Mike Kernels joined the Carolina Public Press news team this week as Managing Editor.
Kernels will oversee the nonprofit online news organization’s statewide investigative and in-depth reporting efforts, including supervising staff reporters and contract contributors.
A native of Virginia Beach and alumnus of Old Dominion University, Kernels comes to CPP with more than 30 years of experience in the news industry, including award-winning editing and reporting work.
He most recently worked for with the Greensboro News & Record. Earlier in his career he also worked for the Virginian-Pilot in Norfolk, Virginia.
Kernels, who resides in Greensboro, fills the vacancy created when former CPP Editor-in-chief Frank Taylor became CPP’s executive director in November 2024.
“I’m thrilled about the depth of talent, experience and enthusiasm for good journalism that Mike brings to our team,” Taylor said.
Taylor, who is a graduate of Wheaton College of Illinois and has a master’s degree from the University of North Carolina, served as CPP managing editor from late 2015 to mid-2022, before leaving the organization to work for The Post & Courier of Charleston, South Carolina, as its Columbia bureau editor. He returned to CPP in late 2023 and resides in Hillsborough.
As a longtime leader of CPP’s news organization, Taylor anticipates working closely with Kernels in developing new reporting initiatives and crafting special projects.
Other current members of the CPP news staff include:
- Sarah Michels, who covers elections. Michels is a graduate of the University of Kentucky. She joined CPP in August 2024 and is based in Raleigh.
- Jane Winik Sartwell, who covers health and business. Sartwell is a graduate of Bard College and has a master’s from Columbia University. She joined CPP in June 2024 and is based in Wilmington.
- Lucas Thomae, who covers government accountability and transparency. Thomae is a graduate of the University of North Carolina. He joined CPP as an intern in June 2024 and as a full staff member in October 2024. Thomae is based in Raleigh.
“We’ve had some terrific reporters, some amazing journalists, award-winning and high-impact investigators who worked for CPP in the past,” Taylor said.
“But when I see this young team of energetic, highly creative and skilled writers, as well as what Mike brings to us as editor, I’m just so excited for our future.”
CPP changes physical address
Also this week, CPP formally relocated its physical headquarters from a downtown Durham address to one on Beryl Road in Raleigh.
“Several practical considerations led to this change,” Taylor said.
“On the news side, we have staff members working throughout the state, but two of them are based in Raleigh. We also recognize that other reporters may need to travel to Raleigh to cover state government activities, so having a workspace available to them in the capital city made sense. The parking options and arrangements to receive mail are also better at the new location.”
CPP was founded in 2011 in Asheville by its original executive director Angie Newsome. During its early years, the organization provided coverage of the state’s Western counties. Beginning in 2018, CPP shifted to statewide coverage, while maintaining ongoing reporting on the state’s mountain counties. In Nov. 2023, CPP moved its physical address to Durham.
“I don’t want anyone to think that changing the address means we’ll no longer be covering important stories in Durham, any more than we stopped covering important news out of Asheville and the mountains when we expanded and relocated previously,” Taylor said.
“We have staff and freelancers throughout the state and remain committed to statewide coverage. We crisscross the state in every direction regardless of where our headquarters is. We are committed to serving the people of North Carolina regardless of the location, affluence or size of the places they live.”
Taylor also noted that, as in the past, the physical address is an irregularly staffed workspace and not a location to host people wanting to provide tips.
“I took a call a few months ago from a woman who said she had been walking all over downtown Asheville trying to find our office so she could provide us with some information for a possible story,” Taylor said.
“I explained that we moved from downtown Asheville to South Asheville in 2018 and to Durham in 2023. But at no time were we set up to receive unscheduled guests at any of those office spaces. I encourage people to email our news team at [email protected] to provide us with news tips.”
Despite the change in physical address, CPP’s mailing address will continue to be a Post Office box in Asheville:
Carolina Public Press
P.O. Box 17595
Asheville, NC 28816
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