Plus language access, restoring a river & more
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** All For NC Newsletter
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Insights and Updates from the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation
A Note from Joy
Greetings,
The decline of local news in North Carolina, as in the country, has been well documented. Dozens of legacy media organizations have shrunk or shut down. Six counties in NC do not have a single news outlet, and many more have only limited local reporting.
This is an urgent problem, to be sure. But today, rather than bemoaning local news's demise, I want to focus on why, despite all this, I’m feeling hopeful.
As traditional media outlets have closed, something interesting has happened: nonprofits have stepped up to fill the void, and they’re approaching news differently.
The nonprofit media outlet Scalawag, for example, works with and pays people who are incarcerated ([link removed]) to report news from inside prisons. The reporters’ work sheds light on the criminal legal system in a way that traditional reporting simply could not do.
Enlace Latino NC, a nonprofit news outlet that provides public service journalism to, for and by Latine immigrant communities ([link removed]) , answers readers’ everyday questions, like how to get a passport or where to get a COVID vaccine. Enlace Latino NC also sends daily news updates via WhatsApp, which is a popular communication channel among their readers, because the organization is committed to meeting people where they are so they can get the information they need.
What’s unique about these approaches is that they center perspectives that have been underrepresented in legacy media, and they prioritize getting information to people who historically haven’t had access to it.
This work is critical to a healthy democracy: it ensures that all North Carolinians have the information they need to participate in the decisions that affect their lives.
The nonprofit local news ecosystem here in NC has been developing for years. Just last month, in a nod to their leadership in coordinating and strengthening our state’s local news infrastructure, NC Local News Lab Fund was named the NC home of Press Forward ([link removed]) , a funding initiative that aims to reinvigorate local news nationwide. ZSR will co-chair Press Forward's NC chapter along with the Kate B. Reynolds Charitable Trust.
So, next time you hear someone lament the demise of local news, I hope you’ll tell them that innovative nonprofits are working hard to create a stronger and more inclusive local news and information ecosystem here in NC.
Before I sign off, I’m curious: Where do you get your local news? We’re constantly learning in this space and would love to hear from you.
All For NC,
Joy's signature
Joy Vermillion Heinsohn
Executive Director
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Get Inspired
Stories of hope and action from ZSR grantees and partners
* The Town of Morrisville is working to make their government services more inclusive and accessible through a new language access plan ([link removed]) . The plan was developed in partnership with Hindi Vikas Mandal as part of an initiative facilitated by UNC-Chapel Hill’s Building Integrated Communities (BIC). The plan will serve as a roadmap for expanding access to services for residents who speak languages other than English, with an initial strategic focus on Hindi, which is Morrisville’s most spoken language other than English. Morrisville is one of nine government-community teams across NC participating in BIC’s Language Access Collaborative ([link removed]) .
* Decades ago, the Haw River in Saxapahaw was so polluted that the stench of dead fish kept people away. Today, thanks in part to the Clean Water Act of 1972, the restored river draws residents and tourists to its banks, supporting Saxapahaw’s economy and fostering educational opportunities for kids. But a new threat now looms: toxic industrial chemicals called PFAS and 1,4 dioxane are contaminating the river ([link removed]) . The Haw River Assembly is working to protect the river from further damage so North Carolinians can continue to enjoy this vital community resource for generations to come.
* As state-level organizations push for fully funded public schools, local communities across North Carolina are innovating to recruit and retain teachers. In Bertie County, 50% of renters have difficulty affording their homes, according to a recent report from the North Carolina Housing Coalition. The school district is collaborating with foundations and the county ([link removed]) to provide affordable housing for teachers, which has helped other NC towns with recruitment and retention.
* In the lead-up to primary elections earlier this month, El Pueblo worked diligently to educate Latine voters about the elections ([link removed]) [video in Spanish], including who the candidates were, where to vote and more. On election day, the organization set up an election protection “fiesta de votar” (voting party) at polling places to encourage North Carolina Latines to make their voices heard by voting.
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What's New with ZSR?
* We’re looking for a Technology Specialist to join our team ([link removed]) . The application deadline is Tuesday, April 16.
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The All For NC Newsletter is a monthly email from the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation where we share insights from our staff, highlight stories of hope and action from partners across NC, and provide updates.
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