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. 

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. 

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!

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

Asheville Meter Services worker Tyler White installs a new 1.5-inch meter service on Sweeten Creek Road in Asheville. The future management of the Asheville water system is currently in the hands of the N.C. Court of Appeals. The system consists of approximately 1,674 miles of water lines. (Mike Belleme/Carolina Public Press)

Shanita Jackson stands in protest of police brutality. (Alicia Funderburk/Carolina Public Press)

Diane Parfitt looks out the window of her store City Center Gallery & Books in Fayetteville on Monday. Parfitt’s shop has gone through the process of reopening in recent days, returning to mostly regular hours with the requirement that customers wear masks while they shop. (Melissa Sue Gerrits / Carolina Public Press)

A scene in the Pisgah National Forest. (Jack Igelman/Carolina Public Press)

Amara Touzel, 5, eats with the rest of the Touzel family as they attend a dinner at the Giving Spoon in Bryson City. (Matt Rose / Carolina Public Press)

Mark Green recounts the mounting anxiety that he lived with while he transitioned out of the military and into civilian life with the needs of a reliable car and a job suitable to his physical limitations. Green had enrolled in college level courses in the hopes of earning a higher wage. Green was photographed at his home on in Fayetteville, NC on June 11, 2019. (Melissa Sue Gerrits/For Carolina Public Press)

The upper loop trail in Joyce Kilmer hosts a diverse cove forest, featuring a variety of tree species. It is part of the Nantahala National Forests, and close to where firefighters are fighting a wildfire. (Mike Belleme/Carolina Public Press)

The upper loop trail in Joyce Kilmer hosts a diverse cove forest, featuring a variety of tree species. It is part of the Nantahala National Forests (Mike Belleme/Carolina Public Press)

Kids walk down Hay Street as demonstrations take place in Fayetteville, North Carolina on May 30, 2020 in reaction to the death of George Floyd. (Melissa Sue Gerrits/The Carolina Public Press)

A woman holds her fist up while shouting “no justice, no peace” during demonstrations Saturday at the historic Market Square in downtown Fayetteville in reaction to the death of George Floyd. (Melissa Sue Gerrits / The Carolina Public Press)

A resident of Falcon Children’s Home plays basketball in a gym facility located on the campus in northeastern Cumberland County on Friday. (Melissa Sue Gerrits / Public Carolina Press)

Residents of Falcon Children’s Home play in a pool on the campus on July 6, 2018. (Melissa Sue Gerrits for Public Carolina Press)

File photo by Colby Rabon / Carolina Public Press

Kiyuga (Cherokee for chipmunk), 2, identifies fellow classmates by reading their names in syllabary as she is quizzed by her teacher, Noquisi at the Cherokee Language Academy in Cherokee, NC on Monday, July 9. The academy’s purpose is to preserve the Cherokee language through teaching children and was funded by a grant from the Cherokee Preservation Foundation. (Mike Belleme for Carolina Public Press)

A notebook with Cherokee Syllabary is seen during a lesson at Cherokee Language and Culture Camp held at Big Cove Recreation Center in Cherokee, NC on Monday, July 9. “First and foremost is to save our language,” says Driver. Kids at the camp practice traditional arts as well as learning the Cherokee language and syllabary. (Mike Belleme for Carolina Public Press)

Phil Wells helps his mother Rosalee Wells get to his car to attend a dentist appointment and get breakfast biscuits. Rosalee is a resident at Cadence Senior Living in Wake Forest, North Carolina which closed to indoor visitation more than a year ago. “It’s been a long time since I’ve been able to help you down the curb, huh?” Phil asked his mom. (Alicia Carter / Carolina Public Press)

Nicole Coston, center, of Bearwallow Valley Farm drops off food at Spanish Church in Henderson County on Monday, through a program of ASAP. (Colby Rabon / Carolina Public Press)

The sun sets on fishers on the intercoastal waterways of Sunset Beach, North Carolina on March 23, 2019. Bridges connect the mainland to several islands created by the intercoastal waterways where communities lie between the smaller bodies of water and the Atlantic Ocean. [Melissa Sue Gerrits/For Carolina Public Press]

People walk through downtown Southport. Melissa Sue Gerrits / Carolina Public Press

Cherokee County Department of Social Services paid a contractor to shred a massive amount of documents in 2018, at the same time as a criminal investigation into unlawful child seizures. (Photo illustration by Frank Taylor / Carolina Public Press)

Two shrimp trawlers are docked at Beaufort Inlet. Some are concerned that the loss of fish to the bycatch from trawlers has damaged populations of some species along North Carolina’s coast. (Jack Igelman / Carolina Public Press)

Lauren Thomas, 10, looks on as Jerry King signals to a winning bidder at the start of the 4-H Livestock benefit auction on Saturday, Sept. 23, 2012. In addition to livestock, the auction featured cakes, plants, saddles and horse gear. Over $7,500 was raised to benefit the clubs. Photo by Colby Rabon.

The town of Lake Lure is preparing to undertake a cost repair project on its dam after years of what the town’s engineering consultant has called “neglect.” (Colby Rabon / Carolina Public Press)

Residents of Black Mountain Children’s Home cool off with a game of water wiffle ball on Thursday at the facility in eastern Buncombe County. (Colby Rabon / Carolina Public Press)

Haywood County precinct Chief Judge Debbie Stamey interacts with David Cairnes as he presents his photo ID at the Canton Public Library to vote in the March 15, 2016 primary election. (Colby Rabon / Carolina Public Press)

Voters cast ballots at a precinct in Weaverville on Election Day in 2016. (Colby Rabon / Carolina Public Press)

Promise Moseby, 4, waves a flag in the midst of the Martin Luther King Jr. Day events organized by the Martin Luther King Jr. Association of Asheville & Buncombe County. (Colby Rabon/Carolina Public Press)

An elk looks across the Cataloochee Valley in Haywood County. Colby Rabon / Carolina Public Press

Barns, churches and a few homes still stand in the valley, allowing visitors to also connect with the area’s human history. The field pictured here was probably once used as farmland. (Colby Rabon / Carolina Public Press)

The West Asheville Public Library has been the busiest early voting location in Buncombe County; though the cold and wind kept many voters at home on Tuesday, October 30, 2012 as Hurricane Sandy pounded the east coast. As of Monday evening, over 55,000 votes had been cast countywide. Photo by Colby Rabon.

File photo by Calvin Adkins / Carolina Public Press

Informational meeting held by Duke Energy on the company’s plans to construct a 45-mile high-voltage power line through Henderson and Polk Counties. (Matt Rose / Carolina Public Press)

Ellen Forcier, Employment Consultant speaks with Jordan Berger, right, who is looking for health care work at the Hendersonville JobLink Career Center. Berger’s son Caleb, 3, is at left. (Matt Rose / Carolina Public Press)

Anyone — those with homes or those without — can come to the Haywood Street Congregation for a meal, says Rev. Brian Combs, adding that the tables are round for a reason. (Matt Rose / Carolina Public Press)

Meeting of the board of the Housing Authority of the City of Asheville central office. (Matt Rose / Carolina Public Press)

Kids board the bus to head home at the end of the first day of school at Bee Log Elementary School. (Matt Rose/Carolina Public Press)

Jerome and Kelli Brown and one of their three children Madison, 6 yrs. Madison runs out of the house to practice a little baseball before heading for a game. They’ve received help from the state foreclosure prevention program and have, through OnTrack’s help, gotten a loan modification after three years trying on their own. (Matt Rose / Carolina Public Press)

Paul Crisp, 72 sits on his front porch in Whittier, NC. He has trouble making ends meet and benefits from groups like The Giving Spoon that provide hot food to the community. (Matt Rose / Carolina Public Press)

Dan Holder, center, checks a proposed power line path at an informational meeting held by Duke Energy on the company’s plans to construct a 45-mile high-voltage power line through Henderson and Polk Counties. (Photo by Matt Rose)

Mareena Wright spreads lotion on Richard Wright’s face to ease skin irritation. (Photos by Matt Rose)

Electrician Michael Payne of Hayes & Lunsford Electrical Contractors takes a look at the plans for a new K-4 school, Iotla Valley Elementary being constructed by H&M Constructors. The school is in Franklin, NC. The school is in the process of consolidating schools and updaing inefficient schools. (Photos By Matt Rose)