Visit Tuscaloosa Hires Veteran Journalist As Marketing Content Manager

TUSCALOOSA, AL — Visit Tuscaloosa on Friday officially announced that longtime WVUA 23 News reporter Chelsea Barton-Kelly has been hired as its new marketing content manager.

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Barton-Kelly will begin her new role on Aug. 30.

“My favorite stories to tell involved people overcoming challenges and lifting each other up,” she said. “This is a special place because of the people those stories featured. I’m really looking forward to sharing that warmth with a new audience in this role.”

She comes to Visit Tuscaloosa 12 years of service to WVUA 23, where she served as lead reporter and anchor. She also mentored dozens of students who went on to careers in media and communications.

An active member of the Tuscaloosa community since moving to the area in 2011, Barton-Kelly currently serves on the board at United Cerebral Palsy of West Alabama and the Tuscaloosa Police Athletic League. Additionally, she is a member of Junior League of Tuscaloosa and was named to the Tuscaloosa News’ 40 Under 40.

“We are thrilled to welcome Chelsea to our Visit Tuscaloosa team,” Visit Tuscaloosa President and CEO Kelsey Rush said. “The time and effort she invested in Tuscaloosa during her tenure at WVUA has her well positioned to promote our community and the unique stories of the people who make it special.”

In her new role as marketing content manager for Visit Tuscaloosa, Barton-Kelly will contribute to the organization’s advertising, media relations, content creation and digital presence.

A native of Marion, Barton-Kelly attended Judson College and received a bachelor of arts, with honors, in English and journalism in 2010. She has been married to her husband, Hayden Kelly, for almost two years.

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