Malia Thomas serves as the neighborhood reporter for Valdosta, joining WTXL in August 2023.
She originally hails from Long Island, NY, but after moving to Valdosta with her family, she decided to make the city her home. Her favorite grandaddy, Walter, said Valdosta is a great place to raise your family, and it is. She still misses certain food spots, trains, and stores being open super late, but says Valdosta has stolen her heart in more ways than one.
Malia once believed she was going to be a civil rights lawyer because she wanted to help people. She decided to go to school locally and graduated from Valdosta State University, where she studied Communication and Public Relations. Her journalism journey began as a staff writer for The Spectator and was quickly promoted to Entertainment Editor. Fast forward to 2020, and she graduated with her Bachelor’s degree.
After college, she dabbled in corporate communications but knew her heart belonged to journalism. She returned to the field, covering government news at the Valdosta Daily Times, where she worked for nearly two years. Now, she's thrilled to be sharing the stories of our truly delightful community as a multimedia journalist for ABC 27.
Malia says Valdosta isn’t just where she works, it’s where she lives, laughs, and has met some of the best people in the world. Over the last decade, the city has become her extended family, and she's always eager to connect with new faces.
When she's not chasing stories, you’ll find her exploring new places, diving into a true crime novel, spending time with her nephew, Jayden, or her parents. She also enjoys cosplay; some of her favorite looks are Storm, Katara from Avatar, and Wonder Woman.
She also volunteers with mental health advocacy groups after being diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome and Generalized Anxiety Disorder at a young age. She also supports domestic violence organizations as a survivor herself.
Some fun facts:
Her favorite color is purple, and fall is her favorite season. She also loves Dolphins, is a huge Law & Order fan, and adores Mariah Carey.
If you have any story ideas, please reach out to her at malia.thomas@wtxl.tv
