Why Journalism?

Hello everyone, my name is Ashton Hackney. I am originally from Dayton, OH but moved to Mesa, AZ in 2017. My wife and I came to Arizona to visit her sick mother and decided we enjoyed the state so much that we stayed. The biggest perk is that there is no snow at any point during the year in Mesa.

I have chosen journalism as a career path because I love the art of storytelling and investigation. In my undergrad program (B.S. Audio Production) I fell in love with broadcast. Also, while in my undergrad program the pandemic started and I began watching a lot of news. These combined played a part in my chosen path. However, when I watched the news, I fell in love with the journalists, their connections with people, and the stories they brought to people. These stories that otherwise would not be heard. I could go on forever. Journalism is something I have truly found passion in.