Heidi Paxson

Heidi Paxson is the 11 p.m. anchor for WALB News 10. Born and raised in Columbus, OH, she's passionate about the Buckeyes. O-H!

Her love for journalism and storytelling began as soon as she could pick up her dad's over-the-shoulder camera. She spent each summer interviewing friends and family until she ran out of tape.

Heidi studied journalism and digital media at the University of Findlay in Ohio. She was an All-Academic athlete, competing in NCAA DII cross country and track and field.

Her love for running continues. It's now an outlet she uses to stay healthy, learn about the area and get involved in local causes and fundraisers.

While still new on campus at UF, a professor pulled her aside and encouraged her to join the university's TV station, UFTV. She then spent the next few years covering national events such as the Detroit Auto Show and the Republican National Convention in 2016.

She edited The Pulse, the university's award-winning newspaper, and deejayed at WLFC, the campus radio station. She was awarded the Browns Scholar Award in 2015, and the Outstanding Student in Journalism award in 2018. Heidi also played the double bass for the University of Findlay orchestra.

While in school, she was the community outreach coordinator at the local Habitat for Humanity where she wrote stories about partner families and community involvement. She also spent a year as the social media coordinator for Dance Marathon, a student-run organization that works to locally support cancer patients and their families.

In her junior year, she interned at WLIO in Lima where she landed an on-air reporting job while still in school.

In December 2018, Heidi became an on-air reporter at WWMT Newschannel 3 in Grand Rapids, Mich. She also produced in-depth content for the website and social media.

In 2020, she moved to Washington D.C., where she worked as a social media coordinator for the National Museum of Health and Medicine. As a Department of Defense contractor, she worked at Forest Glen Annex, a U.S. Army installation. The museum, formerly known as the Army Medical Museum, collects specimens and artifacts related to trauma and pathology. Collections include material from each major U.S. armed conflict that spans more than 150 years. Heidi used her knowledge in social media to share some of the nations most impactful stories through video and text.

In 2021, she returned to West Central Ohio to anchor First Edition at WLIO. After spending a year closer to home during the pandemic, she moved to South Georgia for a new adventure.

She's happy to now grow roots here in South Georgia and get to know the viewers.

If you would like to connect with Heidi or share a story idea, you can reach her at heidi.paxson@walb.com.