Chris Hansen

Chris Hansen is an American investigative journalist and television personality known for his extensive work in broadcast news and true crime reporting. Hansen graduated from Michigan State University with a Bachelor of Arts in telecommunication and began his career as a reporter for NBC affiliate WILX in Lansing, Michigan, during his senior year. He later joined NBC News as a correspondent for the news magazine "Now with Tom Brokaw and Katie Couric," where he covered major events such as the Columbine High School massacre, the Oklahoma City bombing, and the September 11 attacks.

Hansen received multiple Emmy Awards for his investigative reporting, including his undercover work on child sex trafficking in Cambodia. His career reached a pivotal moment with the creation of "To Catch a Predator," which started as a series of segments on Dateline NBC under the title "Dangerous Web." The series became the most popular segment on Dateline, gaining cultural significance through references in "The Simpsons," "30 Rock," and Conan O'Brien's opening sketch at the Primetime Emmy Awards. The segments attracted more than 10 million viewers at their peak. Hansen authored the book "To Catch a Predator: Protecting Your Kids from Online Enemies Already in Your Home."

Throughout his career, Hansen has received numerous honors, including eight Emmy Awards, four Edward R. Murrow Awards, three Clarion Awards, an Overseas Press Club award, an IRE award, a National Press Club award, an International Consortium of Investigative Journalists Award, and recognition from the Associated Press and United Press International. The KidSafe Foundation honored Hansen with the Child Advocate of the Year award for his work in raising awareness about online child predators. He has appeared on programs such as "The Oprah Winfrey Show," "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" and "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart."

After leaving NBC, Hansen hosted "Killer Instinct" on Investigation Discovery, focusing on homicide investigations. He also hosted the syndicated series "Crime Watch Daily," where he introduced the segment "Hansen vs. Predator," a revival of his Dateline feature. His involvement contributed to increased ratings for the program. Hansen co-founded the true crime streaming service TruBlu, producing and starring in the web series "Takedown with Chris Hansen." He has also hosted the podcast "Predators I've Caught," revisiting his predator investigations and providing new insights.

Hansen's work in investigative journalism and child safety advocacy continues to influence the true crime and broadcast news industries, establishing him as a prominent voice on issues related to online safety and criminal investigations.