Carolina Public Press:
The Next 10 Years

CPP at 10: We’re just getting started!

By Angie Newsome

With “We’re just getting started!” as a rallying cry, Carolina Public Press this year celebrates 10 years of independent, investigative journalism for all of North Carolina. Launched at 11 a.m. on March 4, 2011 – the moment the website went live – CPP became the only independent nonprofit digital media organization that served 17 counties of Western North Carolina that was passionately, obstinately, whole heartedly devoted to investigative reporting and public service journalism. 

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Seven years later, in 2018, we expanded our coverage from western North Carolina to cover the entire state. But our purpose didn’t change. From day one, it’s been our mission to dismantle barriers and shine a light on the critical, overlooked and under-reported issues facing our state. We believe strongly that investigative, in-depth, independent journalism is at the heart of an informed public. 

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2021 is a time to celebrate our accomplishments, but to also look toward our future. In the next 10 years, we are all about our impact, reach and sustainability. We’re so grateful for the dozens of foundations and investors; hundreds of members, sponsors, news partners and collaborators; million+ readers and listeners; and our dedicated team of staff, freelancers, contractors and board of directors who have made it possible for us to spend the last decade serving the state we call home.

In 10 years, we’ve spent time not only doing news, but also building and exploring the many ways to get public service journalism into the eyes, ears, hearts and minds of North Carolinians—especially those who don’t have reliable and free access to critical news and information and those who are most directly affected by state policies and official actions. Our key strategies include listening and research, with an emphasis on transparency. One of our hallmarks is community dialogue—dialogue that often takes the form of listening sessions and live and virtual events—to drive story development and to ensure our reporting matters, has impact and reaches across the state.

Whether we are investigating the long-term care industry, local and statewide government malfeasance, or North Carolina’s elections system—or any number of important issues—we’re devoted to producing critical and impactful independent, investigative and public interest journalism … because we believe EVERY North Carolinian deserves it, and we are just getting started!

Why become a member?

More than ever, North Carolina needs high-quality investigative and public service journalism, and that is our mission at Carolina Public Press. We produce stories that hold government and public officials accountable and that make transparent what some prefer to keep secret. We depend on financial support from readers like you who are committed to an informed and engaged North Carolina. Join thousands of engaged and informed readers from across NC who share this vision.

Become a 10 for 10 member by pledging $10 a month and help us have even more impact over the next decade.

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Honoring our “10 for 10” members

Join us as we celebrate our 10th anniversary in 2021! Give a new gift $120 or more or become a new sustaining member with your gift of $10 or more each month, and take your place on the Honor Wall!

June 8 – June 15, 2021

Sandra Abromitis

Ellen Acconcia

Colleen Akers

Victoria Albright

Sherri Allgood

Eleanor Ashton

Jim Aycock

Daniel Barron

Suzan Bayorgeon

Kimberly Beer

Daniel Beerman

Peter Bego

Philip Belcher

Melissa Bigg

Stephanie Biziewski

William Black

David Boraks

Ken Brame

Wanda Brandt

Steve Buckley

Jarratt Burch

Bill Callahan

Charlotte Campbell

Kate Carey

Nora Carr

Pam Carver

B. Sheila Clendenning

Vanessa Cowie

Jason deBruyn

Joanne Dufilho

Jennie Eblen & Rick Perkins

Stephanie Embry

Russ Farmer

Celia Fuller

Sylvia Gambardella

Anne Fitten Glenn

Marena Groll

Liz Gulnan

Benjamin Guiney

Nation Hahn

Joann Hammerberg

Nicholas Haskell

Victoria Hicks

Judith Hoy

Pat Hunt

Vern and Ann Hunt

Jack Igelman

Kathleen Jacobs

Pamela Jarrett

Patsy Keever

Karen Kennedy

Marilyn Knowles

Mignon Lamia

Seth Langson

Mignon Lamia

Barbara Lanwermeyer

William Larson

Laura Lee

Gina Lemons

Natalie Lew

Lisa Lopez

Martin Lopez

Dan Lunsford

Aaron Martin

C. Amanda Martin

Julie Martin

Nancy Martin

Linda McCarley

Stephen Merrill

Susan Messick

Fred Meyer

Diane Millikan

Thomas Moriarty

Constance Morrison

Winfield Moses

Darlene W. Natale

Angie Newsome

Nancy Nye

Martin Oakes

Andrew Otey

Jim Overton

Charles Parker

Tracy Patterson

Regina and Rick Pettus

Janet Price-Ferrell

Martha Reifsnider

Geraldine Richards

Sue Roussopoulos

Jennifer Rudolph

Olin B. Sansbury, Jr.

Michael Sartisky

Kenneth Schapira

Catherine Scott

Melody Shank

Edward Sheary

Lowell Simon

Pat Smith

Katherine Soderquist

Margaret Sowerwine

Jane Spainhour

Frank Stasio

Claire Stone

Julie Storm

Stephen Strnisha

Phyllis Taylor

N. Adam Tebrugge

Susan Vaughn

Kyle Villemain

Mary Walker

Jim Walset

Laura Webb

Ellen Weiner

Pamela Winkler

Noah Wilson

Elle Wise

Tim White

Kelly Wood

A look back at 10 years of Carolina Public Press coverage in pictures

10 Years By The Numbers

2,800

Number of posts on carolinapublicpress.org

4

Years in a row we’ve won first place in investigative reporting or general excellence from the N.C. Press Association

7

Number of years serving western North Carolina only

6

Number of legal actions filed for public records and open courts

45

Number of awards from statewide mental health, sexual assault, and environmental organizations and the N.C. Press Association

3

Number of years serving all of North Carolina

30

Number of community forums, listening sessions, and dialogues

$2 million

Total amount of money raised to support investigative and public service journalism in North Carolina

A look at our best stories from the past 10 years

2020
Signs in Buncombe County
Credit: Colby Rabon / Carolina Public Press

NEW! Ten for NC event series celebrating 10 NC topics for our 10 years in NC!

Celebrating 10 years of investigative and public interest journalism in North Carolina, Carolina Public Press is proud to offer Ten for NC, a series of free, virtual conversations about 10 issues, topics and debates in North Carolina.

These FREE, informal, virtual discussions will feature members of the Carolina Public Press team and Speakers Bureau and guests in a conversation about many important issues facing North Carolina. A Q&A session follows the conversation allowing the audience a chance to participate. All sessions will be recorded and published on carolinapublicpress.org.

The events are free, but SPACE IS LIMITED. RSVPs are required. Grab a friend (virtually), your curiosity, your favorite beverage and snack and join us for an interesting, fun hour that will be sure to leave you more informed, engaged and tuned in to your neighbors, your CPP staff, and what’s in store for the state.

Be sure you are on our mailing list to receive schedule and special guest updates and registration information as it becomes available.

And show your support for investigative and public interest journalism in North Carolina by becoming a 10 for 10 member! As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit newsroom, Carolina Public Press relies on the support of people like you. Join us to show your support and help CPP do even more over the next 10 years.

Event schedule

  • May 5News Deserts and Ghost Newspapers: What’s happening in North Carolina. View the event recording.
  • June 24Reauthorizing the Violence Against Women Act and what it means for North Carolina. View the event recording.
  • JulyNorth Carolina’s Business Climate After COVID. In partnership with Business North Carolina and sponsored by Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College. View the event recording.
  • AugustLiterary NC: Muse and Memory. Writers drawing inspiration from the Tar Heel state. Sponsored by Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College. View the event recording.
  • September —Investigative reporting in the South: The good, the bad, the hard. View the event recording.
  • Changing Tides—What’s destabilizing NC’s coastal ecology? View the event recording.
  • October
  • Rural Change Agents—Leaders making an impact in NC’s rural communities.
  • NovemberLet’s get political: A conversation with NC’s top political leaders
  • December2021, that’s a wrap: Ask us anything, special guests and prizes

We are continuing to add events and information. Check back often!

The next 10 years:
To be the largest independent investigative, public service journalism nonprofit newsroom in North Carolina

Our plan for Carolina Public Press includes high-powered multi-lingual newsroom, robust distribution, community engagement, and lasting power. Watch for details.

We can answer questions, make presentations to you and your partners, advise you on best opportunities, and help you make a charitable gift. The Carolina Public Press leadership team has decades of experience in journalism, nonprofit management and fund development. We are dedicated to the success, reach and sustainability of our 501(c)(3) nonprofit news organization and to ensuring your investment supports a proven concept, with a decade of proven impact in North Carolina. Contact Development Director Lisa Lopez or Executive Director Angie Newsome for how to strengthen independent nonpartisan journalism that is devoted to investigative and public service journalism across North Carolina.


Carolina Public Press launches Speakers’ Bureau during 10th Anniversary year

Carolina Public Press announced the launch of its new Speakers’ Bureau, whose members are available for virtual and in-person speaking engagements in North Carolina for groups of all sizes and types. CPP speakers possess experience and knowledge in a variety of areas including topical issues such as public lands, sexual assault and prisons; and North Carolina and industry-specific topics related to nonprofit journalism, news-based community engagement, investigative reporting, and more.

Reach your people through our press! Sponsorships, underwriting available now

Do you want to reach North Carolinians and tell them about your organization or business or share information about your event? Become a Carolina Public Press sponsor or underwriter and reach active, influential and interested people across the state. Our readers live in rural communities and urban centers across every county of the state, including Asheville, Raleigh, Charlotte, Brevard, Durham, Hendersonville, Murphy, Wilmington and Chapel Hill. See our Sponsorship Opportunities package and start reaching the right audiences with your message. To start your sponsorship or underwriting package, or to ask questions about other options, contact Director of Development Lisa Lopez by email or call 828-774-5290 ext. 404.


Support the Carolina Public Press endowment and ensure in-depth and investigative journalism stays in North Carolina

Founded in and in service to North Carolina, Carolina Public Press is devoted to being a reliable long-term source of high-quality investigative and public interest news across the state. Through the support of generous donors, Carolina Public Press has established the Carolina Public Press In-depth and Investigative Journalism Endowment, an endowment fund housed at the North Carolina Community Foundation that is devoted to helping us grow and remain here for the long term.

Our goal is to raise $1 million in the endowment by the end of 2024. Your support will help ensure that investigative and public service journalism always has a place in North Carolina. Will you join us?

To support the endowment:

  • Donate directly online on our endowment page at the NC Community Foundation website.
  • Donate by check mailed to the North Carolina Community Foundation, 3737 Glenwood Ave., Suite 460, Raleigh, NC 27612. In the memo line, indicate “Carolina Public Press In-Depth and Investigative Journalism Endowment” or Fund #1827.

We may also accept a variety of planned giving options, gifts of stock, investment accounts, appreciated stock and life insurance. We are also available to provide language for wills.

If you’d like to discuss these options or have any questions, please contact Carolina Public Press Director of Development Lisa Lopez, 828-774-5290 ext. 404. She, along with the staff of the NC Community Foundation, are available to help.

Both Carolina Public Press and the North Carolina Community Foundation are 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations. Donations are fully tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.