CityView Media (Daily Digital News and Monthly and Special Edition Annual Print Magazine)
From the end of 2023 to now, my role at CityView Media in Fayetteville, N.C., has evolved dramatically. I started as a freelance copy editor, to a full-time editorial assistant and lead copy editor, to the magazine editor and lead copy editor. Those changes have lent themselves to more habitual writing through columns and newsletters.
Notably, every month, I write the monthly magazine’s first column that introduces the content of the magazine. My favorite one so far has been my October 2024 column for our Arts & Culture issue. I have a lifelong passion for the arts, with my start in journalism as a reporter on the Daily Tar Heel‘s Arts & Culture Desk. Needless to say, writing this column came easily to me.
A longer, Q&A-style magazine piece in our August 2024 issue is an example of using Google Forms to send out questionnaires to candidates in Cumberland County’s public school system, ethical sorting of the responses with the help of AI, writing and editing. This piece had the fun element of having the digital version on our website include more respondent answers than our print version. The print edition invites the reader to check out the article on our website.
Another article I worked on was our 2024 Veterans Day events roundup article. With Fort Liberty in our area — one of the largest military installations by population in the country — writing and reporting on the military is pivotal. Veterans Day allowed me to write a quick-hit utility piece for our digital daily news website.
Most of my writing revolves around our newsletter, which is sent out six days a week and of which I put together half. This newsletter writing is an example of my more conversational, attention-grabbing writing. This specific newsletter stands out to me because of the important news that broke about the result of an autopsy and death investigation, as well as the other article variety included in the newsletter, specifically lifestyle magazine copy and a column about Fort Liberty’s December 2024 change of command ceremony.
Chatham News + Record Clips (Weekly Publication)
One of my favorite articles that I wrote as news intern was “‘This is another milestone’: The Hispanic Liaison hosts a celebration to welcome the community into its new office space.” This article represents the culmination of my work as a community journalist: getting to know community members, forming a trusting relationship with them, and being able to write about a supportive Latin community in Siler City. Behind the scenes, I spoke with many community leaders such as Hannia Benitez, chair of the Immigrant Community Advisory Committee, Town Manager Hank Raper and many others. This allowed me to produce a well-rounded article that encapsulated the feeling of the event.
The Hispanic Liaison’s Executive Director Ilana Dubester (blue and yellow shirt) and Board of Director President and past program participant Eleazer Reyna Ocampo (right of Dubester) cut the ribbon to the organization’s new building on 404 N. Holly Ave. on Thursday, July 27.
Another article I’m particularly proud of starts off with a compelling anecdotal lede about the challenges justice-involved individuals who have served their sentence face when trying to reintegrate into society. “CCCC’s Building Bridges Program continues its program for underemployed, unemployed and justice-involved individuals, adds OSHA-10 training” is a longer-form article about a program intended to provide community members additional options other than two-year or four-year university degrees.
“Nationwide wireless broadband network helps Chatham County first responders, celebrates fifth year” is an example of a more traditional, clear-cut news article. While attending this press event, I got the chance to ask a question to North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper, which was a huge milestone in my career as a journalist. I was able to connect with other journalism industry professionals and cover an important event for first responders.
In addition to writing feature stories, my work as news intern included attending many town meetings, demonstrated in this shorter-form meeting story: “Siler City Board of Commissioners approves 2023-24 budget, scrap stormwater utility fee.” This is an example of some of my more concise stories.
UNC-Chapel Hill Media Hub Clips (Monthly Publication)
For “Is your pet sick? Take him to the vet urgent care center,” my main objective was to write an engaging feature story on a new urgent care center in Cary, North Carolina. I wanted to immerse the reader by bringing them into the clinic’s environment by showing, not telling. Thus, I wrote an anecdotal lede based on one of my source’s experience at the clinic. The initial interview process took about two hours and a half where Waffa and Casselli took me and photographer Claire Jessen on a tour of the clinic. Of course, follow-up interviews and questions were asked.
Brad Waffa (left) and CJ Casselli, co-founders of Truss Vet, stand beside a backlit dark blue sign of the company name in the lobby. “‘Truss Vet’ comes from this idea of bridging a gap in care, but also a truss is a triangle, which is where we get our start,” Waffa said. “Truss,” which sounds like “trust,” alludes to the fact that they want clients to be able to trust the personnel as well. Photo by Claire Jessen.
Triangle Media Partners Clips (Monthly Publication)
Includes Durham, Chapel Hill and Chatham Magazines, as well as Heart of NC Weddings.
“Scenes From the Return of PlayMakers’ Summer Youth Conservatory,” is a perfect example of continued observation and interviews from the cast and crew of the 2022 PlayMakers’ Summer Youth Conservatory. I attended rehearsals and run-throughs, taking diligent notes to be able to capture the essence of what the program consisted of.
“Making the Grade,” highlighting Durham Public Schools’ 2022 Teacher of the Year, demonstrates my ability to write in the style of a lifestyle magazine, using a positive and triumphant tone. This story was written with a deadline of a month and involved interviewing the teacher, a student and his parent. While I wasn’t able to physically attend the school, I used the photos to bring the reader into the classroom.
The Daily Tar Heel Clips (Daily Publication)
I had the privilege in 2021 to write about a student petition to build a ramp at UNC-Chapel Hill’s Old Well, an emblem of the university: “UNC student organizations petition to add a permanent ramp at the Old Well.” Fast forward to the fall of 2023, UNC finished and inaugurated its permanent ramp. I view this story as the most important story I wrote for university news.
Janora McDuffie, a Durham native and UNC alumna, will be one of the first Black and queer announcers in Oscar history. Photo courtesy of Janora McDuffie.
A feature story I wrote that pertained to university and national cultural news was “‘This is her time’: UNC alumna to voice announcements for 94th Academy Awards.” Janora McDuffie was a joy to interview: She provided me with multiple pictures, videos and sources. I used a video she sent me to write the descriptive lede. Though I was nervous and star-stuck to interview her, I was honored to write a feature about such a talented fellow Tar Heel.