Lopez Joins WGCU FM News Team

Ashley Lopez, 25, has been named a full-time reporter for WGCU FM news. As a general assignment reporter, Lopez will cover the news in Southwest Florida, as well as Florida political stories. “WGCU has a small news staff,” says, Amy Tardif, news director and FM station manager, “all of us are general assignment reporters. But, Ashley brings passion and skill for Florida politics and is a tremendous asset to our news team.” 

Prior to joining WGCU, Lopez was a reporter for WLRN-Miami Herald News and The Florida Independent. Lopez grew up in Miami and attended South Miami High School. She holds a bachelor of art’s degree in journalism from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. She served as an intern for WUNC public radio in Chapel Hill and for Talking Points Memo in New York City.

Lopez has and continues to work as a freelance reporter/blogger for the Florida Center for Investigative Reporting. During the 2012 election, Lopez played a significant role in a statewide project with Florida’s public radio stations and the Florida Center for Investigative Reporting to provide multi-platform coverage of Florida’s 2012 ballot initiatives. 

Lopez says she has found her place in the news reporting landscape. “I want to work for a public radio affiliate for the rest of my career,” she says, adding, “the public interest is the number one priority of NPR.” 

Ashley has a passion for storytelling. (In high school she dreamed of becoming a screenwriter.) “There’s nothing like being out on a story! I like reporting,” she explains.