Caresse Jackman is a National Consumer Investigative Reporter with InvestigateTV, the national investigative unit for Gray Television based in Washington D.C.
She was born in Queens, NY, and raised in Metro Atlanta. Jackman is a proud daughter of Guyanese immigrants. Both her mother and father immigrated to the United States in the 1980s and both grew up in Georgetown.
Jackman obtained her Dual Bachelor’s degree from the University of Georgia – where she studied Broadcast News and International Affairs in 2009.
During her time at UGA, she became involved in several on-campus projects related to broadcast news, including Georgia Gameday, a news sports program on campus.
She cites that the program allowed her to shoot sports events and produce content for the show – which was “truly beneficial to me as I entered into the field of journalism.”
Upon graduating from UGA, she started her news career at WJTV in Jackson, Mississippi – where she worked as a morning show producer. After that, she began her reporting career at WCBI News in Columbus, MS as a Multimedia Journalist.
After spending two years there, she moved to Flint, MI where she worked as a General Assignment Reporter at WJRT, ABC 12 News. She says that at ABC 12 News is “where I found my passion for investigative journalism” when she covered the Flint Water Crisis for 2 ½ years.
After Flint, she moved to New Orleans, Louisiana where she worked as a General Assignment Reporter at WWL-TV. Then, she moved to Nashville, Tennessee, and worked as a Consumer Investigative Reporter for WSMV, News 4.
When discussing her goal for her impact on the Guyanese community she notes that she wants everyone to know her roots. “I’m deeply proud to call myself a Guyanese American,” Caresse Jackman said. “It’s who I am, how I grew up, and what shaped me into the woman I’ve become. My parents were very involved in the Guyana Association of Georgia and I was always around members of the Guyanese community.”
She goes on to note that she wants Guyanese women to know that “they can accomplish anything – so long as they put their minds to it and remain driven.”
“On tough days when I’m having a hard time, whether it’s a personal issue or a tough story, I always remember that many members of my family came here with $15 and a suitcase. That’s it. My family left a country they loved dearly…where they were educators and doing well, to virtually start over from scratch.” Jackman said.
“If you want to do something, do it. If the front door is closed, find a way in through a window or another door. Don’t let challenges stand in your way. We come from an amazing country with an amazing culture and tremendous resilience. Never forget that, especially when days get rough.”
She is a member of the National Association of Black Journalists, the Society of Professional Journalists, Investigative Reporters and Editors, and the Ida B. Wells Society for Investigative Reporting.
