Experience

Solutions Journalism Network

• United States
• Media Production
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Solutions Insights Lab Manager

  • Oct 2023 - Present

  When it comes to social change we want to start with what's working and making a difference. The Solutions Insights Lab is an innovative platform to explore and examine responses to the most pressing social issues of our time. Through interviews with successful social entrepreneurs, the platform highlights patterns across areas like healthcare, climate, education & justice to showcase replicable insights and their limitations. You can learn more at whatsworkingsolutions.org (Stay with us as we… Show more When it comes to social change we want to start with what's working and making a difference. The Solutions Insights Lab is an innovative platform to explore and examine responses to the most pressing social issues of our time. Through interviews with successful social entrepreneurs, the platform highlights patterns across areas like healthcare, climate, education & justice to showcase replicable insights and their limitations. You can learn more at whatsworkingsolutions.org (Stay with us as we grow and innovate toward social change)

• Project Manager (Journalists of Color Fellowship)

  • Oct 2022 - Oct 2023

  Built, launched and scaled the Solution's Journalism Network's first Journalists of Color fellowship. This transformative program was designed to connect and support emerging BIPOC media leaders. The cohort explored multiple facets of transformative leadership through editorial workshops, solutions journalism training and a bespoke speaker series featuring exemplary editors of color nationwide. The program was successfully renewed and is now in its second year with a new cohort through 2024.

• Project Manager (Health Equity Initiative)

  • Nov 2021 - Jun 2023

  Supported five newsrooms in the production of health equity projects geared to transform the way we discuss public health in the United States. Newsrooms included : Capital B (Atlanta) The Emancipator (Boston), Reckon (Birmingham, Ala) El Timpano (Oakland, Calif) and The Los Angeles Times. The underlying mission of the health equity initiative was to build a cohort of news organizations dedicated to exploring stories that address systemic issues, health disparities and the influence of social… Show more Supported five newsrooms in the production of health equity projects geared to transform the way we discuss public health in the United States. Newsrooms included : Capital B (Atlanta) The Emancipator (Boston), Reckon (Birmingham, Ala) El Timpano (Oakland, Calif) and The Los Angeles Times. The underlying mission of the health equity initiative was to build a cohort of news organizations dedicated to exploring stories that address systemic issues, health disparities and the influence of social factors on well-being. The initiative was successfully renewed and is now in its second year with a new group of newsrooms focused on indigenous communities and health equity through 2024. Managed the production of a multi-partner video project focused on health equity with newsrooms in Los Angeles, Birmingham and Boston. Key responsibilities included conducting background research, hiring videographers, coordinating travel for partners, establishing video structure, facilitating several rounds of edits to finalize storytelling angles and production quality. The videos are available at solutionsjournalism.org and The Solutions Journalism Network's you tube page.



Gannett | USA TODAY NETWORK

• United States
• Media Production
• 700 & Above Employee

• Senior Editor

  • Jun 2019 - Nov 2021

  Greater New Orleans Area Founding editor of USA Today’s first regional vertical, The American South—covering seven states and distributing across 28 + South and Southeast region newsrooms. In its first year The American South generated more than 800,000 page views with more than 800 instances of its content in digital and print publications across USAT South. Editor of Southern Kitchen, a dynamic food vertical covering regional food and the people who make it special. Southern Kitchen is a flagship publication for the… Show more Founding editor of USA Today’s first regional vertical, The American South—covering seven states and distributing across 28 + South and Southeast region newsrooms. In its first year The American South generated more than 800,000 page views with more than 800 instances of its content in digital and print publications across USAT South. Editor of Southern Kitchen, a dynamic food vertical covering regional food and the people who make it special. Southern Kitchen is a flagship publication for the USAT South region. In 2021, Ashley helped lead the vertical's digital transition from Gatehouse to Gannett, which included transforming the editorial strategy from a recipe-driven news hub. Show less



EdSource

• United States
• Internet News
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Education Policy Reporter

  • Oct 2016 - Nov 2018

  Link to more ed articles : https://edsource.org/author/ahopkinson Produced enterprise stories on state and national education issues related to early childhood education and bilingual education. Covered key state policy changes reflected in Assembly bills and the California State budget. Wrote report stories that analyzed and synthesized research from leading education policy analysts in the U.S.



Gannett | USA TODAY NETWORK

• United States
• Media Production
• 700 & Above Employee

• Storytelling Editor

  • Jan 2015 - Aug 2016

  Palm Springs California Planned and edited news content as the senior editor for education, health, business, food, arts & culture and other feature sections for The Desert Sun News. Edited enterprise and special projects for news and features. Planned and led the editorial coverage for major events like BNP Paribas, Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, Stagecoach Country Music Festival and The Palm Springs International Film Festival and ShortFest. Producer of The Desert Sun's first Food podcast: Chomp!… Show more Planned and edited news content as the senior editor for education, health, business, food, arts & culture and other feature sections for The Desert Sun News. Edited enterprise and special projects for news and features. Planned and led the editorial coverage for major events like BNP Paribas, Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, Stagecoach Country Music Festival and The Palm Springs International Film Festival and ShortFest. Producer of The Desert Sun's first Food podcast: Chomp! Contributed feature stories to Desert Magazine. Reported and wrote original content on deadline during music festivals including feature-length pieces on headliners at Coachella. Show less



Macon Magazine

• Contributing Writer

  • Jul 2013 - Aug 2014

  Macon, Georgia Area Developed and wrote stories that highlight the rich history, culture and diversity of the Macon community and its residents. I wrote feature-length articles on art, dance, music, health, environment and sports.



Mercer University

• United States
• Higher Education
• 700 & Above Employee

• Journalist in Residence/ Visiting Assistant Professor

  • Jul 2013 - Jul 2014

  The Center For Collaborative Journalism-- Macon, Georgia Taught multimedia bootcamp to prepare students for digital storytelling. Led classes on civic and community journalism, news writing and cross platform journalism. Edited student work for media partners, including Georgia Public Broadcasting and The (Macon) Telegraph. Co-led digital media summer camps in 2013 and 2014 for high school students aspiring to be journalists. The Center for Collaborative Journalism (CCJ) is a unique partnership between Mercer University, The Telegraph, Georgia Public… Show more Taught multimedia bootcamp to prepare students for digital storytelling. Led classes on civic and community journalism, news writing and cross platform journalism. Edited student work for media partners, including Georgia Public Broadcasting and The (Macon) Telegraph. Co-led digital media summer camps in 2013 and 2014 for high school students aspiring to be journalists. The Center for Collaborative Journalism (CCJ) is a unique partnership between Mercer University, The Telegraph, Georgia Public Broadcasting and 13WMAZ.

• Newsroom Coordinator; Adjunct Instructor

  • Sep 2012 - Jul 2013

  The Center For Collaborative Journalism--Macon, Ga. Edited student work and taught students to produce content with digital storytelling and social media tools. Matched students with professional reporters for shadowing, mentoring and media production. Produced original content and identified opportunities for joint work with media partners.



The Associated Press

• United States
• Media Production
• 700 & Above Employee

• Global News Reporter

  • Jun 2012 - Aug 2012

  Greater Atlanta Area Produced spot news and enterprise stories of global, national and regional interest. Wrote story summaries for broadcast members; researched, shot and edited video pieces as a global news intern in the Atlanta/Southeast bureau. Byline appeared in news publications across the country including, The Huffington Post and The Boston Globe.



University of California, Berkeley

• United States
• Higher Education
• 700 & Above Employee

• Politics reporter & Senior Producer

  • Aug 2010 - May 2012

  Berkeley, California Political/General Assignment reporter for Richmond Confidential an online news project from the UC Berkeley Journalism School. Produced, edited and published news content about politics/civic issues in Richmond, Calif. Senior producer Helped to lead a team of 15 reporters assigned to varying beats across Richmond, Calif. Edited and uploaded content for the website, generated story ideas, updated social media accounts including Twitter and Facebook, while producing content across… Show more Political/General Assignment reporter for Richmond Confidential an online news project from the UC Berkeley Journalism School. Produced, edited and published news content about politics/civic issues in Richmond, Calif. Senior producer Helped to lead a team of 15 reporters assigned to varying beats across Richmond, Calif. Edited and uploaded content for the website, generated story ideas, updated social media accounts including Twitter and Facebook, while producing content across various mediums on crime, health and immigration.

• Graduate Student Instructor Documentary Film 128

  • Jan 2011 - May 2011

  UC Berkeley Film and Media Department, Berkeley Calif. Led discussion sessions about the historical context of documentary cinema. Taught students how to deconstruct the newsgathering techniques used in film. Read and evaluated student papers for a class of 70 students.



KFF

• United States
• Non-profit Organizations
• 100 - 200 Employee

• Health Media Fellow, The Times-Picayune

  • Jun 2011 - Aug 2011

  Greater New Orleans Area Reported on diverse health issues for metro section of the paper and website, nola.com. Developed story ideas and wrote about public health policy and national health trends.



The Montgomery Advertiser

• Cops/General Assignment Reporter

  • Aug 2008 - Dec 2009

  Montgomery, Alabama Area Researched and wrote an average of 35 metro stories a month; produced breaking-news web updates on crime. Monitored police scanner; developed story ideas and wrote for weekly publication: East Montgomery.



The New York Times Company

• Community News Reporter --The Gadsden Times

  • May 2008 - Jul 2008

  Gadsden, Alabama Area Wrote news and feature articles for website, gadsdentimes.com; took pictures and produced voiceovers for online videos about homicides and fires as a reporting intern.