An award-winning journalist and passionate, digital storyteller, Zak is excited to be reporting in central North Carolina.
Before moving to the Triangle in June 2018, Zak worked as an anchor and investigative reporter at KESQ-TV and CBS Local 2 in Palm Springs, California. While in the Coachella Valley, Zak reported on high-profile court cases, including the Pinyon Pines triple murder trial and Turpin child abuse case, the 2016 deadly Palm Springs tour bus crash, the 2016 and 2018 elections and California legalizing recreational marijuana use.
Before moving out west, he spent time in his home state of Florida working as a reporter and fill-in anchor for WJHG-TV and WECP-TV, the NBC and CBS affiliates in Panama City Beach. While in Northwest Florida, he had the opportunity to cover a variety of different stories, and serve many people throughout the Panhandle.
Zak graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science degree in Telecommunication and a Minor in Political Science from the University of Florida. While at UF, he anchored and reported for WUFT News, the PBS and NPR stations serving North Central Florida. He also interned at the NBC affiliate in West Palm Beach, Florida WPTV NewsChannel 5, the ABC affiliate in Gainesville, Florida WCJB-TV20 and the FOX owned and operated station in Tampa, Florida WTVT-TV FOX 13.
Zak has earned a regional Emmy nomination and numerous awards from the Florida Associated Press and National Broadcasting Society.
Outside the newsroom, his other passions include playing guitar, riding motorcycles, traveling and cheering on the Florida Gators!
Zak is ecstatic to tell your story. If you have a story idea, feel free to email him at zdahlheimer@cbs17.com
You can also follow him on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
