About khou

Eileen Faxas considers her work a blend of tough journalism and artistry. Her reports -- which air weekdays at 6 p.m. or 10 p.m. -- are distinctive for their creative, fast-paced storytelling showcasing human conflict, humor and drama.

After winning a few Emmy and Associate Press awards for her work in places like Phoenix, Arizona and Jacksonville, Fla. and South Bend, Ind., Eileen jumped at the opportunity to launch the consumer unit of the 11 News Defenders in the fall of 1998. As a consumer reporter, she relishes using the power of television, and putting it into the hands of people who would otherwise have no voice and no justice.

In one of her most memorable moments at Channel 11, Eileen came to the rescue in an unexpected way, during Tropical Storm Allison. In a stunning scene, Eileen and photographer Kirk Swann were surveying flood damage in a small boat, when they spotted a rescue gone wrong.

A 5-ton Army truck was nearly underwater after driving into a deep ditch, thrusting a dozen rescuees into the water. Suddenly, they were in the middle of a rescue, pulling women and children to safety.

Many of you will also remember seeing Eileen anchoring the morning show for much of last year, the highlight of which was working with the inimitable Johnathan Walton.

But the job that's brought her the most satisfaction has been as the 11 News Defenders consumer reporter. Her favorites? Getting $87,000 back for a retired couple tricked into a bad investment. She recently investigated the relationship between a Houston repo man and Toyota Financial Services, raising serious questions about scare tactics against customers.

If there's injustice, Eileen Faxas goes there.

Eileen is also an accomplished singer with her own CD. For more information visit eileenfaxas.com

You can e-mail Eileen at defenders@khou.com.