WFAE is partnering with public media stations across the state to launch the North Carolina Newsroom, Capitol Bureau, a journalism collaboration expanding North Carolina state government news coverage for audiences in the Charlotte region throughout the year. The collaboration is funded by a two-year grant from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB).
Public radio stations across North Carolina will be able to offer more localized stories about how state policy impacts their audiences. Through this collaborative initiative, WFAE, WUNC (Triangle), Blue Ridge Public Radio (Asheville), WHQR (Wilmington) and WFDD (Winston-Salem) are strengthening local journalism and sharing stories that matter to their communities.
Beginning March 10, two new WUNC staff reporters will lead the North Carolina Newsroom, Capitol Bureau from the Legislative Building in Raleigh. WFAE will select the stories that meet the needs of Charlotte-area audiences and request special coverage of key legislation.
“So much of what’s important to folks in and around Charlotte is determined by what’s happening in Raleigh – from our transit plan to school funding, regulations on utilities to the fundamental rules for elections and our democracy, you can’t cover the news here without covering what’s going on there,” said Ely Portillo, WFAE executive editor. “This partnership will be an invaluable addition of experience and reporting power to keep our audience informed, engaged and empowered to understand their communities.”
“At a time when many media outlets are cutting back on state government coverage, public media is increasing its journalism about how North Carolina state government is serving its citizens,” said Brent Wolfe, WUNC news director. “We are grateful that the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and Congress are enabling more reporting on North Carolina state government for audiences across the state.”
Adam Wagner
Adam Wagner will serve as editor/reporter for the North Carolina Newsroom initiative. In addition to political reporting, Wagner will coordinate localized coverage with the five statewide public radio station partners and provide access to a range of audio and digital content.
Wagner has more than 10 years of North Carolina reporting experience. Most recently, he served as Climate Change and Environmental Reporter at the News & Observer. There, he was part of a team that won several national awards for the investigative series Big Poultry, including an Investigative Reporters & Editors award and the Victor K. McElheny Award.
As a reporter for the Star News in Wilmington, he helped lead the team that broke the GenX/PFAS story. Wagner is a graduate of the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism & Honors program at Ohio University.
Mary Helen Moore
Mary Helen Moore will serve as reporter for the North Carolina Newsroom initiative. Moore’s state reporting experience includes coverage of real estate and growth at the News & Observer, where she most recently served as Durham Reporter.