Amanda Ellis

Background

About Amanda Ellis

While working as the general assignment reporter for the Ashley News Observer, I shared stories from Ashley and Chicot Counties with our readers throughout southeast Arkansas, reaching a diverse and engaged audience. I wrote, provided photography for, self-edited and proofread articles on various topics such as local news, events, features, and opinions. In the course of that job I was able to use some of the skills I learned while working with the public in various jobs over the years. I utilized my ability to empathize and communicate effectively with others, even during times of duress, to obtain first person accounts of news from witnesses at the scene. I also built my experience collecting information for writing feature stories while simultaneously honing my listening skills. I would consider my strengths to be related to public relations, writing, proofreading, and photography. My interests also align with collecting and archiving historical data, including photographs. I also collaborate with other reporters and editors from the Ashley Publishing Company, which owns multiple newspapers in the region. I have a passion for storytelling, which I developed during my Bachelor's degree in English and Creative Writing from the University of Arkansas at Monticello. I am an aspiring author and novelist, working on a sci-fi/fantasy novel and a book on caretaking, inspired by my personal experiences and the landscapes and cultures of southeast Arkansas. I enjoy learning new aspects of journalism and connecting with the community through my role.