and exploring art and culture.

Public Speaking and Media Appearances

In addition to her reporting, Michelle has been invited to speak about her journalism career and global experiences for networks such as ABC, CNN, and Univision. Her coverage at WLS-TV has included stories on:

• Immigration and ICE operations

• The Chicago Fire stadium development plan

• Local crime and community impact

Quick Facts

• Position: General Assignment Reporter

• Station: ABC7 Chicago (WLS-TV)

• Joined: 2004

• Nationality: American and Mexican (dual citizenship)

• Languages: English and Spanish

• Experience: Over 20 years in local, national, and international news

Michelle Gallardo Age:

Michelle Gallardo Parents and Siblings:

Gallardo was born in Mexico City and raised biculturally, attending school in Mexico during the year and spending summers with her American family in New York.

Her mother made the decision to move to the United States when Michelle was young. Her father became a U.S. citizen in 2017. Information about siblings is not publicly available.

Michelle Gallardo Husband:

Michelle Gallardo has chosen to keep her personal life, including her marital status and relationships, private. As of now, there are no publicly available records confirming whether she is married, single, or in a relationship.

Michelle Gallardo Height:

Michelle Gallardo ABC7 Career Timeline:

1996: Educational and International Experience

This period represents a crucial phase of practical training and initial exposure to professional journalism while still a student at Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism:

• Brief Stint as Washington Correspondent for WMAQ Radio:

  This role provided direct experience in the fast-paced environment of radio news reporting from a major political hub, the nation’s capital. As a correspondent, she would have been responsible for gathering information, conducting interviews, writing scripts, and delivering news reports tailored for a Chicago audience via WMAQ Radio (an NBC affiliate).

• Production Assistant for GMTV in London:

  This international experience offered a look into the workings of a major broadcast, specifically Good Morning Television (GMTV), a commercial breakfast television franchise in the UK at the time. As a production assistant, her duties likely involved logistical support, research, script preparation, and assisting producers with the technical and editorial flow of the live morning show.

Post-Graduation: Early Career in Washington, D.C.

Following her graduation, she leveraged her Washington experience to secure further roles in the capital, focusing on the production and groundwork of broadcast journalism:

• Associate Producer for Hearst-Argyle TV:

  In this role, she would have been involved in the day-to-day operations of news production for Hearst-Argyle Television (now Hearst Television), likely supporting national coverage or segments for their owned-and-operated stations. Associate producer duties typically involve significant editorial support, including story pitching, research, booking interviews, and coordinating field production.

• Field Producer for Conus Communications:

  This position required a more hands-on approach to on-location news gathering. Conus Communications (a cooperative satellite news-gathering service) provided content to numerous TV stations. As a field producer, she would have managed the logistics and editorial content of a news team on assignment, ensuring the necessary elements (video, sound, interviews) were captured and packaged for broadcast.

1998–2000: On-Camera Reporting in Mexico City

This marks a significant transition to on-camera work and international reporting in a different cultural and linguistic context:

• On-Camera Entertainment Reporter for Televisión Azteca in Mexico City:

  Taking on a visible role for the major Mexican media company Televisión Azteca, she focused on the entertainment beat. This involved traveling to the U.S. to cover events and interview prominent celebrities. This period honed her skills as an on-air personality, developed her interviewing techniques, and expanded her proficiency in Spanish within a professional broadcast setting.

2000: Freelance Coverage of Presidential Elections

This brief but high-impact experience focused on hard news and political coverage for a globally recognized organization:

• Freelanced at CNN’s Mexico City Bureau Covering the Presidential Elections:

  As a freelancer for the Cable News Network (CNN), she contributed to the major international news organization’s coverage of a critical political event—the Mexican presidential elections. This experience would have emphasized impartial reporting, rapid-response journalism, and working within a global news structure to deliver complex political stories to an international audience.

$\approx$2001–2004: Weather and Reporting in Chicago

Returning to a major U.S. market, she specialized in a specific broadcast role before transitioning back to general assignment reporting:

• Weather Anchor/Reporter at Univision Chicago for Three Years:

  This role combined on-air meteorological duties with general reporting. As a weather anchor, she was responsible for presenting forecasts, explaining weather phenomena, and maintaining a professional on-air presence for the local Chicago affiliate of Univision, the Spanish-language network. The combined reporting duties ensured her general journalism skills remained sharp.

2004–Present: Reporting and Documentary Work at ABC7 Chicago

This represents the longest and most established phase of her career, dedicated to local and international news reporting for a major market station:

• Joined ABC7 Chicago (WLS-TV) as a General Assignment Reporter:

  Starting at the ABC-owned and operated station in the third-largest U.S. market (Chicago) as a General Assignment (GA) reporter means she covers a wide range of stories, often on short notice, from local crime and politics to human interest features. This requires versatility, strong news judgment, and the ability to work under pressure.

• Covered the Asian Tsunami Aftermath in Thailand and Sri Lanka, Producing Award-Winning Documentaries:

  A significant highlight of her tenure was the extensive coverage of the devastating 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. This assignment required immersive, long-form journalism, moving beyond daily reporting to produce compelling, award-winning documentaries. This demonstrates her capability in handling complex international disaster coverage and high-level production work.

• Over 20 Years of Reporting and Producing Experience:

  This concluding statement summarizes a career trajectory that has spanned over two decades across diverse beats (entertainment, politics, weather, general assignment), media formats (radio, TV production, on-camera), and locations (Washington, London, Mexico City, Chicago, Thailand, Sri Lanka), highlighting a deep and varied foundation in professional journalism.

Michelle Gallardo works alongside a talented team of journalists and broadcasters at ABC7 Chicago (WLS-TV).

Some of her notable colleagues include:

Michelle Gallardo Net Worth and Salary:

Michelle Gallardo’s net worth is estimated to be between $1 million and $5 million, accumulated through her career as a journalist. Her exact salary is not publicly available, but as an experienced reporter at a major network affiliate, it is likely competitive within the industry range for similar roles.

Is Michelle Gallardo Married?

No, there is no public information indicating that Michelle Gallardo is married. She maintains privacy regarding her personal relationships.

How Old Is Michelle Gallardo?

Where is Michelle Gallardo Working?

Michelle Gallardo is currently working as a general assignment reporter at ABC7 Chicago (WLS-TV), the top-rated ABC affiliate in Chicago, Illinois. She joined the station in 2004 and has since built a distinguished career covering local, national, and international news.

Summary Table

Michelle Gallardo is active on social media:

• Instagram: @michellegallardoabc7

• X (Twitter): @GallardoABC7

• Facebook: Michelle Gallardo ABC7