Jackson, MS

Ms. Marsha Thompson’s creative news segment, “Most Wanted,” has increased awareness of crime, drug, and gang violence.

Ms. Thompson is currently an Investigative Reporter/Anchor for WLBT Television Station in Jackson. Except for a three-year transfer to Atlanta, most of her 30-year broadcasting career has been at WLBT-TV. She has served as news director and in a host of other positions at the station.

Currently, she is tackling consumer problems as WLBT’s Chief Investigative Reporter for “3 on Your Side.” She has uncovered government waste and shown ordinary citizens how they can tap into millions of unclaimed funds. Among other assignments, she participated in an undercover Internet sex sting operation with law enforcement and the national watch dog group Perverted Justice. Thompson works with other “3 On Your Side” reporters in the WLBT-TV newsroom to follow up on significant issues of interest, from government waste to helping citizens determine whether they live in a flood zone, as well as problems that continue to plague Mississippians displaced by Hurricane Katrina.

She is very active in her community and was nominated to participate in the 2007 Jackson Division FBI Citizens’ Academy. Since returning to Jackson, she continues to maintain membership in the Atlanta Press Club. She has served as past president of the Mississippi Press Broadcaster Association.

On WLBT-TV’s “Most Wanted,” she identifies and airs the criminal of the week and provides information about them. After the Wednesday broadcast, the information is posted on the WLBT.com website. Once the criminal is captured, “BUSTED” is printed over the criminal’s picture. Each Wednesday, Thompson announces a new criminal and the station also highlights FBI most wanted individuals. “Most Wanted” has been so successful that some criminals have been apprehended within 24 hours of the broadcast.