Ashley Lopez has been hired as 89.3 WFPL's new political reporter. Lopez is currently a reporter with WGCU, NPR's affiliate in Southwest Florida. She reports on politics and news across a five-county area, and serves as a fill-in host. She also reports and blogs for the Florida Center for Investigative Reporting.
Lopez reported on Florida politics for the past four years. She covered the Legislature and numerous elections, contributing to an award-winning radio series exposing the money and influence behind ballot measures in 2012. She also worked on a series that documented Florida’s troubled workforce and how state agencies struggle to carry out their duties.
"Ashley is a great addition to our newsroom. She's immensely talented, with a knack for exploring complex issues and holding folks accountable. She's got a passion for politics and a great eye for stories and we're thrilled to have her join the team," said Interim WFPL News Director Brendan McCarthy.
Lopez previously reported for WLRN in Miami. She has written for the Miami Herald newspaper, examined the Legislature for The Florida Independent, and interned at Talking Points Memo.
The Miami native graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with degrees in electronic journalism and political science. She's won several statewide awards from the Society of Professional Journalists.