Fredericksburg native Emily Hollingsworth, a former news and features reporter at The Free Lance-Star, has been hired as a staff writer and photographer for The Charlotte Gazette and Farmville Newsmedia, LLC.

Hollingswoth will cover news events, general assignments and features for The Kenbridge-Victoria Dispatch, The Farmville Herald, The Gazette and Farmville the Magazine.

Hollingsworth, 23, is a former news assistant for The Free Lance-Star, based in Fredericksburg, and a graduate from the University of Mary Washington.

At The Free Lance-Star, a daily newspaper with a circulation area of 10 counties, Hollingsworth covered features, breaking news and event previews.

Hollingsworth said she is excited to learn more about the Heart of Virginia, forming connections by reporting the events that are meaningful to those who live across the area.

“My goal, as a news and features writer and photographer, is to take an energetic and conscientious approach to finding and telling stories that affect and represent people in their communities,” Hollingsworth said.

“I’m excited to bring Emily on to our team of stellar journalists,” said Gazette Managing Editor Jordan Miles. “Emily’s writing abilities and journalistic skills make her a great fit for telling the stories of the good people in this area. I’m excited to see her form more relationships, strengthening our community newspapers.”

Miles said he looked forward to Emily covering education, features, business and events across Charlotte.

“I learned so much from living and working in Fredericksburg,” Hollingsworth said. “I’m excited to take the things I have learned and help serve the community here.”