Jennifer Santiago

Jennifer Santiago
Born
Jennifer Klarman
Occupation(s)Attorney, freelance writer, photographer, journalist, model
Notable workRunnin' At Midnite (2001 film)
AwardsGenesis Awards, Emmy

Jennifer Santiago is an attorney, freelance writer, photographer, model, and Emmy Award-winning reporter for HDNews.

Early life and education

In 1997, she received her J.D. degree, with honors, from Villanova University School of Law in Pennsylvania where she was also a member of The Villanova Law Review.

Career

In 1998, Santiago posed for pictorials (under her name at birth, Jennifer Klarman) that appeared in several Playboy special editions.[1][2][3] In one of her pictorials, she posed alongside fellow Villanova Law School graduate and former Playboy playmate Victoria Zdrok.[4]

Santiago is a lawyer,[5] who began a journalism career with WFOR-TV, the CBS affiliate in Miami.[6]

She co-produced the independent feature film Runnin' At Midnite, which was selected for several film festivals.[7] The 2001 Chicano basketball drama was directed by Pablo Toledo.[8]

Santiago cites her report that led to then governor Charlie Crist freeing a man named Richard Peay who was sentenced to a 25-year mandatory prison term as the highlight of her professional journalism career, according to an interview she did with Aventura Business Monthly.[9]

In February 2006, Congressman Kendrick Meek sent President George W. Bush a copy of Santiago's report "Return to Haiti", urging the President to halt the deportations of Haitians because of an omission in the Haitian Refugee Immigration Fairness Act.[10] "Return to Haiti" chronicled the story of an undocumented Haitian migrant who was sent back to Haiti after living in the United States for 15 years. He left behind three U.S. born children and a wife. "Return to Haiti" won numerous awards and recognition from prominent Haitian Advocates[11] such as Congressman Meek and Haitian-American political activist Marleine Bastien.[12]

Santiago, a reported vegetarian,[13] received a Genesis Award in 2007 from the Humane Society of the United States. The award was given in recognition of a series of reports including "Stopping the Seal Hunt" — which also appeared on the CBS Evening News.[14]

To mark his first 100 days in office, Florida Governor Charlie Crist gave Santiago an exclusive interview in Tallahassee.[when?][citation needed]

Bloggers have called her "the Angelina Jolie of news" because of her diverse resume and penchant for traveling to third-world countries alone for news stories.[15]

Awards for television reporting

  • Emmy Winner On Camera-Talent/Focus on South Florida 2007.
  • SFBJA Award Reporting "A Sanctuary From Slavery" 2007.
  • HSUS Genesis Award "Stopping the Seal Hunt" 2007.
  • Emmy Nominee Historic/Cultural Reporting "Meet the Masai"; Public Affairs "Focus on South Florida" 2006.
  • Telly Award Winner Reporting "Stopping the Seal Hunt" 2007.
  • Chuck Stone Award of Excellence Reporting "A Sanctuary From Slavery"Problem Of Child Slavery 2007.
  • Emmy Winner Reporting "Children for Sale"
  • Telly Award Winner Reporting "Save the Elephants" 2006.
  • Telly Award Winner Reporting "Return to Haiti" 2006.
  • SPJ Sunshine State Nominee Investigative Reporting "A Painful Sentence" 2006.
  • SPJ Sunshine State Award Investigative Reporting "Return to Haiti"2005.
  • SFBJA Award Reporting "Return to Haiti" 2005.
  • HSUS Genesis Award Commendation Reporting "Save the Elephants" 2005.
  • Emmy Nominee Reporting "Death Row Debate" 2004.

References

  1. ^ "Windy City Blowup", by Dan Trigoboff, Broadcasting & Cable, March 9, 2001
  2. ^ "Ch. 2 bosses refuse to bare anchor plans", by Robert Feder, Chicago Sun-Times, August 29, 2001 Archived August 26, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
  3. ^ radio transcript, On The Media September 1, 2001 Archived September 27, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
  4. ^ See Victoria Zdrok's listing of Playboy Special Edition Appearances
  5. ^ "Walker's son may make his own political footprint". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved March 29, 2023.
  6. ^ "CBS4 News Team: Jennifer Santiago". Archived from the original on September 27, 2007.
  7. ^ Foundas, Scott (August 14, 2003). "Runnin' at Midnite". Variety. Retrieved March 29, 2023.
  8. ^ Villarreal, Phil. "Chicano films in the spotlight". Arizona Daily Star. Retrieved March 29, 2023.
  9. ^ Jennifer Santiago Interview on AventuraBusinessMonthly.com May 2011 Archived April 30, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
  10. ^ Congressman Kendrick P. Meek Press Release:"Meek Urges President Bush, Governor Bush to Support Legislation to Aid Haitian Immigrants." Feb. 3, 2006. Archived May 30, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
  11. ^ Haiti Justice Blog:"Haiti Legislative Priority Part 2: Immigration Reform." March 1, 2007. Archived September 28, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
  12. ^ "Marleine Bastien, founder and current Executive Director". Archived from the original on April 4, 2007. Retrieved May 31, 2007.
  13. ^ "Jennifer Santiago:South Florida Reporter Putting Animal Rights in the Spotlight,"ARFF Newsletter, pg.3, Fall 2006.
  14. ^ "Activists, Hunters Spar Over Seal Hunt - CBS Evening News - CBS News". CBS News. June 4, 2011. Archived from the original on June 4, 2011. Retrieved March 29, 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  15. ^ The Cairns Blog: "Yet More Lawyers in TV News(And Elsewhere)" March 13, 2007.