Graduate Projects
Ashleigh attended Syracuse University from July 2022 - Oct. 2023 obtaining a Master of Science degree in Communications and Journalism from the Newhouse School of Public Communications.
She maintained a 4.0 GPA throughout the duration of the program and graduated with recognition from the university for Outstanding Achievement in Journalism Innovation.
Ashleigh maintains ownership over all projects below. Any unauthorized use, reproduction, or distribution will be met with legal ramifications.
Data & Investigative Reporting
Inside the shadows of juvenile justice healthcare: The challenges of keeping what’s outside from coming in
Incarcerated youth faced health disparities long before COVID-19, and the pandemic only exacerbated issues of healthcare, access and equity nationwide — yet, outside of protocol documents, much about the healthcare in juvenile justice centers often does not make headlines.
In California county facilities — even with health protocols in place — cases spiked the most statewide for these vulnerable populations during the months of January 2022, July 2022 and January 2021, in that order, according to an analysis of data from the California Board of State and Community Corrections. These spikes were not covered or addressed widely on a public scale.
Inside the shadows of juvenile justice healthcare: The challenges of keeping what’s outside from coming in. -- click for more.
Confirmed COVID-19 Cases in Juvenile Justice Centers https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/vuL25/3/
Data diary log and steps in attached PDF.
Inside the shadows of juvenile justice healthcare: The challenges of keeping what’s outside from coming in. -- click for more.
Use gallery arrows (← or →) to navigate, click on images + links to view article text and data visualizations.
News Strategies & Analysis
Why local news needs to lead
climate change reporting
Preventing culturally insensitive reporting
Lack of diversity in newsrooms leads to a lack of knowledge and unconscious biases that can cause journalists to engage in culturally insensitive reporting practices — even without realizing.
This analysis outlines a better path forward for news organizations.
Local news and values-based approaches to covering climate change news will aid in depoliticizing what has largely become an “agenda issue” by resurfacing familiarity and trust in the narrative for readers regardless of political background.
This analysis outlines a better path forward for news organizations.
Field Study: Artificial intelligence, ChatGPT and Fake News
In this field study, I answer the following:
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How effective is AI at generating fake news?
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In general, can news consumers/readers detect the differences between real reporting and fake reporting at this point in time? If not, what does that mean for the integrity of journalism and reporting?
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How can we, as journalists, adapt, innovate and protect news and educate consumers to do the same?
Gen Z's relationship to news and transparency
The solution:
My research focuses on the media habits of Gen Z — born between 1997-2012 — who began aging into adulthood at a time when misinformation, disinformation and fake news became a dominant narrative around news and journalism. Then, an already confusing news and media landscape for them was further compounded by the effects of COVID-19 on media and public information. As a group with already strong digital media habits and skillsets, finding a new way to rengage Gen Z in an area of news they may have lost trust in, have distrust for, etc. is key.