Greetings all, it’s Wednesday April 8. We’ve done something extraordinary here in North Carolina. More than 45 news organizations have sparked action and dialogue, literally from Murphy to Manteo, ahead of tomorrow's inaugural Local News Day.  At city and town council meetings, elected leaders are reflecting on the "critical importance of local news in its many forms" as they issue proclamations from Murphy to Manteo. 

“I can’t think of anything more important than what we do on this Town Council than public participation and people in the public having an idea of what we do as a Town Council,” said Franklin Mayor Stacy Guffey who also emphasized the essential role of local news during Helene. “During an emergency or non-emergency, local news is critical to advancing the public good.”

On the other side of the state, New Hanover County Commissioner Rob Zapple praised local news for quickly disseminating information “about any issue, any solution or any problem we are having."

“We need you,” Zapple said. “The media is in partnership with your local government, as it should be.”

Last night, Wilmington Mayor Bill Saffo read their local proclamation and thanked local news outlets for their hard work.

“This is a good opportunity to share with the community that these are the folks that keep us all honest and make sure we are doing our jobs,” he said. “They are the people that inform our communities, everything that is going on in our communities and they are very important.”

WECT Anchor and longtime Journalist Frances Weller led the charge with the Wilmington and New Hanover County local proclamations and was invited by the Mayor to speak. 

“We as journalists have an obligation everyday to report the news. It’s not always easy because the news is not always good, but it is our responsibility and we have taken the task of reporting daily, local news." said Weller. "This recognition is an honor for all us who are standing here today representing local media."

Also last night, Sanford Mayor Rebecca Wyhof Salmon read and formally presented their proclamation to local news leaders. 

In the Outer Banks, Dare County, Duck, Kill Devil Hills, Kitty Hawk and Manteo have all issued proclamations. The state has issued one too, and others will be formally presented at upcoming meetings in Charlotte, Carrboro, Lexington and Murphy. 

And tomorrow hundreds will be gathering at more than a dozen NC News Cafes happening across the state. Certainly, it's a time to celebrate. But we'll also be meeting new people, distributing surveys, chatting 1:1 with folks about what we're doing right and what we can do better, and finding out what questions they have about the issues affecting their community. 

We’re thrilled about all the excitement buzzing across the state and so grateful for all your support, participation and collaboration. Have fun tomorrow and when that wraps up, start dreaming about what we can do together next year. 

Coming up in today’s edition of The Hub: 

• From 5 to 50, NC news organizations reach significant birthdays. 
  
  

• UNC Chapel Hill students, leaders condemn harmful April Fool’s content in The Daily Tar Heel and Hill After Hours.
  
  

• A new initiative aims to spark partnerships between libraries and local news.
  
  

• And, join the Women in Journalism NC Group next Thursday for a session focused how helping you stay resilient through difficult reporting. 

Glad you’re here, let’s get started.

Franklin Mayor Stacy Guffey (second from left) presents the Local News Day proclamation at Monday's Town Council meeting. Also pictured from left: Dan Finnerty, and Morgan Stewart, Macon Sense; Bobby Coggins, Macon Media; Lilly Knoepp, NC Local; and Mia Overton, The Franklin Press. (Photo: Town of Franklin)

📰 News about the news 📰

7 WNC community newspapers sold to Paxton Media Group

Athens, GA-based Community Newspapers, Inc sold nine of its newspapers to Paxton Media Group, including seven in Western North Carolina: The Franklin Press, The Highlander, Mitchell News-Journal, Smoky Mountain Times, Clay County Progress, Cherokee Scout and The Graham Star. 

A press release stated that “the newspapers will continue to serve their communities with local news coverage, advertising, and engagement across print and digital platforms.”

The Kentucky-based Paxton Media Group already owns 18 publications in North Carolina, including the Asheboro Courier-Tribune, Burlington Times-News, Henderson Daily Dispatch and New Bern Sun Journal and more than 100 other newspapers across the country.

CNI also owns The Mountain Press in Franklin, which used to print all seven WNC papers. Following the sale to PMG, the publications will now be printed in two regional press facilities located in High Point, NC and Sevierville, TN. 

April Fools Day articles, video prompt backlash at UNC Chapel Hil

The April 1st edition of The Daily Tar Heel provoked immediate criticism that the content was alarming, racist, insensitive and not clearly labeled as satire. Headlines included “Trump orders Alcohol Law Enforcement in Chapel Hill to be replaced with ICE agents,” “The new plan for the Dean Dome — a two-stadium solution,” and “UNC brings back DEI — for whites.” 

“Making light of the issues faced by minority students on campus is not, and will never be, a joke,” wrote UNC Chapel Hill’s Black Student Union. “April Fools Day is no excuse for racism or discrimination in any form. In the wake of increased ICE presence on and around campus, as well as the increased hostility towards Black, Brown and queer people, these articles are particularly disgusting.” 

DTH’s editorial leadership removed the offensive articles the same day and issued a statement apologizing.

“These were insensitive decisions and oversights made by a newsroom and leadership team that undoubtedly exist in positions of power and privilege on this campus,” wrote Editor-in-Chief Alli Pardue. 

Pardue said they are committed to rebuilding the trust they lost.

“We will start by holding a newsroom meeting to reflect on the errors in this process. We will then reach out to student organizations who have expressed their outrage, offering a line of communication to discuss how we may begin to address and alleviate their concerns,” wrote Pardue.

UNC’s “Hill After Hours,” a late night comedy show produced by a student group unaffiliated with the DTH, also came under fire for a video showing a white student going to the south side of campus with bodyguards who call it a “third world country” amongst other racist tropes. The video has also been taken down. 

In a statement, Senior Vice Provost for Student Success James Orr addressed the harm caused by both groups, and pointed out that the University has no authority over what students produce in their free time. He said Student Affairs will meet with DTH staff and is investigating who authorized and produced the Hill After Hours video. He invited students and community members to attend a campus conversation scheduled this Friday from 1:30-2:30.

Meredith D. Clark, associate professor of race and political communication in the Hussman School of Journalism, told the News & Observer that her heart sank when she saw the articles. 

“Political satire is very difficult to do. And it’s even more difficult to do well,” Clark said. “... There’s a difference in being knowledgeable about a state of affairs and then being empathetic to the people who are connected to it quite directly. And I think that’s where you’re seeing a missed connection.”

🎉 Milestones to celebrate 🎉

There are a number of significant anniversaries to mark this Spring in the North Carolina news & information ecosystem and we wanted to take some time to recognize these achievements. Help us shout out these milestones and the people contributing to growth, change and successes along the way.

👏 WUNC turns 50: The Triangle-based public media organization began broadcasting as an NPR member station on April 3, 1976. It now broadcasts to 50 of the state’s 100 counties and produces nationally-distributed programs like the long-running People’s Pharmacy and Embodied (which marked its 5 year anniversary earlier this year), as well as the daily program Due South, and NC-focused WUNC Politics Podcast and The Broadside. The State of NC also issued a proclamation for this anniversary and the station is holding events, including one tomorrow with the Race, Class and Communities reporting team. 

📻 WFAE reaches 45: Charlotte’s NPR affiliate grew from its humble beginnings in 1981 broadcasting from a basement facility at the Cone Center at UNC Charlotte to an independent nonprofit and multiplatform newsroom providing local news, the daily talk show “Charlotte Talks,” and community engagement initiatives. Their broadcast signal reaches 32 counties in North and South Carolina. WFAE is celebrating with a gala on Thursday, June 4, featuring keynote speaker Soledad O'Brien. 

🏳️‍🌈 QNotes celebrates 40 years: Founded in 1986, Qnotes Carolinas is one of the longest running LGBTQ news publications in the country. It grew from a newsletter in the early days to a print and digital organization covering LGBTQ+ news, policy decisions, events, arts, culture and community leaders. You can browse more than 600 issues of its four decades of documenting LGBTQ+ history, news and people in the Carolinas. Publisher Jim Yarbrough (who’s been involved since the very beginning) and team are marking this milestone with a “$40 for 40 Years” giving campaign and a big event in Charlotte on April 26th.

🌄 Ashevegas marks 20 years: Jason Sandford launched the hyper-local community news blog in 2006 focusing on growth, arts, small businesses, neighborhoods and personalities. Five years ago, he evolved the blog into a newsletter product, Ashevegas Hot Sheet. The former Asheville Citizen Times and Stars & Stripes reporter also marks 30 years as a journalist, a term he says feels a bit highfalutin. “I’ve always had a more blue-collar work ethic: roll up your sleeves, listen carefully, ask fair questions and explain clearly what’s happening in your town,” he wrote in a recent post. “That’s what the Hot Sheet does.”

 Available for republication 

✅ NC Local: More than two-thirds of people arrested in ‘Charlotte’s Web’ operation had not been convicted of any crimes

✅ NC Health News: North Carolina tackles toxic firefighting foam — and what it left behind

✅ Inside Climate News: Critics Call the Poultry Farming System Rigged. Craig Watts Is Fighting to Overturn It.

✅ Enlace Latino NC: Displaced for 18 Months, a Family Awaits Return After Helene

The Women in Journalism NC group is meeting next Thursday 4/16 at Noon and hosting special guest Ann DuPre Rogers, Executive Director of Resources for Resilience. 

Ann will share how to take care of yourself and sources while reporting on heavy and traumatic topics. 

If you're not already on the calendar invite, send a note to Lexi Solomon at womeninjournalismnc@gmail.com. 

Bulletin Board

Jobs

📌 News Director, WFDD, Winston-Salem

📌 Morning Edition Producer, WFDD, Winston-Salem

📌 Editor-in-Chief, Asheville Watchdog, Asheville 💰

📌 Sports & News Reporter, Henderson Daily Dispatch

📌 Bookkeeper/Front Office Assistant, Mountain Xpress, Asheville 💰

📌 Graphic Designer/Supervisor & Account Executives, The Mountaineer, Waynesville 

📌 Service Journalism Reporter, The Charlotte Observer

📌 Reporter, Grist (Remote) 💰

📌 Staff Writer, Politifact (Remote considered) 💰

📌 Climate Reporter, The 19th (Remote, 3 month contract) 💰

📌 Platform Success & Training Manager, BlueLena (Remote) 💰

Opportunities & events

🌱 2026 GNI AI Sustainability Labs: The Google News Initiative and Blue Engine Collaborative invite local news organizations to apply for this free, seven month hands-on initiative. Participating teams will design and run a practical AI project tied to a clear audience or revenue goal, design experiments, and build on what works in areas of audience growth and engagement, revenue generation, product development and more. The lab includes virtual sessions, one-on-team coaching, and small peer group conversations. Application deadline: April 15. 

🌱 Libraries and Local News Initiative: ULC invites North Carolina member libraries to apply for $7,500-$10,000 grants to support development of collaborations between libraries and local news organizations. Pilot projects should focus on increasing access to reliable local information, increasing community voice and narrative, and supporting civic dialogue and engagement. In addition to funding, libraries receive training on partnership development, community asset mapping, program design and more. Info Session: April 14 at 2 PM. 

📅 Greensboro Newsmakers: Join The Assembly, The Greensboro Thread and Action Greensboro for a conversation on Strengthening Civic Health in Guilford County. The forum convenes community leaders to explore the role that higher education has traditionally played in civic literacy and community engagement and how to better prepare students to be engaged community members. Featuring Elon University President Connie Book; NC Campus Engagement Director Leslie Garvin and Student Anya Bratić; NC A&T State Chancellor Emeritus Harold Martin & Student Terrence Olu Rouse. April 20, 5 pm, The Pyrle, Greensboro. 

📅 North Carolina Press Association Contests: NCPA has opened applications for the annual awards, including the new A-Mark Prize for Investigative Journalism. Advertising and Editorial entries published between April 1, 2025, and March 31, 2026, are eligible. Deadline: May 1, midnight.

That's it for today. Thank you for all your enthusiasm and effort around Local News Day & the NC News Cafes and know you are appreciated for all you contribute to the NC news and information ecosystem!  —Catherine