A news media major at the University of Alabama has broken new ground after it has been announced that she will become the first Black woman to become the school newspaper’s editor-in-chief.
Ashlee Woods, a junior who is the current editor-in-chief of Fifty-Six Magazine, a Black-led magazine will now become the lead editor at The Crimson White beginning next month.
Woods now becomes the third Black person and first Black woman to serve as editor of the publication in its 129-year history. Thinking about achieving the feat “is such a wild thing to think about,” she told the Birmingham Times. She admitted that she was nervous about assuming the role, but after speaking with trusted family and colleagues, she knew it was an opportunity she could not let pass her.
“When you think about it … being a woman in sports has prepared me for this moment because everywhere I go, there’s people that don’t look like me,” Woods said.
She added that she hopes that taking the helm will set a precedent for other Black girls behind her to see that it is possible to rise to the top of their industries. She also hopes that her appointment will allow other publications to see the need for diversity and inclusion within the media landscape both on campuses and in professional organizations nationwide.
“I hope that my time as editor shows people that Black and marginalized communities’ stories are so important,” Woods said. “We also need Black and minority leaders leading the call telling those stories.”
The Delaware native began matriculation at the University of Alabama in 2018 and originally studied political science with the intent to become a lawyer but two years later, she found that she had a love for journalism and switched her major to news media. She immediately was selected to become a sports staff reporter for The Crimson White, which is where her talents blossomed. She would then rise the ranks as an assistant sports editor before becoming the sports editor and quickly began appearing on local TV sports shows.
“Her talent for writing and her gift for talking about sports — which she’s nurtured from a young age by arguing with her brother so much that her mother told the siblings they should start a podcast — allowed her to flourish quickly,” the Birmingham Times reported.
Congratulations, Ashlee! Wishing you the best in your new role!
