By Catherine Komp, Engagement Director A few years ago, Maryland Public Television wanted to expand a local initiative that created special programming and events around HBCU Week, a national effort to raise awareness about Historically Black Colleges and Universities. With…
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 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, 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 In a new three part series, Out of Sight, WUNC’s Jason deBruyn examines North Carolina’s psychiatric residential treatment facilities or PRTFs. More than 1100 children were enrolled in these facilities in 2023. Kids in the…
By Catherine Komp, NC Local Newsletter Editor Six years ago, award-winning journalist and news leader Melanie Sill saw a gap that needed to be filled in the news and information ecosystem: In NC, and nationally, local news is under tremendous…
By Catherine Komp, Newsletter Editor In a reflection on last week’s Knight Media Forum, S. Mitra Kalita shared highlights from the opening panel about “Empowering Local Journalism.” “Execution is not our problem; it’s the absolute reinvention of what news actually…
By Catherine Komp, NC Local Newsletter Editor Last year, community-engaged journalism expert jesikah maria ross and Hearken CEO Jennifer Brandel brought together more than 30 people over six months to dig deep into the concept of care in journalism. Participants…
By Catherine Komp, Newsletter Editor From gentrification and affordability, to evictions and displacement, housing is a big topic across North Carolina. One strategy some localities are pursuing is “motel conversions,” seen as a faster, cheaper way to get permanent supportive…