Christina Gonzalez
Encyclopedia
Christina Gonzalez is a news reporter currently a reporter for FOX 11 (KTTV
). She has been with FOX 11 since 1990.
grew up in Caracas, Venezuela and Miami, Florida
, and graduated cum laude from the University of Miami
Gonzalez began her career in radio producing shows for WNWS in Miami, Florida. From there she hosted popular radio talk shows and anchoring news updates for KVVA
Radio in Phoenix.
Gonzalez’ television broadcasting career began in the mid 1980’s as a general assignment reporter for KTVW in Phoenix, Arizona
.
In the late 1980s Gonzalez anchored the 6pm and 10pm newscasts for Univision’s
Los Angeles-affiliate: KMEX. As a fill-in anchor, she was regularly seen on the station’s 6:30pm newscast. In 1990, upon joining Fox, she became the first journalist from a Spanish language station to successfully "cross over" to English Language TV news.
In May 1991, Gonzalez spearheaded Fox 11’s “On Our Toes” program. This unique ballet alternative program for at risk teenagers was endorsed by the LA County Probation Department. Acknowledgement for her work with the dancers came from school districts and community agencies. Awards for a half hour special documenting “On Our Toes” came from Women in Communications, with a 1993 Clarion Award for best public affairs program, and another Los Angeles area Emmy nomination for arts & culture programming.
Her reports on the violence at the US/Mexico border were nominated for additional Emmys in 1991.
As an active community supporter, Gonzalez is a frequent guest speaker, counsel to young people, and mentor for several schools and colleges. Her involvement has garnered recognition from several Southern California organizations and city governments, including the Los Angeles City Council
, which cited her for her “extraordinary commitment and numerous contributions to serving the community".
The California House of Representatives lauded her “…effort for deserving women in the 34th Congressional District”.
In 1994, Gonzalez wrote, produced and anchored another special, “California Aids Ride” about the weeklong 530 miles fundraising cycling event. Her work received Golden Mike awards for best documentary, news videography and videotape editing, and a regional Emmy Award nomination in 1995.
For live reports from the Burlington Apartments fire, Gonzalez received a 1994 Golden Mike Award for best Spot News Reporting, a local 1994 Emmy nomination, and the LA Press Club’s Above and Beyond Award for her live-saving efforts at the fire scene. The city and county of Los Angeles and the California State Legislature
commended her as well
In 1997, Gonzalez wrote, produced and anchored “Through the Eyes of the Children: War in Bosnia“, a half hour news special about children living in the uneasy peace of Sarajevo
, in the former Yugoslavia
. Through the "Eyes of the Children" received the Golden Mike Award for best documentary and was a finalist for the prestigious Edward R. Murrow Award
.
In 1999, Gonzalez traveled to refugee camps in southeast Sudan
, to work with and document the relief efforts battling a famine and civil war. That coverage earned her two Emmy nominations that year. Later that year she received another Golden Mike Award for her reporting of religious pilgrimages in Cuba
and Haiti
.
For her 2000 documentary work, she received two Los Angeles area Emmy awards. “Black and Brown – When Colors Collide“, examined interracial tensions between teenagers. Another half-hour special, “LA Riots…From This Day Forward“, looked at changes since the deadliest urban riots in U.S. history, which Gonzalez herself covered for Fox 11, in 1992.
In 2001, she received three more Emmy nominations for investigative reports on slave labor, health care abuses and features on horse training.
In 2002, Gonzalez’ undercover investigation and reporting on pyramid schemes led to the raid and prosecution of what LAPD officials allege to be the most extensive pyramid fraud in the history of Los Angeles. “Light of Gold Pyramid Scheme” was honored at the 2002 Los Angeles Press Club Journalism Awards.
. She criticized LAPD officers after they pushed and struck her and several other members of the media during protests. She yelled "YOU CAN'T DO THAT! YOU CANNOT DO THAT!" in response to the LAPD shoving her and her camerawoman Patricia Lynn Ballaz and telling them to leave the park.
The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office
found that although the officers tactics may have been questionable there was not enough evidence to seek criminal proceedings against the officers. Gonzalez and several other journalists would file civil lawsuits against both the LAPD and the city. On February 4, 2009 the LA city council voted to settle lawsuits resulting from the incident for $12.85 millions dollars.
. Though her name was not mentioned on his former radio show Leykis has stated that during his time in Arizona his then wife cheated on him. Since Gonzalez was married to Leykis at the time and working in Arizona it came under attention that she was the wife that cheated on him. Leykis found out about Gonzalez’ alleged infidelity by finding various hotel receipts this in turn caused a divorce between them.
Gonzalez's current husband is a retired LAPD
officer. The couple lives in Los Angeles
.
KTTV
KTTV, channel 11, is an owned-and-operated television station of the News Corporation-owned Fox Broadcasting Company, located in Los Angeles, California. Serving the vast Los Angeles metropolitan area, KTTV is a sister station to KCOP , Los Angeles' MyNetworkTV station...
). She has been with FOX 11 since 1990.
Biography
Gonzalez was born in New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
grew up in Caracas, Venezuela and Miami, Florida
Miami, Florida
Miami is a city located on the Atlantic coast in southeastern Florida and the county seat of Miami-Dade County, the most populous county in Florida and the eighth-most populous county in the United States with a population of 2,500,625...
, and graduated cum laude from the University of Miami
University of Miami
The University of Miami is a private, non-sectarian university founded in 1925 with its main campus in Coral Gables, Florida, a medical campus in Miami city proper at Civic Center, and an oceanographic research facility on Virginia Key., the university currently enrolls 15,629 students in 12...
Gonzalez began her career in radio producing shows for WNWS in Miami, Florida. From there she hosted popular radio talk shows and anchoring news updates for KVVA
KVVA
KVVA-FM is a radio station licensed to Apache Junction, Arizona, broadcasting a Spanish Top 40 music format. The station serves the Phoenix area...
Radio in Phoenix.
Gonzalez’ television broadcasting career began in the mid 1980’s as a general assignment reporter for KTVW in Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix is the capital, and largest city, of the U.S. state of Arizona, as well as the sixth most populated city in the United States. Phoenix is home to 1,445,632 people according to the official 2010 U.S. Census Bureau data...
.
In the late 1980s Gonzalez anchored the 6pm and 10pm newscasts for Univision’s
Univision
Univision is a Spanish-language television network in the United States. It has the largest audience of Spanish language television viewers according to Nielsen ratings. Randy Falco, COO, has been in charge of the company since the departure of Univision Communications president and CEO Joe Uva...
Los Angeles-affiliate: KMEX. As a fill-in anchor, she was regularly seen on the station’s 6:30pm newscast. In 1990, upon joining Fox, she became the first journalist from a Spanish language station to successfully "cross over" to English Language TV news.
In May 1991, Gonzalez spearheaded Fox 11’s “On Our Toes” program. This unique ballet alternative program for at risk teenagers was endorsed by the LA County Probation Department. Acknowledgement for her work with the dancers came from school districts and community agencies. Awards for a half hour special documenting “On Our Toes” came from Women in Communications, with a 1993 Clarion Award for best public affairs program, and another Los Angeles area Emmy nomination for arts & culture programming.
Her reports on the violence at the US/Mexico border were nominated for additional Emmys in 1991.
As an active community supporter, Gonzalez is a frequent guest speaker, counsel to young people, and mentor for several schools and colleges. Her involvement has garnered recognition from several Southern California organizations and city governments, including the Los Angeles City Council
Los Angeles City Council
The Los Angeles City Council is the governing body of the City of Los Angeles.The Council is composed of fifteen members elected from single-member districts for four-year terms. The president of the council and the president pro tempore are chosen by the Council at the first regular meeting after...
, which cited her for her “extraordinary commitment and numerous contributions to serving the community".
The California House of Representatives lauded her “…effort for deserving women in the 34th Congressional District”.
In 1994, Gonzalez wrote, produced and anchored another special, “California Aids Ride” about the weeklong 530 miles fundraising cycling event. Her work received Golden Mike awards for best documentary, news videography and videotape editing, and a regional Emmy Award nomination in 1995.
For live reports from the Burlington Apartments fire, Gonzalez received a 1994 Golden Mike Award for best Spot News Reporting, a local 1994 Emmy nomination, and the LA Press Club’s Above and Beyond Award for her live-saving efforts at the fire scene. The city and county of Los Angeles and the California State Legislature
California State Legislature
The California State Legislature is the state legislature of the U.S. state of California. It is a bicameral body consisting of the lower house, the California State Assembly, with 80 members, and the upper house, the California State Senate, with 40 members...
commended her as well
In 1997, Gonzalez wrote, produced and anchored “Through the Eyes of the Children: War in Bosnia“, a half hour news special about children living in the uneasy peace of Sarajevo
Sarajevo
Sarajevo |Bosnia]], surrounded by the Dinaric Alps and situated along the Miljacka River in the heart of Southeastern Europe and the Balkans....
, in the former Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia refers to three political entities that existed successively on the western part of the Balkans during most of the 20th century....
. Through the "Eyes of the Children" received the Golden Mike Award for best documentary and was a finalist for the prestigious Edward R. Murrow Award
Edward R. Murrow Award
The Edward R. Murrow Awards are presented by the Radio-Television News Directors Association in recognition of what the Association terms "outstanding achievements in electronic journalism."-Judging:...
.
In 1999, Gonzalez traveled to refugee camps in southeast Sudan
Sudan
Sudan , officially the Republic of the Sudan , is a country in North Africa, sometimes considered part of the Middle East politically. It is bordered by Egypt to the north, the Red Sea to the northeast, Eritrea and Ethiopia to the east, South Sudan to the south, the Central African Republic to the...
, to work with and document the relief efforts battling a famine and civil war. That coverage earned her two Emmy nominations that year. Later that year she received another Golden Mike Award for her reporting of religious pilgrimages in Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
and Haiti
Haiti
Haiti , officially the Republic of Haiti , is a Caribbean country. It occupies the western, smaller portion of the island of Hispaniola, in the Greater Antillean archipelago, which it shares with the Dominican Republic. Ayiti was the indigenous Taíno or Amerindian name for the island...
.
For her 2000 documentary work, she received two Los Angeles area Emmy awards. “Black and Brown – When Colors Collide“, examined interracial tensions between teenagers. Another half-hour special, “LA Riots…From This Day Forward“, looked at changes since the deadliest urban riots in U.S. history, which Gonzalez herself covered for Fox 11, in 1992.
In 2001, she received three more Emmy nominations for investigative reports on slave labor, health care abuses and features on horse training.
In 2002, Gonzalez’ undercover investigation and reporting on pyramid schemes led to the raid and prosecution of what LAPD officials allege to be the most extensive pyramid fraud in the history of Los Angeles. “Light of Gold Pyramid Scheme” was honored at the 2002 Los Angeles Press Club Journalism Awards.
Los Angeles May Day Mêlée
On May 1, 2007 she was involved in the immigration rally mêlée at MacArthur ParkMacArthur Park
MacArthur Park is a park in the Westlake neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, named after General Douglas MacArthur and designated city of Los Angeles Historic Cultural Monument #100.- Geography :...
. She criticized LAPD officers after they pushed and struck her and several other members of the media during protests. She yelled "YOU CAN'T DO THAT! YOU CANNOT DO THAT!" in response to the LAPD shoving her and her camerawoman Patricia Lynn Ballaz and telling them to leave the park.
The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office
Los Angeles County District Attorney
The District Attorney of Los Angeles County prosecutes felony and misdemeanor crimes that occur within the jurisdiction of Los Angeles County, California....
found that although the officers tactics may have been questionable there was not enough evidence to seek criminal proceedings against the officers. Gonzalez and several other journalists would file civil lawsuits against both the LAPD and the city. On February 4, 2009 the LA city council voted to settle lawsuits resulting from the incident for $12.85 millions dollars.
Personal
Gonzalez was formerly married to radio talk show host Tom LeykisTom Leykis
Thomas Joseph Leykis is an American radio personality. He currently hosts The Tasting Room with Tom Leykis, a weekly lifestyle program dealing with fine food and drink, airing weekends mainly in West Coast markets...
. Though her name was not mentioned on his former radio show Leykis has stated that during his time in Arizona his then wife cheated on him. Since Gonzalez was married to Leykis at the time and working in Arizona it came under attention that she was the wife that cheated on him. Leykis found out about Gonzalez’ alleged infidelity by finding various hotel receipts this in turn caused a divorce between them.
Gonzalez's current husband is a retired LAPD
Los Angeles Police Department
The Los Angeles Police Department is the police department of the city of Los Angeles, California. With just under 10,000 officers and more than 3,000 civilian staff, covering an area of with a population of more than 4.1 million people, it is the third largest local law enforcement agency in...
officer. The couple lives in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
.