Ashley Harding joined the Channel 4 news team in March 2013. She anchors News4Jax at 5:30 and 6:30 and covers Jacksonville city hall.
Ashley always knew she had a passion for storytelling. As a child, she was the one at family gatherings constantly telling jokes and sharing the stories everyone needed to know. She first realized she wanted to be a TV journalist when she saw her idol, Peter Jennings, report the facts and let everyone know what was going on in the world. To Ashley, reporting is about showing human emotion and making a difference.
A true Florida native, Ashley was born and raised in beautiful Orlando. In 2010, she graduated from the University of Central Florida (go Knights!) with a degree in Radio-Television Broadcast Journalism and a minor in Legal Studies. During her time at UCF, she interned at WKMG and WFTV. Also an advocate for children, Ashley spent several months interning with the 19th Circuit Juvenile Justice Center.
Just one month after graduation, she traded her flip flops and shorts for parkas and snow boots when she moved to Lincoln, Nebraska. For two years, she was a general assignment reporter for the ABC affiliate, KLKN-TV. She reported extensively on the 2011 Missouri river flooding, tornado damage, Husker football, and spent numerous hours in the courthouse covering trials from start to finish. She even had a once in a lifetime opportunity to play a round of golf with Larry the Cable Guy, as well as interview the world-renowned primatologist Jane Goodall. Although Husker nation came to feel like a second home, Ashley is blessed to be back in the beautiful Sunshine state!
When she’s not chasing a story, you can find Ashley outdoors. She loves the beach, camping, going for walks, etc. She also loves spending time with her family, trying out a new restaurant, or catching a movie with her husband. Ashley loves meeting new people, so if you see her around town, don’t be afraid to say hello!
If you have a story idea for Ashley, you can shoot her an email or contact her on Facebook or Twitter.