Shelley Basinger

Senior Advisor

Shelley is a communications executive with two decades of experience across local government, print journalism, and broadcast news.

Since 2022, Shelley has served as Director of Public Information for Bedford County, leading communication efforts across the county's 21 departments and serving as a trusted liaison between government, media, and the community. She directs crisis and emergency communications during public safety incidents and severe weather events, oversees the county's social media, media relations, and branding policies, and led the 2023 redesign of the county's four public websites. She chairs the Central Virginia Public Information Network.

Shelley began her communications career in television broadcast news as a reporter, producer, and anchor at ABC-13 in Lynchburg, before transitioning to print journalism as managing editor for the Central Virginia regional magazines published by VistaGraphics, including Lynchburg Living and Lynchburg Business. Her private- and public-sector experience managing complex messaging, developing communication strategies, and creating engaging content provides a unique perspective on connecting organizations with the audiences they serve.