Ashton Marra

Ashton Marra serves as a Teaching Associate Professor in the Journalism department within the Reed School of Media and Communications at West Virginia University, a position she assumed in August 2018. Her teaching portfolio includes news writing, video storytelling, and community-focused journalism courses.

Her academic credentials are as follows:

• B.S. in Journalism from West Virginia University
• M.S. in Integrated Marketing Communications from West Virginia University

Marra's professional and research interests are deeply rooted in contemporary journalism practices. She co-founded and co-directs Reporting on Addiction, an initiative that bridges addiction science experts, professional journalists, and educators to combat stigma and enhance journalistic coverage of addiction and recovery. Her expertise extends to political reporting, video journalism, podcasting, and community engagement. Through Reporting on Addiction, she has developed research-based resources and fostered a national network of journalists dedicated to improving reporting standards in this critical area.

Her exceptional journalistic work has been recognized with the Associated Press of the Virginias Best Reporter award, which she received twice.

With over a decade of experience in public and commercial media, Marra's career includes roles as assistant news director and lead political reporter for West Virginia Public Broadcasting, where she hosted and produced the flagship program 'The Legislature Today.' Her reporting has reached national audiences via NPR, PBS, and Good Morning America. As co-director of Reporting on Addiction, she continues to influence journalism education and practice, training both student and professional newsrooms across the country.