Alumni Spotlight: Ashley Johnson '03

This month's Alumni Spotlight features Ashley Johnson '03. Ashley was most recently an anchor and reporter with NBC 11 Alive in Atlanta, Georgia. There she covered everything from Hurricane Michael to the trial of R&B singer R. Kelly. Previously, she reported with Fox's Chasing News, which aired throughout the tri-state area on FOX 5, FOX 29, and My9NJ. Johnson attended the University of Pennsylvania, where she dual majored in political science and communications. She also earned a Master of Science in broadcast journalism from Northwestern's Medill School of Journalism. She credits the Emma Bowen Foundation, which was a six-summer internship program, for helping her realize her passion for journalism.


Q: What is your favorite EA tradition?

A: My favorite Episcopal tradition is Aurora-Vesper Day! I always enjoyed the day of team activities and how compelled you felt about the side you were on. I was a proud Aurora. I credit this tradition to always being a supportive team player in the newsroom.

Q: What does Episcopal mean to you, and how has it impacted your life?

A: When I think about my experience at Episcopal, the motto "Esse Quam Videri" comes to mind, "to be rather than to seem to be." I heard it often as a student but now pursuing my passion in journalism this statement holds a lot of meaning in my life. I learned at Episcopal what it means to always strive for excellence and most importantly to be authentic. I credit a lot of my success in my career to not trying to be like anyone else but being proud of my unique voice. The greatest success for me has been being there for others during their most vulnerable times. I appreciate people trusting me in telling their story.

Q: What inspired you to pursue a career in journalism?

A: I always credit my third grade teacher for pursuing a career in journalism. I attended Waldron Mercy Academy before going to EA for high school. That teacher saw that I was a great presenter and strong writer. I was able to hone my writing, as well as research skills, at Episcopal. I just knew that I would be a broadcast journalist and boy, has it been an exciting career.


Q: What is one piece of advice you'd offer our students?

A: My advice for anyone who is interested in journalism is to do an internship and learn about the necessary commitment. A lot of times people think because you're on TV it's glamourous. They don't see the long hours or the various challenges with the career path. You have to be open to living really anywhere. I got my start in Vermont, a state I never thought twice about. Many days I am on stories that are heartbreaking, speaking with family members when they get devastating news. You have to really be strong emotionally to do the job. A wise news director once told me, "to be on the news you have to imagine you couldn't have done anything else."

You can hear more from Ashley Johnson '03 as one of the keynote speakers at this year's Women of EA event on January 9. Learn more and register.

To learn more about how to get involved at EA, contact Director of Alumni Engagement Lauren Berry Maloney '10, visit the Alumni Society webpage, or plan to attend one of our upcoming Alumni Events.