Journalist, producer, editor and educator Laura Lee has joined Carolina Public Press as its news editor.

Lee, originally from North Carolina, held roles at National Public Radio, where she produced content for the Washington desk, “All Things Considered” and “Talk of the Nation.” She was an editor for Edutopia, an arm of the George Lucas Educational Foundation. In North Carolina, she served as assistant news director and then managing editor of WUNC’s live daily statewide show, “The State of Things,” and worked as content director and managing editor for EducationNC and the N.C. Center for Public Policy Research. She has also been an adjunct media law professor at UNC Chapel Hill. A member of the Online News Association Women’s Leadership Accelerator’s 2018 cohort, Lee serves as a mentor for its Digital Women Leaders program.
“We are delighted to welcome Laura to the team,” said Angie Newsome, founder and executive director of Carolina Public Press. “Her breadth of experience in managing editorial projects, wrangling writers and building engaging narratives to further an organizational vision will help us to fulfill our promises to be North Carolina’s trusted source for nonpartisan, independent and investigative journalism.”
As news editor, Lee will oversee many aspects of story development and editing, recruitment and supervision of freelancers and be a major contributor to larger editorial projects.
Lee, who received her master’s degree in journalism from the University of Maryland, also holds a doctorate of law from the UNC Chapel Hill School of Law. She earned her bachelor’s degree in political science from UNC Chapel Hill. Before law school, Lee worked as an educator with a civic education organization and then as a program administrator for two Fulbright grant programs. She lives in Durham.
Lee may be reached at llee@carolinapublicpress.org or by calling 828-774-5290, ext. 413.