Ever find yourself sitting on the couch after a long day, watching the 11 PM news, and wondering if the person reading the teleprompter actually likes the city as much as they say they do? In Atlanta, that connection matters. We’ve seen anchors come and go like summer thunderstorms, but the team at 11 Alive (WXIA) has always felt a bit like that neighbor who knows exactly where the best lemon pepper wings are.
Honestly, the lineup of 11 Alive news reporters is more than just a list of names. It’s a group of people who have survived the I-85 collapse, the Snowpocalypse (never forget), and the endless cycle of "it's almost time for the Braves to win it all again."
Why the 11 Alive News Reporters Team Feels Different
Most newsrooms are revolving doors. You get a young reporter from a smaller market, they stay for two years, and then they vanish to Chicago or New York. But 11 Alive has managed to keep some heavy hitters who actually call Georgia home.
Take Cheryl Preheim, for instance. She isn’t just an anchor; she’s basically the heartbeat of the evening broadcast. Having been with the NBC family for decades, she moved from Denver to Atlanta in 2016 and immediately leaned into the "Brave Conquers Fear" stories. It’s not just fluff. She’s won over 20 Emmys because she treats every interview like she’s talking to her own family.
Then you’ve got Jonathan Martin. He’s a southwest Atlanta native. That’s huge. When a reporter knows exactly which intersection you’re talking about without looking at a map, the reporting hits differently. He joined in 2023 and has already picked up awards for excellence in television reporting. He’s the guy you see at the gym or a community event, not just behind a desk.
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The Voices We Trust When the Weather Goes Sideways
We have to talk about the weather. In Atlanta, a three-degree drop in temperature is a state of emergency. The 11 Alive Weather Impact Team is legendary for a reason.
- Chris Holcomb: The Chief Meteorologist who has been at the station since the early 90s. That’s a lifetime in TV years. He’s the calm voice when the sirens start going off.
- Chesley McNeil: If you’re an early riser, you know Chesley. He’s been handling the morning commute and the "is it going to rain on my way to work?" anxiety for years.
- Melissa Nord: She brings that high-energy, deep-dive data approach that the younger, tech-savvy audience loves.
It’s a mix of old-school reliability and new-school meteorology.
The Shift in the Newsroom
Lately, things have changed a bit. You might have noticed Jeff Hullinger isn't on your screen every night anymore. He’s moved over to Georgia Public Broadcasting (GPB) as an executive producer. It was a big shift for the station because Jeff was the "versatile guy"—he could do sports, hard news, and political commentary without breaking a sweat.
And then there was the Shiba Russell move. She left 11 Alive to head back to the Northeast (Philadelphia, specifically) to be closer to family. These shifts are natural, but for viewers, it feels like losing a friend. 11 Alive filled those gaps by elevating voices like Aisha Howard and Jennifer Bellamy.
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Jennifer Bellamy, specifically, has become a staple. She’s been there since 2015 and transitioned into the late-night slot with Ron Jones. She’s a Bulldog fan, a Delta Sigma Theta member, and someone who actually cares about the investigative side of the job.
Investigating What Actually Matters
The "Reveal" team at 11 Alive is where the real work happens. Rebecca Lindstrom and Zach Merchant don't just report the news; they dig into the "why."
Whether it's uncovering issues with HOA laws or investigating why the water bill in DeKalb County is suddenly $4,000, these reporters are the ones doing the heavy lifting. They aren't just reading a script. They are filing FOIA requests and sitting in boring city council meetings so you don't have to.
What Most People Get Wrong About TV Reporters
There’s this idea that 11 Alive news reporters are just "talking heads." It’s sort of a myth. Most of these journalists are "Multi-Skilled Journalists" (MSJs). That means they are often out in the field alone. They are lugging a 40-pound camera, setting up their own lights, editing their own video, and then going live on the side of a highway.
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It’s a grind.
If you see Cody Alcorn or Kaitlyn Ross out in the field, they aren't just there for the two minutes you see on TV. They’ve likely been on that scene for six hours, talking to witnesses and trying to get the facts straight while their earpiece is buzzing with a producer screaming about time slots.
Keeping Up With the Team
So, how do you actually follow these folks? Social media has kind of ruined the "mystery" of the news anchor, but it’s actually better for the viewers.
- Follow their "Reporter" pages: Most of them, like Maria Martin (sports) or Reggie Chatman Jr., post the "behind the scenes" stuff that doesn't make the broadcast.
- The 11 Alive+ App: This is where the station is putting most of its long-form content now. If you missed a segment by Doug Richards on Georgia politics, it's usually there.
- Community Events: Look for them at the Peachtree Road Race or local charity galas. They are surprisingly accessible.
Basically, the 11 Alive team works because they are actually part of the city. They aren't just visiting. They live in the same traffic we do. They breathe the same pollen. And when they tell us it's going to be a rough commute or a historic election, we tend to believe them because they’ve been there before.
To stay truly informed, make sure to check the station's official "Meet the Team" page periodically. Personnel changes happen fast in local TV, especially in a top-10 market like Atlanta. Keep an eye on the evening rotations to see who is leading the next big investigative series, as that's often where the next primary anchors are vetted. If you have a story that needs telling, don't hesitate to reach out to the specific reporters whose beats align with your issue—they actually read those emails.