Caresse Jackman - Investigative Reporters & Editors

My name is Caresse Jackman. I am a National Consumer Investigative Reporter with InvestigateTV/Gray Media based in Washington DC.

I have worked in the news industry for 16 years.

As a Black woman and the daughter of Guyanese immigrants, I have always strived to increase diversity within our industry.

I joined Investigative Reporters & Editors in 2019.

In 2021, I was selected to participate in the IRE Diversity Fellowship. It was a memorable fellowship that helped me to improve my reporting skills and connect me with amazing mentors.

I always look back on this opportunity as a pivotal moment in my career: a moment that molded me into the investigative reporter that I am today.

I’m honored to return the favor by helping other journalists of color who feel like they do not have a place in investigative journalism. I want them to know that regardless of their background, they can also achieve the dream of becoming an investigative journalist.

Since becoming part of this organization, I have actively served on the IRE Conference Committee, as well as the IRE Broadcast Track Committee. I’ve had the honor to both moderate and participate on various panels. Additionally, I’ve recruited panelists from different races and backgrounds to participate in IRE, helping to cover a wide range of issues that impact marginalized communities.

In a time where the freedom of the press is under attack, layoffs are ever present and people of color feel suppressed, I believe now is the best time to run for the Board of Directors. I will work hard to encourage journalists, specifically investigative journalists, to stay in the industry and to not give up.

I believe that in order to do that, we can be stronger as an organization by reaching across the aisle to other organizations like ours and increase diversity in our industry.

As a member of the NABJ Investigative Task Force and active speaker for the National Press Foundation’s Widening the Pipeline Fellowship, I am willing to bridge the connection with other organizations to promote the goals of IRE and work with them to increase the number of investigative journalists of color among our ranks.

Lastly, I believe young adults still have a natural curiosity for journalism. I think we need to meet young people where they are. I would like to start an investigative reporting workshop at middle and high schools in low and middle income communities.

I will strive to make this trailblazing organization a place where journalists can learn from the past and grow to adapt to the changes our organization and our industry continues to face.

It’s not easy, but the road has never been easy for investigative journalists.

These are challenging times, but that doesn’t mean we have to dim the light on our work, on the investigations we cover and our passion for what we do every single day.

It would be an honor to have your vote.

Nominations

Ron Nixon, Associated Press: To whom it may concern: My name is Ron Nixon, Director of the Associated Press Local Investigative Journalism Program, a longtime IRE member and former staffer. I am writing to nominate Caresse Jackman, a national consumer investigative reporter with Gray Television’s InvestigateTV, for the IRE Board. I have known Caresse for over a decade and have followed her work for years. She is a top-notch investigative reporter whose work has had national impact. In addition, she has worked tirelessly to bring more journalist, particularly, journalists of color into the field of investigative journalism. We’ve served as panelists together at NABJ and other journalism conventions. I believe Caresse would be a great asset to the IRE board, the organization and its members.

Jeremy Finley, WSMV-TV: I am proud to nominate Caresse Jackman for the IRE Board. Simply put, Caresse represents the very best of our profession. While her résumé alone is impressive—an award-winning investigative reporter with experience at several local TV stations and now a national correspondent for InvestigateTV, producing vital consumer and investigative journalism—what truly sets her apart is her unwavering commitment to the people around her. Caresse is a fierce advocate for journalists. She supports her peers across all platforms, championing Associated Press reporters with the same enthusiasm she brings to producers at Frontline. As a woman of color, she brings a vital perspective to our industry and is deeply committed to ensuring that journalists of all backgrounds are seen, heard, and uplifted. I had the privilege not only of working with Caresse but also of sitting beside her in the newsroom. You won’t find a reporter with a bigger heart—for the work, for her colleagues, and most importantly, for the people at the center of her stories.

Candidate Q & A

Current Position

InvestigateTV/Gray Media (2022-Present)

-National Consumer Investigative Reporter

Prior experience

Consumer Investigative Reporter, WSMV4 Nashville (2019-2022)

General Assignment Reporter, WWL-TV (2016-2019)

General Assignment Reporter, WJRT, ABC 12 News (2014-2016)

MultiMedia Journalist, WCBI News (2012-2014)

News Producer/ WJTV News 12 (2009-2012)

IRE experience

IRE Conference Committee (2022-2025)

IRE Broadcast Track Committee (2022-2025)

IRE Conference 2024

Creator and Moderator: Finding the data on marginalized communities … and then finding the story

IRE Conference 2023

Moderator and Speaker: Right on the Money- Consumer Investigations that Count

IRE Conference 2022

Speaker: Consumer Investigations: Working for You

IRE Conference 2021

Networking Session: Work/Life Balance

IRE AccessFest 2024

Assisted IRE in finding sponsors for AccessFest

Fellowships

IRE Journalists of Color (2021)

Education Experience

The University of Georgia: Athens, GA

Bachelor of Arts, Broadcast News (2009)

Bachelor of Arts, International Affairs (2009)

Awards

Emmy- News Special: Troubled Waters Investigation

Issued by NATAS Nashville/Midsouth (2023)

Emmy- Public Affairs Program: Black History Month Special

Issued by NATAS Nashville/Midsouth (2023)

National Edward R. Murrow Award

Continuing Coverage of the Waverly Floods (2022)

Regional Emmy Award: Overall Excellence

WWL-TV
Entry featured highlights from my four-part series, “The Forgotten East,” which took an in-depth look at the issues facing the New Orleans East Neighborhood. (2020)

Regional Edward R. Murrow

Overall Excellence Category
WWL-TV
Entry included my four-part series, “The Forgotten East,” which took an in-depth look at the issues facing the New Orleans East Neighborhood. (2020)

Regional Edward R. Murrow

WJRT ABC 12
Team Coverage of Flint’s Water Crisis (2016)

Other Journalism Experience (non-IRE)

National Press Foundation

Speaker and Mentor, Widening the Pipeline Fellowship (2024-Present)

National Association of Black Journalists

NABJ Investigative Task Force, Board Member (2023-Present)

Ida B. Wells Society for Investigative Reporting

Member

Panelist, Investigative Reporting Bootcamp (2023)

Society of Professional Journalists: MediaFest 2022

Speaker/Moderator, Consumer Investigations Panel

Consumer Federation of America’s 35th Annual Financial Services conference (2022)

Speaker/Moderator: Payment Fraud and Theft

University of Georgia, Grady College of Journalism

Speaker (2023)

Howard University

Speaker (2023)

Related links (optional)

LinkedIn: Caresse Jackman | LinkedIn

Facebook: Facebook

Instagram: Instagram

BlueSky: CaresseJ (@caressejbskysocial.bsky.social) — Bluesky

Issues you would like to address as a board member

Continue reaching across the aisle to other organizations and promote journalists of color within investigative reporting.

Expand the reach of IRE by continuing workshops within local newsrooms.

Helping train the next generation of investigative journalists who may not be able to attend nor afford the IRE annual conference.

Help investigative journalists who have been laid off by promoting jobs within the industry and help them navigate this turbulent time.

Encourage IRE to attend job fairs/career fairs within high schools in order to recruit journalists of color at a young age.

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