From the editor: Macon Telegraph’s new staff has tireless commitment to serving readers
In 2024, it’s uncommon to see a newspaper reinvent itself. Perhaps it’s even rarer to see a news organization that’s been around nearly two centuries – as The Telegraph has – seek to build itself up in preparation to spend another two centuries bringing you local news.
But The Telegraph is doing that right now. Your local paper has been rejuvenated with four new journalists joining our team and a new editor leading the paper this year. We want you to know about our new staff, and how they plan to deliver you quality local news every day.
So, after 197 years in business, allow us to reintroduce ourselves.
I’m Jeremy Chisenhall, the Georgia editor for McClatchy, leading The Macon Telegraph’s newsroom. I’m a graduate of Western Kentucky University, and I came to Macon from Lexington, Kentucky, where I spent about four years as a reporter and editor with the Herald-Leader.
I jumped at the opportunity to lead The Macon Telegraph through a period of transformation because it offered me the chance to build a newsroom that prioritizes what I know you want: energetic, intrepid reporters who will bring you journalism of impact. From holding power to account, to keeping you informed on local public safety issues, to letting you know about the fun and unique things going on here, we want to be your one-stop-shop for news in Macon. We think we have just what we need to deliver on that mission.
In the coming weeks, you will hear from each member of The Telegraph’s staff individually. They will tell you who they are, why they do this work, and what they want you to know about their commitment to providing quality local news. But I want to briefly highlight each of them here.
Lucinda Warnke, our new general assignment reporter, was our first hire among the new crop of staff members. Lucinda started with The Telegraph part-time this year before moving to full-time last month. Already, she has brought you stories covering fraud cases in local courts and important information on local elections.
Katie Tucker is our new visual journalist who started in May. In the past few weeks, she’s been busy providing photos and videos that take you behind the story, and give new light to the articles you’re reading from our reporters. She took you inside a massive new medical marijuana facility that will serve as the sole growing location for a company selling its product across Georgia, located right here in Macon.
Jesse Fraga is our new breaking news reporter. He started in May, and in just a month’s time, has delivered several crucial stories about Macon’s elections, such as ballot mix-ups in multiple Bibb County districts.
Alba Rosa is our new courts reporter. Alba started in April and quickly reported hard-hitting news, covering a lawsuit filed by family members who alleged their child had been assaulted by caretakers at the local Robins Air Force Base.
The Telegraph also still has a handful of reporters who’ve brought you the local news for some time now: Odds are you’ve seen the work of Chelsea Madden, our service journalist in Middle Georgia who often has stories that answer reader questions on weather, local business and more. Becky Purser, a longtime Telegraph reporter who has covered everything from local business to crime and courts, is bringing you key news from Warner Robins.
And we’ve had reporters Myracle Lewis and Jessica Payne providing crucial coverage of Macon across all topics in recent months. In a time of great change for The Telegraph, Myracle and Jessica have been essential staff members who bring important work to our readers.
Blake Kaplan, our executive editor, has provided wonderful support to our team this whole time and has ensured we have all the tools we need to provide Macon with quality local journalism. He’s excited about what this staff will accomplish in the future
Want to see what we’re up to? Check out macon.com. Want to subscribe and support our work? Visit mycheckout.macon.com to find a deal on a digital subscription.
Want to know more about what we’re looking to accomplish? I’d be happy to tell you about it. Send me an email at jchisenhall@mcclatchy.com.
This story was originally published June 18, 2024 at 1:45 PM.