We're hosting two great (free!) events next week in Western North Carolina as we connect with the community & welcome NC Local's Senior Reporter, Lilly Knoepp. 🍻Launch Event: The Trailhead 📍The Lazy Hiker (Sylva) 🗓️Nov. 13, 5 to 7 🎟️Free (first round on us!) 👉 www.eventbrite.com/e/nc-locals-...?

Big news!🎉Yesterday, nearly 80 community leaders in Alamance County joined us as we announced the launch of The Alamance Fabric — a new newsletter and community engagement initiative! ✨Connecting neighbors ℹ️Sharing trusted information 🤝Strengthening a sense of place

🥾Come hike with NC Local near Asheville on Nov. 14! Event + coffee & donuts are free! Dogs on a leash welcome! More info + free registration here: www.eventbrite.com/e/a-short-hi...

Will North Carolina teachers get raises this year? nclocal.org/2025/11/02/w...

NC lawmakers just redrew congressional districts. The change is expected to flip another seat to Republicans by moving Black voters out of District 1. In this explainer (available for republication), we break down what just happened & what it means for voters: nclocal.org/2025/10/22/t...

Wait, there’s an election? Join @chriscooperwcu.bsky.social & @youcanvotenc.bsky.social this Friday 9/5 at 11 am to get prepped on the 2025 North Carolina election & low-lift ways to help inform your community. Register here: airtable.com/appqfGVZywK3...

We're thrilled to partner with @newsobserver.com, 12+ other news and info orgs & UNC Asheville on this community focused event to mark the 1 year anniversary of Helene. We hope to see you there!

Great thread on the value of public media in state government coverage, particularly in #ncpol #ncga where there are three of us (two backed by a grant from the now-defunded Corporation for Public Broadcasting) keeping tabs on everything at the state capital for audiences from Murphy to Manteo

Join @ncaatogether.bsky.social and @wunc.org tomorrow in Raleigh for an important conversation on navigating today's media environment! Learn tools to spot mis/disinformation and take part in an open discussion on how people and the press work with each other. RSVP: ncaat.org/MomosWithThe...

The Trump administration's targeting of international students has come to NC. The Technician reports that 2 NC State grad students have left the US after their visas were revoked, without reason or warning. www.technicianonline.com/news/two-nc-...

Today is the 6 month anniversary of Helene & WNC is facing a new disaster: wildfires. Follow these news & info orgs for the latest. @blueridgepublic.bsky.social has an excellent live blog here, including evacuations, air quality & notice of local gov updates: www.bpr.org/live-updates...

#HeadsUpNC We @nclocal.bsky.social have been tracking #NC impact of federal cuts and policy change as reported by our state's local journalists, impact from disaster preparedness to local economy and education. Please suggest links so we can help inform NC #NCPol docs.google.com/document/d/e...

Investigations, raids, funding cuts, inclusion programs under attack—there's a lot happening to universities & campuses. Get the support you need to cover the local impact in your communities. Learn more in our Q&A with @opencampus.org's Colleen Murphy: nclocalnewsworkshop.org/skills-and-b...

Thank you to the 300 (!) people who joined us at the 2025 News & Info Summit, co-hosted with @ncopengov.bsky.social, and all the presenters, sponsors, Summit organizers and venue staff. The NC ecosystem is really special & we are so grateful for all of you and your roles in building it!

We’re so excited to see you tomorrow for the 2025 News & Information Summit, cohosted with the @ncopengov.bsky.social. If you haven't yet registered, there are a few spots left! www.eventbrite.com/e/2025-nc-ne... Here's a sample of the 20+ sessions to choose from.

Join the NC Women in Journalism group tomorrow, 3/8 to celebrate International Women's Day with a panel of trailblazing journalists. Featuring @lisasorg.bsky.social, @elizabethwalters.bsky.social & others. Free event! Register here: www.eventbrite.com/e/women-in-j...

Thank you @centercoopmedia.bsky.social for highlighting our work & the importance of local news ecosystems in serving communities during and after disasters.

We are thrilled to announce this news today! Find details below and in this week's newsletter: mailchi.mp/elon.edu/nc-...

We’re excited about this special service available at the 3/12 NC News & Information Summit which we're co-hosting with @ncopengov.bsky.social. Please note, you need to sign up in advance and slots are limited! Info here: forms.office.com/pages/respon...

We are 16 days away from the 2025 NC News & Information Summit on 3/12! Join us for the Sunshine Awards, a keynote featuring WNC journalists on covering Helene & 20+ sessions, like this one with @chriscooperwcu.bsky.social.

Please take a few minutes and read this story of a life well-lived. Of particular, but not exclusive, interest to folks interested in #wnc #avl #appalachia.

Here's what you need to know from the NC news and information ecosystem this week. First up, "We’ve got targets on our kids’ backs." @nchealthnews.bsky.social speaks with families affected by rollback to transgender rights: www.northcarolinahealthnews.org/2025/02/13/t...

"We had a damn good run. We did the best we could and we’re glad we did it." Hear from @triadcitybeat.bsky.social Founder @brianclarey.bsky.social & Managing Editor @bysayakamatsuoka.bsky.social about 10+ years of local muckraking and movement journalism. nclocalnewsworkshop.org/news-leader-...

"We're not pointing fingers at any particular individual or institution or political party or anything. We're just saying this happened. We want to make sure that people understand that this is happening..." John Sherer of UNC Press on the dangers of silencing authors: www.wunc.org/education/20...

How are Trump & Musk's orders and directives affecting North Carolina? Our local news and information providers have been busy examining the impacts. Not an exhaustive list, so please share others in the replies or tag us. www.charlotteobserver.com/news/politic...

Deadline extended for several categories of the Sunshine awards, and the Frank Barrows Award for Excellence in Student Journalism!

One of the most innovative local news fundraisers in North Carolina is underway this week. The DTH & Chronicle Rivalry Challenge is both a competition and a collaboration that leverages the passion UNC & Duke fans to raise $ for student journalism. More: nclocalnewsworkshop.org/news-leader-...

While attacks on DEI have prompted a growing number of institutions to end their programs, the NC Local News Workshop is leaning in. Today we're sharing a piece from the ED @shanbow.bsky.social on continuing our commitment to media equity. nclocalnewsworkshop.org/dei/a-time-t...

Last week I posted an analysis of the ~60k voters challenged in NCs Supreme Court race bc of "incomplete registration information" A few days later Griffin filed a brief detailing challenges to 2 additional groups of voters. I analyzed them here #ncpol www.oldnorthstatepolitics.com/2025/01/anal...

#HeadsUpNC, as the state dramatically increases voucher support for private schools, is it funding resegregation? New @propublica.org database lets you check private school demographics projects.propublica.org/private-scho...

Keynote announced for the 3/12 NC News & Info Summit, in partnership with @ncopengov.bsky.social. NYT's Dean Baquet will lead a panel of WNC journalists discussing the essential role of local news following Helene. Details here: www.elon.edu/u/news/2025/...

Looking for the latest in the still-to-be certified election in the NC Supreme Court race? Local news outlets have you covered, including some outstanding work by @bryanranderson.bsky.social: andersonalerts.substack.com/p/nc-supreme...

⏰ Deadline alert! Get your pitches in today for workshops, panels, trainings & other types of sessions at the 2025 NC News & Info Summit, happening 3/12 in Durham. Don't have a fleshed out idea yet? That's ok! Organizers will help you refine your pitch. Details: airtable.com/appP80Znvhp2...

Excited to be hosting @michaelkruse.bsky.social (of Politico) in conversation with Lilly Knoepp (of Blue Ridge Pubic Radio) on Jan. 23. The event is in the UC Theater on the WCU campus and it's free. I hope you'll join us. www.politico.com/interactives... #wnc #ncpol #avl

NC news & info friends: take advantage of these upcoming opps from the Workshop to learn, grow, connect & set some tangible goals for 2025. Deadline for Anti-Racist Table Stakes is today! For the Bootcamp with @newsproduct.org, get your apps in by 1/17. Find links below.

The Outer Banks has a new source for local news, everything from investigative and accountability journalism, to community and culture. This week, we chat with founder and OB native Corinne Saunders about her winding path to launching Outer Banks Insider: nclocalnewsworkshop.org/ecosystem-de...

Want to host a session at the NC News & Info Summit? We've extended the deadline to 1/13. Learn more here and hope to see you in March! bit.ly/NCNewsSummitPitch

“Don't let the perfect be the enemy of the good.” Blue Ridge Public Radio's Laura Lee reflects on 2+ months of disaster coverage, lessons learned & which Taylor Swift track got her through Helene. Find the final 2024 edition of NC Local here: us17.campaign-archive.com?u=48daec7530...

S382, a bill with a title about Helene relief & contents that would alter who controls the levers of power in NC has gotten a lot of attention-in the state & nationally I wrote about what NC's history tells us & why NC gets more than its fair share of these kinds of bills. time.com/7201043/nort...

How are news & info orgs helping voters understand if they're on the Jefferson Griffin purge list? Please share links for a round-up in this week's NC Local. Here's one from @outerbanksinsider.bsky.social that includes a PDF of all names in Dare County: www.outerbanksnews.org/post/hundred...

NC news & info orgs: here's a terrific resource on building a sustainable news outlet, from "thriving" salaries & inclusive decision-making, to minimizing burnout & taking collective breaks. Join @theappeal.org & @innovationrji.bsky.social next Tues for a webinar on the toolkit. Details ⬇️

A nice mention of the work spearheaded by @nclocal.bsky.social to help newsrooms in W. NC after Hurricane Helene How Infrastructure is Foundational to Local News www.pressforward.news/how-infrastr...

A few months into his new role at the NC Open Government Coalition Director Pate McMichael isn't daunted by the erosion of transparency in the state. Instead, it's what motivates him each day. Learn more in our Q&A: nclocalnewsworkshop.org/news-leader-...

This week's edition of NC Local might provoke a tear or two as well as a serotonin boost. Find gratitude stories from @lisasorg.bsky.social, @solomonlexib.bsky.social, @samwalkerobxnews.com & more. Plus a robust job board with lots of NC-based opps: us17.campaign-archive.com?u=48daec7530...

The Workshop is pleased to offer a free, day-long training for NC-based news and info orgs: the Anti-Racist Table Stakes. Set the tone for 2025, deepen engagement and build longterm sustainability for your newsrooms. In partnership with CISLM & Cierra Brown Hinton. Info: airtable.com/appGNrFYJisc...

"According to the city and Jervay, the family felt they had no choice but to have the building demolished. As a crew crushed the old building earlier this month, copies of nearly century-old papers were strewn about, lying tattered in the dirt." 💔💔💔 www.theassemblync.com/media/wilmin...

Our statewide news summit returns for its fourth year March 12, 2025! 📅 Save the date now. Registration opens Dec. 2! This annual convening brings together hundreds of news professionals, academics, funders, supporters and more to address challenges and spark ideas. Join us:

How can a hurricane transform local news? This week, NC Local chats with @shoresides.bsky.social's Rend Smith & Nick Szuberla about journalism's role in connecting and community building after a disaster: nclocalnewsworkshop.org/news-leader-...

Are you one of those journalists asking if you have the stamina to keep doing this work? This week, we chat with API's Sam Ragland about how to find value in your work and build resilience in newsrooms for the months and years ahead: nclocalnewsworkshop.org/news-leader-...

Hello! ISO North Carolina news and information friends to add to our feed: news orgs, journalists, educators, researchers, civic info people, open government advocates, community info orgs, PIOs, etc. Please reply or tag someone we should follow. TY! First starter pack here: go.bsky.app/Ri35iod