Greetings all, it’s Wednesday December 10. ‘Tis the season of Nieman Lab predictions for 2026 and before the year is up there will be 100+ of them, so I’ve been trying to read a couple per day. As I think about the evolving needs of our industry (and how to serve you all), I’m looking for both insights on the challenges we’re facing and the solutions we can build. As you can imagine, there are plenty about AI, some alarming and stark, others focused on opportunities. Several emphasize the value and growing necessity of partnerships (thank you Rachel Glickhouse for the NC Local shoutout!). And some examine the business side of news, from new forms of financing to what Taylor Swift can teach journalists about reclaiming their creative rights.
Here are a few others that caught my attention:
💡News gets reshaped to match the way your brain works: Alyssa Zeisler, former VP of Product at Hallmark and Dow Jones, sees potential in newsrooms building infrastructure for “cognitive personalization” (taking a cue from EdTech platforms) while also embracing that news creators and influencers aren’t competitors, but something to build off of.
💡News orgs feed the appetite for authenticity: NC’s Bill Adair, Knight Journalism Professor at Duke, encourages newsrooms to rethink the dispassionate third-person voice while also providing low-lift opportunities for reporters to go beyond sound bytes to create behind-the-scenes narratives of people’s lives, experiences and the role they play in the community.
💡Local news touches grass: Audience and engagement expert Annemarie Dooling shares the sobering stat that people aren’t paying for news anymore. But! They are paying for experiences. Dooling encourages newsrooms to “take information off the page” and do something different from the one-way format of panel discussions. She suggests more interactive and immersive experiences based on news, information and ways to take action and shares a bit of what that looks like and why it gives her hope.
What trend, prediction, advice or questions do you have for 2026? Send them to me at catherine@nclocal.org (or just reply to this newsletter) and we might feature them in our year-end edition.
Also coming up today:
Get to know Anna James & Abē Levine: our new Ecosystem Ambassadors helping us map the news and information ecosystem, connect with trusted messengers & expand community listening.
The clock is ticking for getting in your session pitches for the 2026 NC News & Information Summit. We offer tips & guidance on how you can help shape this year’s gathering.
Looking for a fresh start or new chapter in 2026? Join the next Women in Journalism NC gathering on 12/18 to learn from some of NC’s news leaders about how they've grown, adapted and leveled up in their careers.
Glad you’re here, let’s get started.
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Introducing NC Local’s Ecosystem Ambassadors
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How can NC Local get a better understanding of the news and information ecosystem across the state? Who are the community connectors and trusted messengers not yet on our radar? What are the local assets, information needs and resource gaps? Those were some of the questions we posed as we thought about how our small, distributed team could get to know more people and places across our 500+ mile wide state.
We decided to pilot a new role, Ecosystem Ambassadors, to help us with some of these questions, build more connections and support more community listening events and initiatives. Today, we’re thrilled to introduce you to two of them.
Far West (Cherokee, Clay, Graham): Anna James is a community-centered leader and digital equity advocate in western North Carolina. She works as a Library Technician at Tri-County Community College, represents the region in the Digital Opportunities Learning Cohort, and is currently pursuing her doctorate at UNC Chapel Hill. With a background in nonprofit leadership and advocacy, Anna is passionate about helping people access the resources they need to thrive.
Triad (Forsyth, Guilford, Randolph): Abē Levine is a writer, teacher, and reporter. He began doing food writing in Minneapolis as a means to marry his interests in food justice, eating and talking to strangers. He has worked as a podcast producer and reporter at Connecticut Public Radio and National Public Radio and most recently, he led educational programming at WFDD in Winston-Salem. In between preparing for classes and editing his students’ stories, you can find him doing improv comedy or dancing salsa (in warmer weather).
Anna and Abē answered a few questions to help you all get to know them more.
What drew you to the ecosystem ambassador role?
Anna James: I have always been passionate about serving the community where I live. So much of my work focuses on expanding access to information and digital resources, and I see local news as a key part of that. This role felt like a great way to lift up local voices and help bridge information gaps in our rural region.
Abē Levine: I deeply value collaboration and the exchange of ideas. Newsrooms and communities can always open new lines of communication. In doing so, our news system grows more robust. I think this is critical as we look for ways to keep journalism alive and evolving. I’m eager to ask questions about how local communities can better access the information they need and also feel more invested in local news coverage.
What’s something happening in your community that more people should know about?
Anna James: The John C. Campbell Folk School is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year! It’s such an important part of our region’s cultural story, including arts, music, craft, and community traditions, and this milestone really highlights how special it is.
Abē Levine: Kaleidium is a science museum that offers programming for youth and adults. Through their PRISM (Promoting Real Innovation in Science & Math), they support young people in testing their ideas and bringing new inventions to life, along with other creative endeavors. This programming is free and open to schools, community centers, and the general public.
What do you think community members can teach us about local news?
Anna James: Community members know best what they want to hear about, what matters, what is missing, and what questions they need answered. When we really listen to them, we build more relevant, equitable, and trustworthy local news.
Abē Levine: Community members can help us better understand culture as a vehicle for transmitting information. This may seem a bit abstract, but culture is a means of passing on tradition, language, values, and stories. Newsrooms can better understand what’s essential to communities as well as how information travels by better understanding the culture of a place.
In terms of being a mirror for newsrooms to sharpen their coverage, reporters can rely on community members to also express their biggest concerns, voice their uncertainty about new policies, and point out what they feel is missing in mainstream narratives.
Favorite local spot?
Anna James: Too many to pick from, but I’ll narrow it down to my top three: Rare Bird Emporium for a drink and a bagel or muffin, Black & White Market for great local shopping, and Perrone’s for
a wonderful dinner.
Abē Levine: The Muddy Creek Trail is an idyllic walk to reflect and ground yourself. Just watch your step -- I nearly stepped on a baby snapping turtle before picking him/her up and transporting them back down by the creek. I hope they made it!
We'll keep you posted on what Anna & Abē are learning in there regions and findings from the community listening we do.
Know any people or groups our Ecosystem Ambassadors should be connecting with? Send them to Anna at anna@nclocal.org for those in Cherokee, Clay, Graham and Abē at abe@nclocal.org for Forsyth, Guilford, Randolph counties.
We are also looking for a third Ecosystem Ambassador, based in Elizabeth City. Please send any recommendations to catherine@nclocal.org or apply here.
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Deadline approaching 12/31: Pitch a session for the 2026 NC News & Information Summit
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Help shape NC’s annual gathering of journalists, publishers, educators, media lawyers, FOI experts, and local news supporters!
The NC News & Information Summit returns Friday, March 27, 2026, at NC State’s McKimmon Center, hosted by NC Local and North Carolina Open Government Coalition .
What we’re looking for: Hands-on workshops, collaborative problem-solving sessions, panel discussions, interactive sessions, and even new approaches to information sharing and creative learning.
Who should pitch: You can be a student, a freelancer, or an educator. You might be based in a newsroom, a legal clinic, or a community nonprofit. Or maybe you’re a local public information officer or a former elected official. You don't need previous experience presenting, speaking on a panel or facilitating!
Pitch your session ideas (those you want to see and/or those you want to lead) by Tuesday, December 31. We’ll work with you to develop your session idea into a format that suits your needs, so it’s ok if you’re still fleshing out your pitch!
Miss last week's office hours? Watch a recap here.
And don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions! Contact NC Local Summit Program Manager Diara J. Townes at diara@nclocal.org.
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Announcing: The North Carolina Justice Reporting Fellowship |
Are you a journalist looking to strengthen your reporting on safety, justice and the legal system?
The Law and Justice Journalism Project (LJJP), in partnership with NC Local, is offering a year-long regional fellowship program for journalists across the state. Each Fellow will pursue one in-depth project to be developed and reported with the assistance of an experienced mentor
and published at the end of the fellowship. The fellowship kicks off March 27 at the 2026 NC News & Information Summit.
Here’s what the Fellowship offers:
🔍 An experienced criminal justice reporting mentor to help you shape your project and connect you with sources and resources
🌱 Professional development opportunities
👥 A cohort of other NC journalists for shared learning and networking
💵 A $5,000 stipend
Applications are open for both freelancers and staff reporters. Deadline is January 15th. Find all the details here about how to apply.
Have questions? Email them to info@ljjp.org.
Thank you to LJJP for bringing this program to North Carolina!
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Next Women in Journalism NC meeting: 12/18 at Noon |
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Join the Women in Journalism NC group on Thursday, December 18, from noon to 1 p.m. for "Rewriting the Story."
Our virtual discussion will focus on adaptability in journalism careers and how to best position yourself in an ever-changing industry. Moderated by group founder Lexi Solomon, our panelists include Laura Lee, the editorial director of NC Local; Rhema Thompson Bland, deputy director of news talent for McClatchy; and Sarah Day Owen Wiskirchen, product manager for newsletters and guides for The Assembly.
Contact womeninjournalismnc@gmail.com for the link or with questions you'd like to submit!
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Bulletin Board
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Jobs |
📌 Breaking News Reporter, The News & Observer, Raleigh
📌 Legislative and Lobbying Reporter, The News & Observer, Raleigh
📌 Higher Education Reporter, The News & Observer, Raleigh 💰
📌 Editor in Chief, CityView, Fayetteville 💰
📌 Freelance Reporter, PBS Charlotte
📌 Development Director, Tiny News Collective (Remote) 💰
📌 CEO, Word In Black (Remote) 💰
📌 Growth and Community Editor, Healthbeat/Civic News Company (Remote) 💰
📌 National Editor, States Newsroom (Remote) 💰
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Opportunities |
📅 How Comedy Helps Audiences Build Deeper Understanding of the News: News Creator Corps hosts a masterclass with Josh Burstein, an Emmy-winning video journalist, digital strategist, climate activist, and comedian-ist. This interactive workshop reveals how basic improv and standup tactics can be employed with monologues, man on the street videos, explainers, and sketches. Today/December 10, 1:00-2:30 pm.
📅 Data Visualization, Social Media and Innovation: The Center for Community News offers a step-by-step look at specific lessons to use with students and news partners for data visualizations, interactives, and short-form/vertical video. Panelists, including Adriana Lacy, CEO Adriana Lacy Consulting and CNN data visualization engineer Ben Cooley, will outline their innovative approaches to incorporating these visual storytelling tools to both engage audiences and equip students for best practices in news products and strategies. December 12, 1:00
pm.
📅 Covering the Education of English Learners Amid Federal Policy Shifts: More than 5 million students across the nation are classified as English learners. The federal government has long supported states and districts in their efforts to help these students reach English proficiency. But a series of actions this year raise questions about the role the federal government will play going forward. Join the Education Writers Association for a panel to help journalists cover the impact of these federal actions & what questions they should be asking in their
communities. December 18, 1:00 pm.
🌱 Trusted Creator Fellowship: This fellowship from News Creator Corps teaches tactical skills like fact-checking, sourcing, and interviewing and connects content creators with news organizations, nonprofits, and other institutions to expand the reach of accurate and trustworthy information. Creators chosen for this cohort will receive a $5,000 stipend and will be eligible for additional compensation. Application deadline: December 31.
🌱 The Climate Newsroom: Covering Climate Now’s training program helps reporters, editors, newsroom managers, and digital journalists produce more robust climate coverage for online, social, radio, and print. The program includes 3 Zoom sessions over three weeks, followed by six months of ongoing support and feedback. Application deadline: January, 16, 2026.
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That's it for today. What should The Hub look at in 2026? Send your thoughts to catherine@nclocal.org. Thank you for reading and know you are appreciated for all you do to support the North Carolina local news and information ecosystem. —Catherine
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