CONTENT
Video
13WMAZ June 2021 – Present
Digital Content producer
Digital Content producer
A Trans woman was homeless while facing a breast cancer diagnosis. Everything changed after one call / 2021
Tomorrow Valentino was living in a hotel after she was diagnosed with breast cancer. That's when she got a call from an organization dedicated to fighting homelessness.
Tomorrow Valentino was living in a hotel after she was diagnosed with breast cancer. That's when she got a call from an organization dedicated to fighting homelessness.
13WMAZ June 2019 – June 2021
Digital Content producer
Digital Content producer
Georgia Artisan turns wood salvaged from 2019 downtown Macon historic house fires into furniture / 2020
Georgia Artisan is turning old into new, using the salvaged wood from the remnants of historic Macon homes that caught fire last year.
Georgia Artisan is turning old into new, using the salvaged wood from the remnants of historic Macon homes that caught fire last year.
Adam Ragusea: The Mercer professor turned YouTube sensation / 2020
He was teaching at Mercer when a video he posted on YouTube went viral. Now, he’s a full-time YouTube creator. |
Mentors Make a Difference: Carter Wilson / 2019
Gangs and violence. Those are two of the reasons Jamecia Wilson says she fears for her children’s future. Wilson is a working single mother of three. She says she is worried about her children going down the wrong path. |
He spent nearly 30 years in prison. Now Macon’s former ‘King of Cocaine’ has written a play about his life / 2019
‘The Rise and Fall of Jerry Anderson: Redemption' chronicles the life of the former cocaine kingpin. |
From soldier to chef: Warner Robins chef wins 2019 Georgia Seafood Festival Competition / 2019
A Warner Robins veteran turned chef won the 2019 Georgia Seafood Festival Competition in November in Atlanta. Now, he's ready to go global. |
Company Supply in Dublin, Georgia stays transparent amid COVID-19 pandemic / 2020
Restaurants are trying their best to adapt to changes amid the pandemic, so we're featuring some that have done a great job. Company Supply prioritized transparency.
Restaurants are trying their best to adapt to changes amid the pandemic, so we're featuring some that have done a great job. Company Supply prioritized transparency.
CNN June 2018 – August 2018
Digital Productions Intern
Digital Productions Intern
Ackerman's CNN intern group came in first place for an intern project completion after pitching an original digital product to CNN executives. The product featured a social video series on Facebook Watch in which reporters would give a personal accounts while they get the facts in the midst of covering breaking news.
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As a result of her intern group’s success, Ackerman had an opportunity to pitch an idea to the CNN Social Team for a published CNN Instagram story and implement elements of her group’s project for it. She pitched covering the record breaking 2018 California summer wildfires. The IG story is above.
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Independent Marketing Work October 2018 – Present
Promos, Campaign Videos and more
Promos, Campaign Videos and more
A promotional video Ackerman created to encourage the community to ask food related questions to Macon Me Curious. This project was part of an initiative by the Center for Collaborative Journalism's project, Macon Food Story, in partnership with Hearken. Produced by Thais Ackerman.
Jayla Moody's homecoming campaign video was created to exist on social media. It highlights her experience as a Mercer Bear, her involvement with the Mercer community, and her passion for the school.
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Mercer University Miracle Network Dance Marathon is a movement of CMNH, a non-profit organization that raises funds and awareness for pediatric hospitals. This video was created to reveal the theme of this year's dance marathon.
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Macon Telegraph May 2016 – August 2016
Digital Production Intern
Digital Production Intern
🔗Mercer student says he's 'the only white rapper you should listen to' / 2015
Will Bryant spends his days in his Mercer University dorm room recording music for his budding career as a rapper, performing under the name "Wiley from Atlanta." "I'm the only white rapper you should listen to," he raps in one of his songs, before correcting himself: "I'm the only rapper you should listen to." |
🔗Neighborhood gathers to remember slain Macon store clerk / 2016
A candlelight vigil was held June 22, 2016, at 3306 Bloomfield Drive to honor slain Macon store clerk, Prakash Patel. |
Written Work
🔗 What's behind the colored hair, long nails and big jewelry in track and field / 2021
You may have noticed prominent fashion looks at the Tokyo Olympics. Since FloJo's iconic tenure, track and field athletes have flaunted their individual style.
You may have noticed prominent fashion looks at the Tokyo Olympics. Since FloJo's iconic tenure, track and field athletes have flaunted their individual style.
🔗'You crossed a sacred, sacred line': Americus attorney who participated in Capitol riot denied bond / 2021
An Americus attorney who took part in the Capitol riot on Jan. 6. was denied bond at a court hearing in Macon Thursday. The judge said McCall Calhoun's actions suggest he was "seduced by a dangerous and violent ideology."
An Americus attorney who took part in the Capitol riot on Jan. 6. was denied bond at a court hearing in Macon Thursday. The judge said McCall Calhoun's actions suggest he was "seduced by a dangerous and violent ideology."
🔗He was teaching at Mercer when a video he posted on YouTube went viral. Now, he’s a full-time YouTube creator. / 2020
Adam Ragusea noticed he was making more money as a YouTube creator than as a professor. He decided to quit his job at Mercer to make food videos on YouTube full-time
Adam Ragusea noticed he was making more money as a YouTube creator than as a professor. He decided to quit his job at Mercer to make food videos on YouTube full-time
🔗He spent nearly 30 years in prison. Now Macon’s former ‘King of Cocaine’ has written a play about his life. / 2019
‘The Rise and Fall of Jerry Anderson: Redemption' chronicles the life of the former cocaine kingpin.
‘The Rise and Fall of Jerry Anderson: Redemption' chronicles the life of the former cocaine kingpin.
🔗'God will see you through:' Funeral held for slain Fort Valley State student Anitra Gunn / 2020
Friends, family and the Mayor of Fort Valley spoke at a church in Alabama to remember the life of Anitra Gunn.
Friends, family and the Mayor of Fort Valley spoke at a church in Alabama to remember the life of Anitra Gunn.
'🔗'Nothing like we imagined': Hay House unaware February filming was for latest Borat movie / 2020
Hay House management says filming went awry when actors started doing 'risqué' things on set. They did not know the shoot was for for Sacha Baron Cohen's latest film
Hay House management says filming went awry when actors started doing 'risqué' things on set. They did not know the shoot was for for Sacha Baron Cohen's latest film
🔗Academy Award nominee Gabourey Sidibe on directorial debut film, Macon Film Festival / 2019
Sidibe says she sees “The Tale of Four,” her directorial debut film that is screening at the Macon Film Festival, as an avenue to authentically express her blackness.
Sidibe says she sees “The Tale of Four,” her directorial debut film that is screening at the Macon Film Festival, as an avenue to authentically express her blackness.
Bio
Thais Ackerman is a Digital Content Producer at 11Alive, the TEGNA NBC- affiliate TV station in Atlanta, Georgia, operating the station's website and creating written and visual content for multiple platforms daily.
She joined 11Alive full time in June after being promoted from her previous role with TEGNA at 13WMAZ, the CBS-affiliate and leading TV station in Macon, Georgia.
She's a graduate of Macon's Mercer University, earning her diploma with cum laude honors, a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism, and a double minor in Africana Studies and Media Studies.
During her time at as a journalist, Thais has exercised her passion for storytelling by covering news around the world. She's been a staff writer, photographer and videographer for award-winning media outlets. She was recently awarded a 2021 Georgia Association of Broadcasters award for Best Online Produced Story for her storytelling on Adam Ragusea, a Mercer professor turned YouTube sensation.
Thais is originally from sunny Cooper City, Florida and enjoys cooking and photography in her spare time.
She joined 11Alive full time in June after being promoted from her previous role with TEGNA at 13WMAZ, the CBS-affiliate and leading TV station in Macon, Georgia.
She's a graduate of Macon's Mercer University, earning her diploma with cum laude honors, a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism, and a double minor in Africana Studies and Media Studies.
During her time at as a journalist, Thais has exercised her passion for storytelling by covering news around the world. She's been a staff writer, photographer and videographer for award-winning media outlets. She was recently awarded a 2021 Georgia Association of Broadcasters award for Best Online Produced Story for her storytelling on Adam Ragusea, a Mercer professor turned YouTube sensation.
Thais is originally from sunny Cooper City, Florida and enjoys cooking and photography in her spare time.
Get In Touch
A member of the National Association of Black Journalists, Thais Ackerman has 6 years experience in writing, storytelling, and video production. She received prestigious John M. Couric Media Fellowship and Scholarship provided by The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation as an award for her previous achievements in journalism.
In the event you have any comments, questions, concerns, or inquiries please contact Thais Ackerman. |