NC Local

Grateful, inspired, and energized!?That's what we're hearing from some of the incredible journalists, educators, publishers, news leaders, funders and others who attended this week's NC News & Information Summit. We'll have more recaps and reflections soon, but couldn't wait to share some of the images taken by Elon's Tommy Kopetskie. A huge thank you to our session facilitators for sharing their expertise, our sponsors for making this event possible, and NC Central for hosting us. And of course, a special shoutout to our partner co-host North Carolina Open Government Coalition. If you snapped some nice shots and/or have takeaways from the Summit, we'd love to hear from you in the comments!

It’s always wonderful to convene with colleagues from around the state, but honestly the NC Local summit has become one of the very best events on our annual calendar with some of the best and brightest thought leaders from across the country attending. Shannan Bowen you have built something truly special and valuable, and we’re so excited join you in the journey to build a statewide hub and infrastructure that benefits newsrooms, creators, citizens and communities from the sea to the mountains and all parts between.

I do not know of other statewide local journalism ecosystems that are collaborating, investing and thriving the way North Carolina is. The rest of us need to pay attention. It was an absolute pleasure join Shannan and team at their summit this week.

It was a joy to be able to come home to my alma mater North Carolina Central University to co-lead a session with my brilliant friend Nadeen Bir at the NC News & Information Summit! Together, we explored using movement journalism as a tool to confront and dismantle anti-Black norms in the industry. It’s a conversation that’s always necessary, but it has become crucial in recent times. I’m appreciative to the incredible team at NC Local for their support in making this session a reality. And I am so grateful for the incredible journalists and media makers who trusted me with their time and their energy. Let’s keep fighting for a more just and inclusive media landscape!

I'm still reflecting on our fourth annual NC News & Information Summit and will share more later about this powerful, meaningful day. For now, in my sleep deprived state, I want to just say how amazed, inspired and grateful I am to see nearly 300 people convene to share ideas, partner, learn new perspectives and connect with one another. As I told attendees in my welcoming remarks, I don't know a single other state that does this. And by "this" I don't just mean a statewide local news conference. This is a collective movement to support and strengthen local news in North Carolina, joined by people working in many different roles. This network and this movement is what makes our next chapter with NC Local possible. Throughout the year, I encourage my journalism colleagues from out of state or national organizations to come down to NC in March to witness our magic. A sincere thank you to several who came this year to join us: Jason Alcorn, Marcia Parker, Dean Baquet, Sona Patel, Emma Carew Grovum, David Grant, Ashley Woods Branch, Grace Northern, Christina Piaia, Rusty Coats, Max Resnik, Eli Flournoy, Benjamin Hamm, Joy Mayer, Priska Neely, Maria Elena Fernandez, and North Carolinians representing national orgs on our program: Alicia Bell, Andrea Faye Hart, Colleen Murphy, and more! And to all of our NC local news friends, partners, supporters: you're the best. ??

Yesterday at the NC News & Information Summit, AJP's Jason Alcorn joined Lizzy Hazeltine of the North Carolina Local News Lab Fund and Alicia Bell of the Racial Equity in Journalism Fund at Borealis Philanthropy for a conversation about making a strong case for support and building relationships with local funders around a shared mission to support strong communities. We appreciate Shannan Bowen of NC Local for this opportunity to bring together journalists, funders and partners around local news in North Carolina.

A heartfelt THANK YOU to the 300 amazing news and information friends who joined us at NC State in Durham for the 2025 News & Information Summit! Your energy, expertise, engagement and presence all contributed to making this year’s event a success. From reunions with old friends and colleagues, to new connections and collaborators, there were so many positive exchanges and interactions throughout the day. ?? Help us thank all the keynote panelists and session presenters for sharing their expertise, resources and lessons learned and sparking new ideas for you to try in the weeks and months to come. ?? A round of applause to our generous sponsors: your commitment to supporting local news and information throughout the Tar Heel state makes this annual convening possible and fuels these vital conversations and connections. Thank you Google News Initiative, Knight Foundation, North Carolina Local News Lab Fund, Brooks, Pierce, McLendon, Humphrey & Leonard, LLP, Elon University School of Communications, The Assembly, Beacon Media NC, NC Press Foundation, BlueLena, A.J. Fletcher Foundation, McGuireWoods LLP, CTF Communications, and Upstate, with Code the Dream. ?? Three cheers for Summit partner co-host, the North Carolina Open Government Coalition, Program Lead Sarah Day Owen Wiskirchen and volunteer organizing committee members: Lorraine Ahearn, Ph.D., Taylor Batten, Valeria C., Kyle Compton, Les High, Mary Helen Moore, Wes Platt, Emilia Rivadeneira and Alexandra S.. Your energy, passion and dedication to detail behind the scenes ensured a meaningful and engaging experience for all. ?? Many thanks to our Summit venue, North Carolina Central University, for providing the amazing space in the Alfonso Elder Student Union and all the staff who helped create the perfect setting for meaningful discussions and connections. ?? Bravo to Caryn Sterling for your gorgeous graphic representation of the event, helping document our conversations, insights & inspirations in vivid and vibrant colors. The NC local news and information ecosystem is something really special and we are so grateful for all of you and your roles in building it!?

We were delighted today for Ashley Woods Branch to team up with our friend David Grant from Blue Engine Collaborative to present a session on “How to Set Goals that Matter” at the fourth annual NC Local News Summit. This year’s event featured a record 275 attendees, and demonstrates the continued growth and strengthening of the North Carolina journalism and information ecosystem. We will publish a full recap and key takeaways from this session on our site later this week!

NC Local’s newsletter is arriving a bit early this week as tomorrow we’ll be connecting, convening and collaborating with 270+ news and information friends at the 2025 News & Information Summit. (And if you haven’t registered yet, there are a few spots left!) Here’s what we have lined up for you today: ??? Helene caused $15+ billion in damage to housing in WNC. In a new resource guide for newsrooms produced by NC Local and reported by Jessica Wakeman, we break down where housing relief funding is coming from and whether it’s enough. ?? Are you an entrepreneurial news leader focused on audience needs? You may be a fit for NC Local’s first Editorial Director. ?? North Carolina Public Radio-WUNC launches “North Carolina Newsroom,” a new initiative to expand local coverage of state policy impacts and announces the team leading the collaboration with public media outlets across the state. ?? Is your newsroom using AI? Learn about best practices, business uses and ethics policies at “AI and the Future of Local News,” a virtual pre-conference event on 3/24 hosted by UNC Knight Chair in Local News and Sustainability Marisa Porto, MBA and Center for Innovation and Sustainability in Local Media. Find details & more here: https://lnkd.in/eRxTuYZY Not a subscriber yet? Join our community:? https://lnkd.in/e4YYhH7z

We’re buzzing with excitement about this Wednesday's 2025 News & Information Summit, cohosted with the North Carolina Open Government Coalition at NC Central in Durham. Yes, there’s still time to register! Join 270+ news and information friends from across NC and beyond. Find a link below in the comments. Here are a few of the 20+ sessions you can choose from: ?? BIPOC Media Roundtable Join the Racial Equity in Journalism Fund for a lunchtime workshop on revenue strategy. This workshop aims to share journalism revenue strategies that are less often considered (rodeos, marathons, airport stores, etc) and help generate ideas about community assets across North Carolina. Hosted by Alicia Bell and Dr. Kholi Murchison of Borealis Philanthropy, is for В?РОС and/or LGBTQ media leaders, entrepreneurs, and anyone curious about revenue diversity. Pre-registration requested: https://lnkd.in/eqjrsrEu ? Here’s What Journalism School Didn't Teach You Early career journalists will give candid and interactive advice to professional peers and students on the unexpected norms and unspoken rules of working in a newsroom. Attendees, bring your questions for the panel and learn how to better navigate your first years working in news. Featuring: CityView’s Valeria C. and Maydha Devarajan; WHQR’s Aaleah McConnell, and the N&O’s Alexandra S. and Korie Dean. ?? Imagining the future for rural community/news collaboration Come brainstorm rural news, information and business model needs and discuss potential partnerships, strategies and technologies for news organizations, funders and communities. Featuring: Eli Flournoy, Press Forward Central Appalachia Chapter; Benjamin Hamm, Institute for Rural Journalism at University of Kentucky and Luke Boutwell, James Research and Analytics. ?? Graphics by Sarah Day Owen Wiskirchen