Ashley Reams has built her career in community journalism, covering small towns, getting to know the people who live and work in them, and sharing their stories.
Ashley was born and raised in Powhatan, VA, a rural community outside of Richmond. She graduated from Powhatan High School in 2001 and Longwood University in Farmville, VA in 2005. After college, Ashley began writing for The Advocates, a pair of newspapers that covered four towns in Carroll County, MD. In 2007, she left Maryland for the warmer temperatures of Tampa, FL. She took a reporting job with the Zephyrhills News and quickly moved up to managing editor. Then, Community News Publications, a company that produces The Laker in Pasco County, the Lutz News in Hillsborough Lutz and Carrollwood, and other smaller publications in central and eastern Pasco, hired Ashley the next year. There, she had a hand in just about every editorial aspect of the paper, writing, editing, proofing, and helping design some of the layout. Ashley began freelancing for Patch in January 2011, reporting and taking pictures for Land O’ Lakes, Carrollwood and Seminole Heights. Then, she took a freelancing job with the St. Petersburg Times in February. Now, Ashley is happy to be back at Patch covering Temple Terrace, the city she has lived in since 2010 and plans to call home for the rest of her life. She’s excited for Patch to be a part of this great community.   Beliefs At Patch, we promise always to report the facts as objectively as possible and otherwise adhere to the principles of good journalism. However, we also acknowledge that true impartiality is impossible and human beings have beliefs. So in the spirit of simple honesty, our policy is to encourage our editors to reveal certain key beliefs to the extent they feel comfortable. This disclosure is not a license for our editors to inject these beliefs into stories or to dictate coverage according to them. In fact, the intent is the opposite: we hope that the knowledge that our beliefs are on the record will force us to be ever mindful to write, report, and edit in a fair, balanced way. And if you, the user, ever think you see evidence that we failed in this mission, we wholeheartedly invite you to let us know.   Politics How would you describe your political beliefs? I am not affiliated with any party, nor do I vote along party lines. However, I tend to have liberal views when it comes to social matters.   Religion How religious would you say you are? Casual, observant, devout, non-religious? I am not religious, however I respect people who are no matter their religion.   Local Hot Button Issues What do you think are the most important issues facing the community? Where do you stand on each of these issues? The redevelopment project on 56th Street is huge for Temple Terrace. Once it’s finished, the city will have a true downtown area that residents will be able to enjoy. I’m looking forward to covering this important project through its completion, and I’m excited that Temple Terrace Patch will be able to bring citizens up-to-date information about it.