Ainsley Platt Email & Phone Number

United States

Little Rock, Arkansas, United States

As the first environment beat reporter for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette in recent memory, I have been tasked with building the beat up from scratch, writing numerous stories per week and covering a wide range of environment-adjacent topics, such as pollution issues, the clean energy transition, water infrastructure, and state and federal environmental regulation and enforcement in the state. As part of my job, I speak with a variety of subject-matter experts, talk to communities about their individual environmental concerns, write and file state- and federal-level FOIA requests, and scour government databases and filings for stories. I have spear-headed the ADG's coverage of Arkansas' nascent lithium extraction industry -- and all the regulatory issues that have come with it -- while building source relationships with local and business stakeholders and regulators. I have also written stories on community landfill concerns, swine farm prohibitions and big dam controversies. Additionally, I take on general assignment duties when the need arises. I was one of the reporters sent to Fordyce, Ark. to cover a mass shooting that killed four people while injuring 11 others, and interviewed the loved ones of the deceased, in addition to running live coverage on my Twitter/X account and ADG's Instagram account.

Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States

As a writing mentor for the College of Communication & Information Sciences' Media Writing Center, I am tasked with helping students in the college's journalism and PR classes with journalist writing. Utilizing my experience as a desk editor for The Crimson White, in addition to my professional experience as a reporter for different publications, I assist students with editing their articles, help them understand AP style, and provide professional advice and guidance for those looking to get more involved with journalism on- and off- campus.

Little Rock, Arkansas, United States

As an intern on the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette's metro desk, I was treated as any other member of the newsroom and was expected to cover a wide variety of stories ranging from event coverage to in-depth enterprise reporting. In the course of my internship I covered issues ranging from the effects of a new state law governing local regulation of cryptocurrency mines to inaction by a city of Little Rock board created to provide additional oversight for its police department. Additionally, I became proficient in using the state FOI law to request and procure records that were essential to my own and to my colleagues' reporting.

Alabama, United States

As a freelance reporter for the Alabama Daily News, I wrote a variety of quick-hit pieces on new Alabama state legislators, short articles on events and legislation and previews of the Capitol Journal. I also reported on how dozens of candidates in the state's 2022 midterm races were under investigation for potential violations of Alabama's campaign finance laws, utilizing online databases maintained by the state.

Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States

As the editor in charge of The Crimson White's award-winning 2022-2023 News desk, I was responsible for the recruitment, training and management of approximately 20-25 reporters, which included four paid staff positions. In addition to my management role, I remained an active contributor to the paper's reporting, publishing impactful, high-readership stories on the Univ. of Alabama's student government elections, the arrest of a UA basketball player on murder charges, and anti-semitic messaging that appeared on campus sidewalks, amongst other topics. Lastly, I overhauled the desk's operating procedures, implementing a standard system for storing desk files and speeding up editing timelines, in addition to reviving the desk's crime beat.

Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States

I was selected as one of three paid News desk staff reporters for my strong reporting skills and dedication after three weeks as an unpaid contributor. In the course of my time on staff, I published an award-winning story about racist text messages sent by members of an Alabama sorority, and spent countless hours reporting on and writing about UA's COVID-19 response as part of The CW's partnership with the Pointer Institute. My tenacity and unrelenting drive to get a story helped me secure a 30 minute sit-down interview with U.S. Senator Ted Cruz while he was visiting Tuscaloosa during the final weeks of my tenure as a staff reporter.

Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States

Watertown, Massachusetts, United States

As a writing intern for athenahealth's group marketing team, I was the go-to person for ensuring copy was smooth and easy to understand. Additionally, I was tasked with utilizing my research skills from my experience as a journalist to learn about major competitors and the industry as a whole and succinctly synthesize that information into proof points. Additionally, I wrote informational articles and infographics for athenahealth's online magazine, Connections.