School of Media and Communication

Tell us about your current role
I am a Digital Content Producer for WLEX-TV in Lexington, KY. My day-to-day looks like; finding and writing stories to put on the station website, typing up reporter web stories, posting stories to social media, live streaming events through our LEX 18 app, and cutting clips from the broadcast to put online and on apps like Roku TV.

Co-curricular/Involvement activities in college

While at NKU I made the most out of every opportunity and became very involved! I started as NKU R.O.C.K.S. Vice President, became a Presidential Ambassador, Black Student Union Secretary, Orientation Leader, 2018 Head Orientation Leader, The Northerner Sports Editor, and a Nu Upsilon Black Women’s Honorary member.

Favorite NKU Memory

 have many great memories at Northern, but my all-time favorite was one that I haven’t told many people. During my time at NKU, I can honestly say that I somewhat made a name for myself.  During the spring semester of my junior year, I received a special text message. It came from an unsaved number, the text was something along the lines of “Hey, I see SGA President flyers posted around campus. How can I vote for you?”It genuinely brought tears to my eyes. I knew I had made an impact on campus but for someone to blindly admit that they’d vote for me as student body president without hearing or seeing my platform meant the world to me. I wasn’t running, so I let them know how to find the candidates, their platforms, and where to vote! (lol). I later found out that the text was from an old childhood friend that ended up at the same college! That message solidified that even though I’m not able to talk to every student/friend I’ve made every single day, that someone is watching you and is influenced by what you do!

Advice for Students

My advice to students would be to go after that internship, job, and/or organization that scares you! I was scared to write for The Northerner at first because I had never written before but that opened up a world of opportunities and friends. I applied for a job at the Enquirer while I was still finishing school and that opened up a world of possibilities for me. 

Just go after opportunities that will lead to growth and more opportunities, even if it makes you a little uncomfortable because you are meant to be there or the opportunity wouldn't have been given to you!

Tell us about your current role

My Future plans are to continue gaining experience in PR while utilizing my income to supplement my entrepreneurial endeavors. Right now, I own an operate an online cookie business called Iconic Dough Co.!

Co-curricular/Involvement activities in college

I was involved in Black student union, I was a NKU ROCKS mentor, an SGA senator, NPHC Treasurer, a member of the society of leadership and success, and a member of Order the Omega.

Favorite NKU Memory

My Favorite NKU memory probably was meeting all my friends and developing forever-lasting relationships with the people I started at NKU with in the ROCKS program.

Advice for Students

My advice for students would be to make sure they grow professionally in every way that they can but also make sure they are enjoying as much of what NKU offers as they can. You’re a student first, but live your life second

Responsibilities

I currently am a A2 at ESPN. I am responsible for the upkeep of microphones and understanding our world wide audio system. I work on studio shows such as SportsCenter, NFL Live, Outside the Lines and many others. As a team we prepare our talent and crew. Along with studio shows it is our responsibility to work with ESPN's world wide audio equipment. We work with productions across the globe to televise sports to our fans.

Experimental Learning

The opportunities available at NKU helped me develop the skill sets that I started to learn in college. I worked on campus doing NKU sporting events. Many of these events were televised and it was my first live television/sporting experience. The hands-on experience that NKU offers really sets its apart. This also gave me the opportunity to get one-on-one advice from professors who have been in this field. I took an internship at Florence Freedom and started as a Production Assistant at Local 12. Both of these jobs gave me the experience I needed and helped me apply everything I was learning in the classroom. I eventually got promoted at Local 12 and became one of their Master Control Operators. 

Favorite NKU Memory

I have a few favorite NKU memories but the one that sticks out the most would be my study abroad trip to London. I got to be apart of a 2-week study abroad trip with Dr. Yungbluth. Within this communications course we got to experience all sorts of sports. Going to Wimbledon, seeing Arsenal F.C. and Chelsea F.C. stadium, playing netball and countless other memories from that trip will always be something I will remember.

Advice for Students

The main advice I would give is experience everything. Experience is one of the main aspects of a resume that will make you stand out. NKU has a number of resources that can be used if you take advantage of the moment and continue to find those moments. Professors at NKU are willing to teach you anything they can and its up to students to desire more then what is in the classroom.

Responsibilities

 Adam Ashley is a PR Professional that has experience working across every aspect of the entertainment, lifestyle, non-profit and corporate PR spectrum; with a proven track record of securing key press hits, creating brand identity with media and audiences, positioning products and services as must-haves, influencing the influential, and providing unmatched client and consumer relations. 

Adam has helped launch some of the world’s most successful theatrical franchises by collaborating on projects with Universal Studios, Fox Entertainment, and Lionsgate; He’s created award campaign(s) for some of television’s most popular primetime and daytime programs; he has served as a unit publicist for over 20 major digital film releases; and has had clients featured in film festivals across the globe. In addition to his film work, Adam has proudly been a team member at Universal Music Group where he has helped build the brands of some of most successful Artist(s) on the planet. His philanthropic work can be seen in fundraising events for United Cerebral Palsy, The Recording Academy, and Love is Louder. 

Adam holds a B.A in Public Relations from Northern Kentucky University, and a M.A. in Arts Administration from University of Kentucky. He currently resides in Pasadena, CA where he continues work in the entertainment publicity industry. 

NKU Memories

 Being selected to represent Northern Kentucky as a delegate for Public Relations Society America’s National Conference in Seattle and National Assembly in Orlando. This experience encouraged me to return home to create NKU’s first student led Public Relations firm. The firm secured clients across the region and offered discounted PR services to some of the Greater Cincinnati top brands.

Advice for Students

 Complete as many INTERNSHIPS as humanly possible. In Los Angeles, we start hiring interns in high school. If you have waited until college to start gaining experience in your desired field—then you’re already behind. Internships will give you the experience needed to achieve in the industry after graduating. JOIN AN ORGANIZATION at NKU. Remaining active in your chosen department will help you build confidence and a large network post-graduation. Lastly, FOLLOW YOUR DREAMS in the worlds of the legendary Dolly Parton, .” Dreams are of no value, if they're not equipped with wings”. Let NKU and its faculty provide you with the tools to grow your wings so you can fly successfully in the world. 

Courage+Dreams=Success