The Macon Melody adds community reporter as newsroom grows

The Macon Melody recently welcomed a new journalist.

Alaysia Ezzard is the newsroom’s newest community reporter. She started Monday.

She graduated from Georgia State University in 2023 with a bachelor’s degree in journalism and recently earned her master’s degree in journalism from the University of Maryland. 

Her Macon roots trace back long before The Melody became the city’s community news source.

“Macon is home and a place where I feel peaceful,” said Ezzard.

She moved to Macon when she was 3 years old and grew up in the area with three other generations of her family.

“I enjoy listening to the stories of citizens within a community because that’s what journalism is about,” Ezzard said. “Everyone has a story to tell, whether big or small, and I’m here to listen and share.”

Ezzard will bring investigative and data journalism expertise to the newsroom, where she’ll also focus on health, public safety and the justice system in Macon-Bibb County.

“I look forward to bringing light to issues within my beat,” she said. 

Ezzard’s reporting will be driven and supported by community conversations and connections. In the coming months, The Melody will host listening sessions to inform its future coverage.

“It’s always a great day when a newsroom can add a journalist, and Alaysia is the perfect fit for this new position in our growing operation,” said Joshua Wilson, executive editor of The Macon Melody. “She brings with her a deep knowledge of Macon and will be able to immediately start reporting on complex matters in our communities.”

Contact Ezzard at alaysia@maconmelody.com.