What a Year!

What a year it has been! I just completed my first year as a San Diego Union-Tribune reporter and never could have imagined the crazy stories and experiences that came my way. I spent most of the year on the local community team, covering the six school districts and businesses located in San Diego’s South Bay. In April, I transitioned to the U-T’s Watchdog team and I am loving it. The most amazing part of my first year was winessing the impact journalism can have on a government entity and community. I was flabbergasted at the actions of some government leaders and simultaneously inspired by the community’s engagement and desire for accountability. The series of articles published over the last year helped sound the alarm on a superintendent’s questionable activities, ultimately contributing to his termination. Others have also been ousted following investigations I conducted or contributed to as a member of The Watchdog team, including a cafeteria boss, a grade changing principal, a food distributor, and soon, the district’s pricey general counsel. While it remains to be seen what the coming year might bring, I am excited for what lies ahead and trust I will be busier than ever. Though at times it seems there is no end to the corruption, my desire is that my reporting will continue protecting taxpayer dollars and that I may continue to serve as the public’s advocate for transparency and accountability. Here’s to another year!

An unexpected twist

So here I am, three weeks into a new job, which a little more than a month ago, I had no idea was on the horizon. An unexpected twist came in my career when I was notified about an opening at none other than the San Diego Union-Tribune. Opportunity knocked and I had to answer. I applied and got the gig. So much has changed so quickly, my life doesn’t resemble anything similar to what it was before, but this is a good thing. Not because things were bad, but because it is a new adventure with new life experiences. The newsroom of a large newspaper is so different from anything else and I love it! There is simply just not enough time in the day, so it is a daily battle to cover both breaking news and scheduled news. Thus far, life has been not much more than work and home, so I have yet to feel like this is “my town,” but that will come with time. I look forward to rediscovering why I love San Diego on the weekends, and reaffirming why San Diego needs quality reporters on the weekdays. I love life’s surprises. I have no doubt this job will keep me on my toes. I also look forward to being a part of an era at the paper that is going to usher in a much more Web savvy culture. Look out for the UT’s redesign and Web-first coverage in mid-August. Visit www.signonsandiego.com.

I’m a payrolled journalist!

Without further adieu, I am a payrolled journalist! And I get to stay in Orange County and work for an amazing publication I have had the privilege to get to know over the past few months. What amazing news!

Churm Media (ie. OC METRO, OC Family, OC Menus, etc.) took the plunge  and brought me on board full-time. I began last week as their editorial assistant, doing anything and everything, but mostly helping keep the Web content (ocmetro.com) up-to-date with pertinent Orange County business news. I also am frequently assigned longer stories/ features to run online and in hard copy in one or more of their monthly publications.

Moreover, they have slated me for the OC METRO Minute every Friday, a weekday Web newscast, and I will begin taking on video projects (shooting and editing).

Hallelujah! I’m excited and oh so thankful! Since my return to the region, I have come to see the Orange County market in such a different light – as a dynamic and untapped media market full of movers and shakers. I am excited to immerse myself in the business world here.

Slowly but Surely: More Pages

Working on loading more clips… I decided to categorize my work using different pages (see above). Look for new pages added every couple days:)

Ashly

Thrilled, Inspired and Enamored with CAR

Felt compelled to create my first WordPress blog while at a computer-assisted-reporting conference in Phoenix. I intend for this blog to showcase some of my past writing experience as well as serve as a platform for CAR stories currently in the works…
I have learned a lot of neat Web tricks from Ben Welsh at the Los Angeles Times today, like this word cloud above, and brushed up on my Excel skills with the help of Brad Branan from the Fresno Bee and Paula Lavigne from ESPN. The power of data on the Web is thrilling and inspiring. I can say mid-way through day two, I am fully enamored with this niche in the industry. Let the CAR engines begin!