I already had a bio here on MySaline.com, but I was playing with ChatGPT, and after several iterations of creating a human based on my dog, as well as extracting text from PDFs, I decided to ask:
“Who is Shelli Poole in Arkansas?” It gave me a good career bio but left out my personal life. It also could have been more specific in places, so I added the parts in orange…
ChatGPT answered:
Shelli Poole is a prominent journalist, digital media entrepreneur, and community advocate based in Benton, Arkansas. She is best known as the founder and editor of MySaline.com, a leading local news and community website serving Saline County.
Background and Career
Shelli’s media journey began in her early 20s as a volunteer radio DJ at KABF 88.3 FM in Little Rock. She transitioned into paid broadcasting roles at KSSN 96 FM, KARK News 4, and other stations, and later expanded her expertise into video production at KFAA/KPOM (now KNWA) and journalism through college and various television positions. Her experience as a city government TV producer in Texas at City of Allen’s City 6 (now ACTV) exposed her to the workings of local governance, which became a cornerstone of her reporting ethos. (I know some of y’all don’t know what ethos means, so here’s the definition.)
After moving to Benton, she started documenting local events and stories online at BentOnBenton.com (now defunct), which eventually evolved into MySaline.com—a trusted source for hyperlocal news, politics, and community updates, according to Downtown Benton Arkansas.
Community Recognition
In 2021, Shelli was named Benton’s Local Business Person of the Year by Alignable, recognizing her dedication to community engagement and local journalism. She has also contributed to regional outlets like Magnolia Reporter, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Arkansas Times, KARK, KTHV, FOX 16 and KATV, covering stories ranging from city council decisions to high school athletics, according to Muck Rack.
Media Presence
Beyond journalism, Shelli maintains an active online presence. She shares personal and professional content on platforms like TikTok (@theshellipoole) and YouTube (@arkansasshelli), and engages with the community through her Facebook pages, Shelli Poole & The Shelli Poole.
Shelli Poole continues to be a vital voice in Saline County, providing timely news and fostering community connections through her multifaceted media endeavors.
