In July, when Free Press Indiana posted a job for a statewide women and girls reporter, New York Times bestselling author and freelance journalist Ashley Ford shared it on Instagram with a “Lowkey might apply.”
We took note. “Can you find out if she’s serious?" I asked Free Press Indiana CEO Bro Krift.
She was. She is. She starts Sept. 29.
In her new role, Ashley, a “born and bred Hoosier” who grew up in Fort Wayne, will travel the state to meet women and girls and learn about their lives and stories—the changes they’re creating, the barriers they’re facing.
She’s the first statewide reporter to join Free Press Indiana, whose mission is to collaborate with partners around the state to fill news gaps. FPI is the support organization for Mirror Indy, which launched in 2023 to provide community news in Indianapolis.
The new role is possible thanks to early collaborators such as Tamara Winfrey-Harris, president of Women’s Fund of Central Indiana; Leslie Bailey, CEO and co-founder of Indy Maven; and representatives from the Girl Scouts of Central Indiana, who all provided inspiration, research and support.
Thank you, too, for helping us build momentum and excitement. Nearly 90 people applied for the role. One of the things that set Ashley apart was her vision to give equal attention to the experiences of girls.
“Kids give me hope. Kids have always given me hope,” she said. “As I look at the world around me, and often feel a lot of dread, I can quickly, quickly antidote that feeling by being in the presence of children—even the ones that are misbehaving.”
We can’t wait to introduce you to Ashley at events around the state; you’ll hear more about those soon. Until then, check out this video, where she talks about who she is, how she’ll tell the stories of women and girls, and what book she’s reading right now.
Sincerely,
Amanda Kingsbury
Managing editor of innovation, Mirror Indy
Co-founder, Indy Maven
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