Tammy Leitner
Encyclopedia
Tammy Leitner is an investigative TV reporter and former reality television
contestant.
Leitner graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles
with a bachelor's degree in English, before eventually completing her master's degree in journalism from Boston University
in Massachusetts. She established her reputation as a hard-nosed journalist, writing for newspapers in New York
and Arizona
, which includes the New York Post
. Leitner was honored by the Associated Press Managing Editors for stories she did when she was a police reporter for the East Valley Tribune
in Mesa, Arizona
.
Building a reputation as a tough-nosed journalist, Leitner has burst into a burning building, worked as a member of a NASCAR
pit crew, gone one-on-one with trained attack dogs and volunteered to be shot by a Taser
. Leitner has earned multiple awards in Arizona and New York for crime reporting, including Arizona Press Club Awards for coverage of a serial rapist, the Arizona angle on the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, and legendary mob informant Sammy "The Bull" Gravano's arrest in Arizona. She was also honored in 1999 by the city of Scottsdale, Ariz., for saving a drowning man.
Leitner was a participant in the 4th edition of the reality TV program Survivor
, which was filmed in late 2001 and aired in 2002. She was the 10th contestant voted off.
Leitner joined the news staff of KPHO, the CBS affiliate in Phoenix, Arizona
, as a crime reporter on September 3, 2002. She has won five Rocky Mountain Emmy Awards
- the first in 2004 for a piece she did on Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio
's notorious tent city
, the second in 2006 for a breaking news story, her third in 2007 for continuing coverage of an investigative story, and her fourth and fifth for a weeklong series called "Assault on Arizona," which focused on crime and illegal immigration issues at the Arizona-Mexico border. Leitner has 18 Rocky Mountain Emmy nominations to her credit.
Leitner is also an accomplished athlete and a member of PowerBar Team Elite. She finished first in her division at the 2007 Subaru Women's Triathlon in San Diego, second to Survivor: Marquesas castmate Gina Crews in the celebrity division of the 2006 Nautica Malibu Triathlon, third in her division at the 2008 Las Palomas triathlon and fourth in her division at the 2007 Santa Barbara Triathlon. Leitner also routinely finishes in the top three in her age group at Phoenix, Arizona
-area running races and triathlons.
Reality television
Reality television is a genre of television programming that presents purportedly unscripted dramatic or humorous situations, documents actual events, and usually features ordinary people instead of professional actors, sometimes in a contest or other situation where a prize is awarded...
contestant.
Leitner graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles
University of California, Los Angeles
The University of California, Los Angeles is a public research university located in the Westwood neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, USA. It was founded in 1919 as the "Southern Branch" of the University of California and is the second oldest of the ten campuses...
with a bachelor's degree in English, before eventually completing her master's degree in journalism from Boston University
Boston University
Boston University is a private research university located in Boston, Massachusetts. With more than 4,000 faculty members and more than 31,000 students, Boston University is one of the largest private universities in the United States and one of Boston's largest employers...
in Massachusetts. She established her reputation as a hard-nosed journalist, writing for newspapers in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
and Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
, which includes the New York Post
New York Post
The New York Post is the 13th-oldest newspaper published in the United States and is generally acknowledged as the oldest to have been published continuously as a daily, although – as is the case with most other papers – its publication has been periodically interrupted by labor actions...
. Leitner was honored by the Associated Press Managing Editors for stories she did when she was a police reporter for the East Valley Tribune
East Valley Tribune
The East Valley Tribune is a publication concentrating on cities within the East Valley region of metropolitan Phoenix, including Mesa, Tempe, Chandler, Gilbert and Queen Creek....
in Mesa, Arizona
Mesa, Arizona
According to the 2010 Census, the racial composition of Mesa was as follows:* White: 77.1% * Hispanic or Latino : 26.54%* Black or African American: 3.5%* Two or more races: 3.4%* Native American: 2.4%...
.
Building a reputation as a tough-nosed journalist, Leitner has burst into a burning building, worked as a member of a NASCAR
NASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
pit crew, gone one-on-one with trained attack dogs and volunteered to be shot by a Taser
Taser
A Taser is an electroshock weapon that uses electrical current to disrupt voluntary control of muscles. Its manufacturer, Taser International, calls the effects "neuromuscular incapacitation" and the devices' mechanism "Electro-Muscular Disruption technology"...
. Leitner has earned multiple awards in Arizona and New York for crime reporting, including Arizona Press Club Awards for coverage of a serial rapist, the Arizona angle on the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, and legendary mob informant Sammy "The Bull" Gravano's arrest in Arizona. She was also honored in 1999 by the city of Scottsdale, Ariz., for saving a drowning man.
Leitner was a participant in the 4th edition of the reality TV program Survivor
Survivor: Marquesas
Survivor: Marquesas is the fourth season of the United States reality show Survivor. Hosted by Jeff Probst, it aired from February 28 - May 19, 2002 on CBS. Thirteen episodes aired, plus a mid-season recap and live interview with Rosie O'Donnell...
, which was filmed in late 2001 and aired in 2002. She was the 10th contestant voted off.
Leitner joined the news staff of KPHO, the CBS affiliate 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...
, as a crime reporter on September 3, 2002. She has won five Rocky Mountain Emmy Awards
Rocky Mountain Emmy Awards
The Rocky Mountain Emmy Awards are a division of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. The Litchfield Park, Arizona division was founded in 1980...
- the first in 2004 for a piece she did on Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio
Joe Arpaio
Joseph M. "Joe" Arpaio is the elected Sheriff of Maricopa County in the U.S. state of Arizona. First voted into office in 1992, Arpaio is responsible for law enforcement in Maricopa County. This includes management of the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office, county jail, courtroom security,...
's notorious tent city
Tent City
A tent city is a temporary housing facility made using tents. Informal tent cities may be set up without authorization by homeless people or protesters. As well, state governments or military organizations set up tent cities to house refugees, evacuees, or soldiers...
, the second in 2006 for a breaking news story, her third in 2007 for continuing coverage of an investigative story, and her fourth and fifth for a weeklong series called "Assault on Arizona," which focused on crime and illegal immigration issues at the Arizona-Mexico border. Leitner has 18 Rocky Mountain Emmy nominations to her credit.
Leitner is also an accomplished athlete and a member of PowerBar Team Elite. She finished first in her division at the 2007 Subaru Women's Triathlon in San Diego, second to Survivor: Marquesas castmate Gina Crews in the celebrity division of the 2006 Nautica Malibu Triathlon, third in her division at the 2008 Las Palomas triathlon and fourth in her division at the 2007 Santa Barbara Triathlon. Leitner also routinely finishes in the top three in her age group at 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...
-area running races and triathlons.