By Catherine Komp Engagement Director In August 2011, Peter Vankevich was anxious. He has just bought a house on Ocracoke and was looking for news on Hurricane Irene’s impacts on the island. “We were worried about it and I wasn’t…
By Catherine Komp Newsletter Editor Over the last decade, the nonprofit You Can Vote has grown from an all volunteer-run organization to 20 staff, a presence in 64 counties, 600+ partnerships and direct outreach to a million-plus people across the…
By Catherine Komp Newsletter Editor What’s the secret behind newsletters that see steady growth, that keep readers hooked and turn them into financial supporters? There’s an art and science to it, says David Grant, head of growth with Blue Engine…
By Catherine Komp Newsletter Editor Philanthropy is playing a growing role in funding local news, but what do we know about the relationships between funders and newsrooms? What kinds of editorial agreements should be put in place? And what do…
By Catherine Komp Newsletter Editor For The Pilot, 2024 is a special year — it has 13 months, as far as revenue is concerned. “I don’t know any news organization that said, ‘Hey, we’re going to set a goal of…
By Catherine Komp, Newsletter Editor Zeba Hussaini’s first year of high school was during the pandemic. And like a lot of us, she found the experience challenging. “I didn’t go out. I couldn’t really do the stuff I really wanted…
By Catherine Komp, Newsletter Editor Sometimes all it takes is a brief note to spark a big idea. Last year, EdNC’s CEO and Editor-in-Chief Mebane Rash got a package in the mail from their former Chief of Staff Analisa Sorrells.…
By Catherine Komp, NC Local Newsletter Editor Forty-two years ago, residents of Warren County, NC stood up to the state’s plan to dump 10,000 truckloads of toxic PCBs in their community. Black women like Dollie Burwell mobilized neighbors to defend…
By Catherine Komp, NC Local Newsletter Editor Local news and information organizations face a number of challenges in reaching the public during this critical election year. There’s news fatigue and avoidance, dis- and misinformation, mistrust and of course, polarization. A…
By Catherine Komp, Newsletter Editor At last year’s LION Sustainability Meetup in Durham, award winner and founder of Shasta Scout Annelise Pierce was candid in her acceptance remarks: “LION got me thinking about P&Ls and other dumb sh*t. And I’m…