Today we’d like to introduce you to Ashlen Jones.
Hi Ashlen, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I grew up in Chapel Hill, Tennessee, a very small town where I still live today. I was raised on a farm, and I think growing up there shaped a lot of who I am. Being surrounded by a close-knit community and the people in my life taught me the importance of working hard, treating people with kindness and having confidence in who I am. I’ve been fortunate to have people around me who have helped shape me into the kind and confident woman I am becoming.
I’ve also always been a talker. I’ve never been shy, and I’ve always been curious and wanted to learn about the people and things around me. I grew up loving to read and write, but I think I first realized communication was something I was good at when I started competing in 4-H speech competitions in middle school. I loved getting up in front of people and sharing something I had written, and I made it to the regional level a few times.
As I got older, that interest developed into a love for storytelling. I’ve always been especially interested in people and culture, including music of all kinds and entertainment, rather than only traditional hard news. That curiosity eventually led me to study Journalism & New Media at Lipscomb University.
At Lipscomb, I was able to turn something I had always enjoyed into real experience as a writer, reporter and anchor through student media. I later interned at WSMV Channel 4 in Nashville, where I gained experience in a professional newsroom and grew tremendously as a journalist and communicator.
Since graduating in May 2026, I’ve continued writing professionally as a freelancer for the Murfreesboro Pulse while also expanding into marketing and social media through my work with Copperweld. Those experiences have helped me realize that I don’t necessarily have to fit into one box. Whether it’s journalism, marketing, social media or video, what I love comes back to the same things I enjoyed growing up: talking to people, learning something new and finding a way to tell a good story.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It definitely hasn’t been a completely smooth road. One of the biggest things I’ve had to learn is that doing my best doesn’t always mean my work is the best it can be. Especially when I was starting out, it could be difficult to receive criticism on something I had worked really hard on. Over time, I’ve learned that being good at what you do also means being coachable. It means listening to people who may have more experience than you, being open to their advice and being willing to go back and make something better. Some of the biggest improvements I’ve made have come from doing exactly that. I’m still learning, and I hope I never really stop.
The biggest challenge for me right now, though, has been finding my place professionally after graduating. I’ve applied to around 80 full-time positions, and I’d be lying if I said it hasn’t been frustrating at times. You can spend hours finding a position you’re excited about, tailoring an application and putting yourself out there, only to receive a rejection or sometimes never hear anything back. It can be hard not to question yourself when that happens repeatedly.
I’ve also had to learn that my career may not look exactly how I pictured it when I first chose journalism. I love storytelling, but through different experiences I’ve discovered that I’m also interested in communications, marketing, social media, digital content and entertainment. Instead of seeing that as not knowing what I want to do, I’ve started to see it as having skills and interests that can take me in several different directions.
Even though I haven’t found that full-time position yet, I haven’t stopped working toward it. I’ve continued freelancing, gaining experience in marketing and social media, building my portfolio and applying for opportunities that challenge me. One of the hardest lessons has been learning not to measure my abilities by how quickly I reach the next milestone. I may not know exactly where I’ll end up yet, but I know I want to keep learning, growing and becoming better at what I do.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
At the core of what I do is storytelling. My background is in journalism, but I’ve had the opportunity to work across reporting, writing, video, social media, marketing and digital communications. I love taking a topic, learning everything I can about it and figuring out the best way to turn it into something people will want to read, watch or engage with.
I’ve worked as a writer, reporter and anchor, interned at WSMV Channel 4, written professionally for the Murfreesboro Pulse and expanded into marketing and social media through my work with Copperweld. I’m proud that early in my career I’ve already been able to explore so many different sides of communication and see how the skills I learned as a journalist can translate into other areas.
I think what sets me apart most is my curiosity. I’m not afraid to ask questions, talk to people or admit when I don’t know something. I genuinely enjoy learning, and I care about making whatever I create feel authentic and human. Whether I’m interviewing someone for a story or creating content for a brand, I want people to connect with it or walk away knowing something they didn’t before.
Who else deserves credit in your story?
My mom deserves so much of the credit. She has supported me through so much, not just professionally, but in every part of my life. She taught me to be a strong, independent young woman and reminded me that I don’t need anyone else to define my worth. Most importantly, she taught me to put my faith in God and trust that, no matter what happens, I’m going to be okay. That is something I carry with me, especially during seasons when I’m unsure of what comes next.
I’m also incredibly grateful for the professors I had at Lipscomb University. Dr. Jimmy McCollum, who we call “Dr. Mac,” holds a particularly special place in my story. I felt a connection with him from the first class I took with him freshman year. As I grew throughout my time at Lipscomb, I would often stop by his office just to talk. He is one of the kindest and most genuine people I’ve met, and you can tell how deeply he cares about his students.
Dr. Mac’s impact on me went far beyond journalism. He also helped me navigate my faith and was someone I could talk to when I was considering being baptized. I ultimately chose to be baptized at Lipscomb, and both Dr. Mac and another professor who means so much to me, Dr. Lois Jones, were there. Dr. Jones was another person at Lipscomb who always had my back and made me feel supported. Having both of them there for such an important moment in my life is something I’ll always remember.
There are so many other professors, family members, friends, classmates and coworkers who have encouraged me and given me opportunities along the way. I’ve learned that even when an accomplishment has your name attached to it, there are usually many people behind you who helped you become the person capable of achieving it
Contact Info:
- Website: https://ashlenjonesreports.my.canva.site/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ashlenjonesreports/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/14p7dcSSRPp/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashlenjones
