Michelle Gallardo
Before coming to ABC 7, Michelle spent three years as weather anchor/reporter at Univision Chicago. In all, Michelle has over 20 years of producing and reporting experience that includes local, national, and international news.
Michelle also has extensive experience in the area of documentary production. In 2004, following the Asian tsunami, she travelled to Thailand and Sri Lanka to cover its aftermath. Airing on The Weather Channel and National Geographic's Storm Stories series, the resulting shows earned "Best Documentary" awards at the 2005 Telly's.
Originally from Mexico, Michelle began her on-camera career as an entertainment reporter for Television Azteca in Mexico City. While there, from 1998 to 2000 she travelled to the U.S frequently, interviewing the top celebrities of the day.
Exciting as that was, Michelle jumped at the opportunity to freelance at CNN's Mexico City bureau. This was during the now historic 2000 presidential elections, in which Mexico's ruling party lost power for the first time in 70 years.
Some of Michelle's earliest experience however was gained through opportunities provided to her by Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism, where she attended graduate School. Both in 1996, they include a brief stint as Washington correspondent for WMAQ radio, and as production assistant for GMTV (Good Morning Television) in London. It was upon returning to the U.S that Michelle began her career in earnest. She landed jobs in Washington DC as an associate producer and field producer for Hearst-Argyle TV and Conus Communications respectively.
Born in Mexico City, Michelle is a dual citizen of the United States and Mexico and is fully bilingual and bicultural. She was raised spending school years in Mexico City and summers with her American family in New York.
Michelle received her undergraduate degree in international relations from the Universidad de las Americas-Puebla, in Mexico. She also holds a Master's Degree in Broadcast Journalism from Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism.
Michelle currently lives in downtown Chicago. She's a marathon runner and Ironman triathlete. She also enjoys scuba diving, theater, film, art, reading, cooking and travel.
Find on Facebook
Twitter: @mlgallardo.
Michelle's Stories
Chicago police release photo of 'person of interest' after video shows burning cross in Grant Park
Chicago police released a new photo of a "person of interest" seen fleeing the scene of burning a cross in Grant Park.
Chicago's search for ShotSpotter replacement stalls amid delays from Procurement Department
Even as the mayor has indicated that his office supports finding a replacement, his allies in the city council loudly questioned the need for any gunshot detection technology at all on Tuesday.
Evanston Township HS to reopen Wednesday after cyberattack cancels summer school, sports camps
Evanston Township High School closed because of a ransomware attack.
Hundreds of motorcyclists participate in Chicago Police Memorial Foundation Ride to Remember
Since its inception, the Chicago Memorial Foundation has raised close to $25 million for CPD families in need of assistance.
Illinois bill seeking to streamline e-bike, scooter regulations heads to Gov. Pritzker's desk
E-bikes and scooters have evolved so quickly that the laws have struggled to keep up.
Pedestrian trapped under car after crash in north suburban Aldi parking lot: officials
A pedestrian was trapped under a car after a crash in a north suburban parking lot Wednesday morning, fire officials said.
Construction of new lakefront hospital on South Side considered transformative for Chicago
A major transformation is underway as construction began for a new Chicago Southeast Side hospital.
Signs appearing to threaten immigrants pop up in Waukegan, North Chicago: 'This is pure hatred'
Surveillance video from the area near Ridgeland and Jackson appears to show someone with a ladder putting up one of the signs in the middle of the night.
CPS student speaks out after reuniting with mother in Chicago after both were detained by ICE
ABC7 is hearing from the Chicago Public Schools student recently released from ICE custody, just days before his graduation. He and his mother were taken into custody during a scheduled check-in for their asylum case.
Honor roll student gunned down on way to Tilden High School: 'Our lives changed completely'
Police said the masked shooters also injured two men who were sitting in a van, and a person of interest is in custody.