Samantha Chatman: Investigative Journalism and Latest Updates
Samantha Chatman is an Emmy Award-winning American journalist, television anchor, consumer investigative reporter and author best known for her work at ABC7 Chicago. A Chicago native, Chatman has built a career around stories that help viewers understand their rights, protect their money and hold businesses and institutions accountable. She is particularly recognized for her consumer investigations under the #SamOnYourSide brand, as well as her role as a weekend morning anchor at ABC7 Eyewitness News.
Her career is notable not simply because she appears on television, but because of the type of journalism she practices. Chatman frequently focuses on problems affecting ordinary consumers, including refunds, fraud, housing disputes, questionable business practices and other situations in which viewers may have difficulty getting answers on their own. Her reporting has also moved beyond individual consumer complaints into broader investigations, including her coverage of squatting and changes to Illinois law.
For people searching for Samantha Chatman biography, Samantha Chatman ABC7 Chicago, Samantha Chatman age, Samantha Chatman career, Samantha Chatman husband, Samantha Chatman education, or Samantha Chatman latest news, it is important to separate information confirmed by reputable sources from details that circulate online without reliable documentation.
Samantha Chatman ABC7 Chicago
Samantha Chatman is currently associated with ABC7 Chicago, where she works as a weekend morning anchor and consumer investigative reporter. ABC7’s official biography says she joined the Chicago station in September 2019 after working in television news in Texas and Kentucky. She is also a member of the station’s I-Team investigative unit.
Her connection with ABC7 is especially meaningful because Chatman grew up in Chicago’s Hyde Park neighbourhood and watched the station while growing up. According to her ABC7 biography, the station helped inspire her interest in broadcast journalism. She eventually returned to Chicago and joined the newsroom she had once watched as a viewer.
That hometown connection has become an important part of her professional identity. Rather than simply reporting from Chicago, Chatman often presents herself as a journalist with a strong connection to the community she serves. Her own professional website similarly describes her as someone who grew up watching ABC7 and eventually returned to the same newsroom.
ABC7 announced Chatman’s promotion to the weekend morning anchor position while noting that she would continue her consumer investigative reporting. The station described her as an Emmy Award-winning reporter whose stories had connected with viewers partly because of their practical impact on consumers.
Also Read About
Natalie Barr– Journalist
Samantha Chatman Career
Samantha Chatman’s journalism career began in Illinois before taking her to several television markets. ABC7 reports that she started at WEEK/WHOI-TV in Peoria, Illinois, where she worked as a multimedia journalist, fill-in anchor and weather anchor. She later became a business reporter at WDRB-TV in Louisville, Kentucky.
Her next major career move took her to the Dallas-Fort Worth market. At KXAS-TV, the NBC-owned station in Texas, Chatman worked as a consumer investigative reporter and earned an Emmy Award for her investigative journalism. Her experience there helped establish the consumer-focused reporting style that later became a major part of her work in Chicago.
Chatman ultimately returned to her hometown in 2019 when she joined ABC7 Chicago. The move represented an important full-circle moment in her career: the Chicago journalist who had grown up watching ABC7 was now working inside the station’s newsroom.
Her professional trajectory demonstrates how television journalists can develop a specialty over time. Chatman did not begin her career solely as a consumer reporter. Her early positions involved general assignment journalism, anchoring, weather and business reporting. Those experiences eventually developed into a specialization in investigative and consumer journalism.
Samantha Chatman Education
Samantha Chatman attended schools in Chicago before studying journalism at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. ABC7 identifies her as a graduate of Lincoln Park High School and says she attended Kenwood Academy’s Academic Center for middle school. She later earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Broadcast Journalism from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, with a minor in African American studies.
Her university experience also included an important connection to ABC7. During her senior year, Chatman was selected for a news internship at the station. That internship gave her an early opportunity to experience the newsroom she had watched while growing up.
Her education is therefore closely connected to her career path. Broadcasting was not simply a profession she entered after college; it was a field she pursued deliberately, with an interest in journalism that had developed during her childhood.
Samantha Chatman Investigative Journalism
Consumer investigative journalism is one of the strongest themes in Samantha Chatman’s career. Her work often begins with an individual viewer’s complaint and develops into a broader investigation. This approach can be especially useful when consumers are dealing with companies, contracts, financial disputes or complicated rules that they may not understand.
Her #SamOnYourSide reporting has become closely associated with this work. Chatman’s own website describes the mission as investigative journalism designed to help communities and provide answers and accountability.
Recent examples show the breadth of the subjects she investigates. Her 2026 reporting has included stories involving canceled experiences and refunds, travel problems, unwanted Amazon packages, alleged fraud and other consumer concerns. Her news-story archive lists investigations from 2026 involving a Chicago Tea Around Town cancellation, a traveler who missed a cruise after a flight disruption, Amazon “brushing” packages and an $8,000 alleged fraud dispute.
These stories illustrate why consumer journalism has become an important part of her public profile. Instead of focusing exclusively on breaking news, Chatman’s investigations often answer a practical question: What can an ordinary person do when something goes wrong?
Samantha Chatman and the Illinois Squatter Law
One of Samantha Chatman’s most significant recent investigations involved squatting in Illinois. In 2025, ABC7 aired a special titled “Squatting in Illinois: A Statewide Fight,” which examined alleged squatting cases and the push for changes to state law.
The investigation became particularly significant after Illinois lawmakers passed legislation addressing the issue. Gov. JB Pritzker signed Senate Bill 1563 in July 2025. According to ABC7, the law was designed to make it easier for police to remove squatters from homes without requiring property owners to go through a potentially lengthy eviction process. The law took effect January 1, 2026.
Capitol News Illinois independently reported that the legislation clarified that a court-ordered eviction would not be required for police to remove squatters in circumstances covered by the law. Chatman’s own biography says her reporting helped bring attention to a gap in Illinois law and contributed to the passage of the legislation.
It is worth being precise about this claim. The available sources establish that Chatman and the ABC7 I-Team extensively reported on the squatting issue and that Illinois subsequently enacted legislation. Her personal website characterizes her reporting as contributing directly to the law’s passage. That is different from claiming that her reporting alone caused the legislation to become law.
The subject also remains relevant in 2026. The Illinois General Assembly has considered additional legislation concerning unauthorized occupants, including SB3841, the proposed Stop Squatters Act, which was referred to the Senate Assignments Committee in February 2026.
Samantha Chatman Latest News in 2026
As of 2026, Samantha Chatman continues to combine television anchoring with investigative reporting. Her professional activity indicates that she remains active in consumer journalism and community-focused reporting.
Her recent work includes investigations into consumer refunds and travel disputes. Chatman official news archive identifies a May 2026 investigation into women who said a Chicago Tea Around Town experience was cancelled at the last minute and that they had difficulty receiving a full refund. The report examined the company’s response and consumer protection considerations.
Chatman has also remained active within the journalism community. Her LinkedIn profile indicates that in 2026 she became vice president of the Chicago chapter of the National Association of Black Journalists. The same profile lists her involvement with After School Matters and other community organizations.
In another recent professional update, Chatman wrote about receiving two Chicago Emmy nominations for her #SamOnYourSide investigative work. She credited the photographers, editors, and people in Chicago who trusted her with their stories. These developments suggest that her career continues to expand beyond the traditional television-anchor role. She is increasingly visible as an investigative journalist, interviewer, author and community figure.
Samantha Chatman Emmy Awards
Samantha Chatman is an Emmy Award-winning journalist. ABC7 identifies her as an Emmy-winning reporter, while her professional profile describes her as a two-time Emmy Award winner. Her LinkedIn profile lists Emmy honors in 2018 and 2023.
Her first Emmy recognition came during her time working in the Dallas-Fort Worth television market, where she was recognized for consumer investigative reporting. That experience helped reinforce her reputation as a journalist capable of taking complicated consumer complaints and turning them into accessible television investigations.
In 2026, she continued receiving professional recognition, including two Chicago Emmy nominations connected to her investigative work. Awards alone do not define a journalist’s influence, but in Chatman’s case they reflect a consistent focus on investigative reporting throughout different stages of her career.
Samantha Chatman Children’s Book
Samantha Chatman is also an author. In 2022, she published “Mia Gets Sick, But Doesn’t Quit,” a children’s book inspired by the challenges children faced during the COVID-19 pandemic. The idea originated during the pandemic, when children were dealing with school closures, isolation and changes to their everyday routines. According to ABC7, Chatman initially developed the project as an e-book before eventually producing physical copies after receiving interest from parents around the country.
The book has a charitable component as well. ABC7 reported that 20 percent of its proceeds would be donated to Make-A-Wish Illinois, an organisation Chatman had supported for years.
The book demonstrates another side of Chatman’s public work. While her investigative reporting focuses on accountability and consumer protection, the children’s book focuses on encouragement and resilience.
Samantha Chatman Mama I Made It
Another part of Samantha Chatman’s career is her work as an interviewer and talk-show host. Her professional website describes “Mama, I Made It!” as a YouTube talk show centered on culture, success and candid conversations.
The program has featured conversations with recognizable figures from entertainment, sports, journalism and culture. Chatman’s website lists guests including Kelly Rowland, Derrick Rose, Tina Knowles, Common, Ice Cube, Don Lemon and Tamron Hall.
This work complements her television journalism. An investigative reporter has to ask direct questions and listen carefully, while a talk-show host needs to make guests comfortable enough to share personal stories. Both formats depend heavily on communication and interviewing skills.
Her interview with LisaRaye McCoy in 2026 is one example of this broader storytelling work. Chatman described the conversation as a discussion about McCoy’s connection to Chicago, her career, family experiences and return to the city.
Samantha Chatman Community Work
Community involvement is another recurring element in Samantha Chatman’s career. ABC7 says she is affiliated with organizations including Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, The Links, Incorporated and the National Association of Black Journalists. She has also served in an associate-board role with After School Matters. Her 2026 LinkedIn profile lists additional leadership and service activities, including a role with the Chicago chapter of the National Association of Black Journalists and involvement with After School Matters.
Her community work fits naturally with her journalism philosophy. Much of her reporting centers on people who may not have the resources, knowledge or platform to resolve problems themselves. Community engagement gives her work a dimension that extends beyond the television screen.
Samantha Chatman Personal Life
Searches for Samantha Chatman personal life, Samantha Chatman husband, Samantha Chatman family, and Samantha Chatman married are common, but reliable public information about these subjects is considerably more limited than information about her professional career.
For that reason, it is better not to repeat rumors or unverified claims about her relationships or private life. Her established public biography focuses primarily on her journalism career, education, community activities, writing and professional achievements. ABC7’s biography, for example, provides substantial information about her career and education without presenting unsupported claims about a spouse or private family matters. This distinction matters for a credible biography. A good profile should prioritize information that can be traced to reputable sources rather than filling gaps with speculation.
Samantha Chatman Age and Birth Information
Another frequently searched phrase is Samantha Chatman age. However, a specific birth date or exact age should not be presented as fact unless it is supported by a reliable source. Her professional biography establishes that she grew up in Chicago and attended Lincoln Park High School before graduating from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Her LinkedIn profile also lists her university years as 2010–2014. Those details provide useful background, but they should not be used to calculate and publish an exact age as though it were officially confirmed.
Samantha Chatman Social Media
Samantha Chatman maintains a public presence online, where she shares journalism, professional updates and community stories. ABC7’s official biography lists her social-media accounts under the username @samantha.chatman on Instagram and Facebook, and @SamChatmanABC7 on Twitter/X. Her LinkedIn profile is also active and provides professional updates about her reporting, journalism events, investigations and career accomplishments. Her social-media presence is closely tied to her reporting identity. Rather than being purely promotional, many of her posts highlight investigations, interviews, community issues and conversations with viewers.
Why Samantha Chatman’s Journalism Matters
Samantha Chatman’s career illustrates the changing role of the local television journalist. Modern viewers no longer consume news exclusively through scheduled television broadcasts. Investigations can appear on television, station websites, social platforms, streaming services and journalists’ personal channels.
Chatman’s work fits this multi-platform environment. Her reporting combines television journalism with digital storytelling, social media and longer-form interviews. Her consumer investigations are particularly suited to digital audiences because viewers often want practical information they can save, share and use.
The #SamOnYourSide identity also gives her reporting a recognisable consumer-advocacy angle. The phrase communicates a straightforward promise: when viewers encounter a problem, the journalist will investigate and try to get answers.
Her squatting investigation is an example of how this model can expand from individual complaints into public-policy discussions. Her reporting examined alleged cases, provided practical information for homeowners and followed the legislative debate that eventually resulted in an Illinois law.
Samantha Chatman: Career and Legacy
Samantha Chatman’s story is ultimately one of a Chicago journalist who turned an early interest in television news into a multifaceted career. From her beginnings in Peoria to business reporting in Louisville and consumer investigations in Dallas-Fort Worth, she developed a broad understanding of broadcast journalism before returning home to ABC7 Chicago in 2019.
Today, she is recognized for several overlapping roles: ABC7 Chicago anchor, Emmy Award-winning investigative journalist, consumer reporter, interviewer, author and community advocate. Her recent work shows that she remains deeply involved in investigative journalism while continuing to develop other areas of her career.
Perhaps the most distinctive part of Chatman’s professional journey is the connection between her journalism and her hometown. She grew up watching ABC7, studied broadcast journalism, interned at the station and eventually returned as a journalist and anchor.
That full-circle journey helps explain why her work resonates with many Chicago viewers. Her journalism is not limited to reporting what happened; much of it is about asking what happens next, who is responsible and what ordinary people can do about it.
As her investigative reporting, interviews and community work continue, Samantha Chatman remains a notable figure in Chicago television journalism. Her recent consumer investigations and professional recognition in 2026 indicate that the Samantha Chatman ABC7 Chicago story is still developing, with investigative journalism remaining at the center of her work.
Frequently Searched Questions About Samantha Chatman
Who is Samantha Chatman? Samantha Chatman is an Emmy Award-winning journalist, weekend morning anchor and consumer investigative reporter at ABC7 Chicago. She is a Chicago native and joined ABC7 in September 2019.
Where does Samantha Chatman work? She works for ABC7 Chicago, where she serves as a weekend morning anchor and consumer investigative reporter.
What is Samantha Chatman known for? She is particularly known for consumer investigative journalism and her #SamOnYourSide reporting, which focuses on helping consumers get answers and accountability.
Is Samantha Chatman an Emmy winner? Yes. Her professional profile identifies her as a two-time Emmy Award winner, with Emmy honors listed in 2018 and 2023.
Where did Samantha Chatman go to college? She attended the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where she earned a B.S. in Broadcast Journalism and studied African American studies as a minor.
What book did Samantha Chatman write? She wrote Mia Gets Sick, But Doesn’t Quit, a children’s book developed during the COVID-19 pandemic. A portion of the proceeds was designated for Make-A-Wish Illinois.
What is Samantha Chatman’s latest work? In 2026, she has continued consumer and investigative reporting for ABC7, including investigations involving refunds, travel, fraud and other consumer issues. Her professional updates also show continued involvement in journalism organizations and Emmy-related recognition.
Sources and References
ABC7 Chicago — Samantha Chatman biography — Official station biography covering her career, education, Chicago background and professional roles.
Samantha Chatman — Official Website — Her professional biography, investigative work, book and interview projects.
Samantha Chatman — ABC7 News Stories — Current and recent investigative and consumer stories.
ABC7 — Samantha Chatman and the Illinois Squatter Law — Reporting on the 2025 Illinois legislation and its January 2026 effective date.
Capitol News Illinois — Squatter Legislation — Independent reporting on Senate Bill 1563.
Illinois General Assembly — Stop Squatters Act — Official legislative record for SB3841.
ABC7 — Samantha Chatman’s Children’s Book — Background on Mia Gets Sick, But Doesn’t Quit and its charitable component.
Samantha Chatman — LinkedIn — Current professional information and 2026 career updates.