In Their Words: How Local News and Information Mattered in 2025

Time and again, 2025 reminded us just how many roles North Carolina’s ecosystem of local reporters, journalists, storytellers, and organizers play in keeping people safe, healthy, and informed. Whether it’s making sense of recovery efforts in Western North Carolina, providing resources to help people navigate SNAP disruptions, or keeping people safe and informed about the deployment of Border Patrol, reliable news and information is not only useful, it’s often lifesaving. 

This year showed so often what’s working in our local news and information ecosystem, and why funding it matters. Across the field, our partners are stitching together a landscape of news and information that keeps North Carolina's families safe, fed, and together. There’s reason to claim the hard-won victories from this year, and to be hopeful about the future.

To close the year, we asked several partners from our network to reflect with us on the many ways our news and information ecosystem supported NC communities this year, and the sources of resolve we’re tapping into as we head into 2026. Here’s what we heard.

Keeping Communities Safe, Informed, and Seen

“This year, fear pressed against us like a shadow, the kind we immigrants know too well. And still, I witnessed leaders like Teresa rise: a mother of five, construction worker, and community reporter who trains late into the night so her people can walk with knowledge, not fear. Her leadership is a quiet rebellion against the narratives that try to erase us. She reminds me that storytelling is moral work, and that we must choose truth, dignity, and justice with every word we speak.”
— Magaly Urdiales, COO and Co-Founder, JMPRO Community Media, Inc.

“At Code the Dream, we recognize that it's times like these, when things are changing and people are worried, that trusted information is critical — especially when it comes to people's most basic needs. That's why we're proud that our MyFriendBen public benefits screener has helped over 10,000 low-income North Carolinians find the essential food, health, and financial benefits they need, and we're just getting started!”
— Ricky Leung, Strategic Initiatives Lead, Code the Dream

“This year, the Fund focused on solutions to a crisis in public media. The federal government rescission bill not only ended the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, but also threatened the organizations that deliver vital information and local news to rural communities during natural disasters. With our funder partners, we’ve worked to directly fill the gap created by the loss of federal funding, and support North Carolina’s public media stations in their search for public investment. I’m proud of the Fund for investing over $575,000 in the field this year and next to support public media in North Carolina, and despite these new challenges, I look forward to what we can accomplish in the years ahead.”
— Sam Spencer, Associate Director of Funder Partnerships, North Carolina Local News Lab Fund

Making Sense of Policy Changes and Supporting Democratic Participation

“This year, I was reminded why local news and information matter when Casa Azul helped families navigate sudden changes in immigration policy. We became a trusted bridge—making sure people had clear, accurate information in their own language. Moments like that show me how essential community-rooted communication is, especially for those who are too often left out of traditional news systems.”
— Flor Herrera-Picasso, Executive Director and Co-Founder, Casa Azul de Wilson

“There were three big moments from this year that reminded me why local news and information matter: the start of the current administration and the immediate attacks on immigrant rights, the historic level of Latino candidate representation in the 2025 NC elections, and the November Border Patrol raids. Local journalism provides the opportunity to analyze current policies and events, and how they are directly impacting immigrant communities — counteracting fear, uncertainty, and disinformation. We are the people doing this work every day, despite experiencing these pressures ourselves, to ensure people have the information they need to stay safe and informed and to continue participating in civic life. We will continue to bring these immigrant stories — both the struggles and triumphs — to light in 2026.”
—Paola Jaramillo, Executive Director and Co-Founder, Enlace Latino NC

“This year has brought massive funding cuts to critical programs that North Carolinians rely on, like Medicaid and SNAP food assistance. I have been heartened to see trusted news outlets like Border Belt Independent, Enlace Latino NC, NC Health News, and others breaking down the complicated federal budget bill and helping NC residents understand how and when these changes will impact them. Trusted news sources provide information about issues impacting our lives and give people spaces to advocate for what they need to be healthy and whole.”
— Nora Ferrell, Vice President of Communications, Kate B. Reynolds Charitable Trust

“Local news matters. The remarkable turnout in this year’s election wouldn’t have happened without local news outlets. They provide their communities with the unbiased information necessary to understand the offices, candidates, and issues at stake — and the vital details of when, where, and how to vote. They are mission-critical partners of nonpartisan, pro-democracy groups like You Can Vote. We look forward to continuing these partnerships in 2026.”
— Kate Fellman, Founder and Executive Director, You Can Vote

Strengthening Community Connections and Trust

“The work WFAE has done over the last several years to strengthen our relationship with the Latino community proved essential in 2025. As shifts in immigration policy left many residents living in fear, they turned to WFAE to share their experiences and to find the resources they needed to navigate these uncertain times. WFAE has built trust in the community by consistently showing up to amplify their voices during moments of crisis, but also in moments of joy.”
— Ju-Don Marshall, President & CEO, WFAE

“As Western North Carolina continues to recover after Hurricane Helene, local news leaders and organizations support our communities by sharing information, keeping us connected through stories and lifting the voices of those experiencing disconnection and disinvestment. With so much change and uncertainty all around us, the simple acts of listening, storytelling, analysis, and keeping people informed can be transformational and lifesaving.”
— Rebecca Noricks, Vice President of Communications, Dogwood Health Trust

“I felt how local news helps us understand our world and show up for each other when Border Patrol was deployed to Charlotte. Trusted communicators of all kinds — from public media to community-based groups — helped people feel safe, make sense of what was happening, and know how to offer support. That experience grounds me heading into 2026; where I'm ready to back this network in the year ahead.”
— Natalie Roper, Associate Director of Field Partnerships, North Carolina Local News Lab Fund

 “This year reaffirmed why local news matters. Despite public media cuts, WNCU remains committed to elevating stories that inform, connect, and strengthen our community. I’m especially proud of The VoiceBox, our original podcast highlighting local businesses, organizations, and creative voices across the Triangle. It offers insight, resources, and inspiration to help listeners shape their communities. What gives me hope is seeing listeners, students, and partners rally around trusted local news and information—it fuels our mission to reimagine public media for Durham and all of North Carolina.”
— Lackisha Sykes Freeman, General Manager, WNCU

“I was at an event last summer when a woman approached and pressed something into my right palm as she shook my hand and introduced herself. ‘Thank you for all you do to keep our community informed,’ she said, before walking away. I looked to discover a $50 check made payable to QCity Metro. In the midst of what has been a challenging year, it was yet another confirmation that local news matters, and that we must never give up.”
— Glenn Burkins, Editor/Publisher, QCity Metro

Forging Strong Coalitions and Collaborations

"Davidson Local pairs critical information with partnership and collective care. Earlier this year, when Davidson County prepared a park to house Confederate monuments sent from across the state (including Wilmington), we expanded our coverage to reach those who might be impacted. One of the many examples included reaching Black men through new digital strategies. We worked closely with the Latino Association, supported the launch of Puente Solutions, and strengthened the Ebony Community Collective, while hosting “The PBS American Experience: The American Coup” with more than ten partners. The NC Local News Lab Fund answered every call with thoughtful suggestions, coaching, and safety plans that fit our reality." 
— Antionette Kerr, CEO and Co-Founder, Davidson Local

“This year, we started with a simple question: who in our community wants to work together to strengthen local news? We kept finding partners ready to reimagine what our media ecology could be, from journalists at StarNews, to community health workers and educators at Seeds of Healing, to researchers bringing data expertise from Cape Fear Collective. That openness led to the creation of the Coastal Journalism Hub, a new collaborative housed at our local United Way and organized by a local health advocate.”
— Nick Szuberla, Executive Director / Director of Narrative Strategies, Narrative Arts

“This year, I’ve been most inspired by the ways our partners show up for each other and in the energy to support a stronger local news and information ecosystem in Charlotte and throughout the state. The challenges of this year have shown us how critical these relationships are and how we can do more together than any one of us can do alone. We are excited for that collaborative spirit to expand in even greater ways in 2026. With the launch of CJC’s Shifting Ground project and new citizen-journalist programs and convenings, we are addressing important issues that our local residents face each day.”
— Chris Rudisill, Director, Charlotte Journalism Collaborative (CJC)

“I’m hopeful because you can literally feel the momentum building across North Carolina. We’ve moved past mourning the old media system and are embracing new, community-centered ways to ensure people from every background have the information they need to participate in the decisions that affect their lives. There are so many new investments and innovative outlets, and connections across the state are stronger and deeper than ever.”
— Katie Fogleman, Communications Director, Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation

“ More funders are seeing how local news connects the systems we’re each working on, from health to food access to economic mobility and rule of law. This has paid off in 2025, over and over. In 2026, I’m determined to continue inviting more funders to join this work and collaborate on innovative solutions to the challenges that we face.” 
— Lizzy Hazeltine, Fund Director, North Carolina Local News Lab Fund

Carrying This Work Forward

We’re proud to work alongside and invest in partners who show up for their communities with care and clarity. Their reflections underscore what we’re celebrating the most at the end of 2025: a local news and information ecosystem rooted in trust, collaboration, and service of community needs. As we head into the year ahead, we carry this work forward with confidence in the people and partnerships at work every day.