News & Events

Steve Daniels with EJP students at Elon — Steve Daniels P’23, a member of the School of Communications National Advisory Board, speaks with Emerging Journalists Program participants during a behind-the-scenes tour of ABC11 WTVD-TV. The visit offered valuable insight into broadcast journalism for the 18 high school students.

Empowering future storytellers

By the time Mariana Prieto arrived on 51��’s campus this summer, the rising high school senior from Queens, New York, had already built an impressive résumé: senior editor of her school newspaper, a student intern on a New York City Council campaign, and a contributor to Teens for Press Freedom, a youth-led journalism advocacy group.

But despite that experience, Prieto says she found something unique in Elon’s Emerging Journalists Program (EJP).

“Every day was filled with such valuable information,” she said. “I loved conducting interviews, writing articles and receiving feedback, constructing our broadcasts, and designing the newspaper layout. I know I will take with me everything I learned – not just how to edit, but the practice of a strong work ethic and preparing myself for the future.”

Prieto was one of 18 students selected for EJP’s fourth Immersion cohort, a 12-day, university-funded workshop for rising high school seniors interested in journalism and communications. Representing eight states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico, students earned college credit while working in a newsroom, attending workshops, and receiving mentorship from Elon undergraduates.

“Mariana represents the kind of curious, motivated student we hope to reach through EJP,” said Colin Donohue, EJP program director and assistant professor of journalism. “She brought a strong background to the table, but still approached every assignment with a learning mindset.”

In addition to producing a newspaper and news broadcast, the students toured Trailblazer Studios and WTVD-TV, where they met anchor Steve Daniels P’23. They also visited the International Civil Rights Center & Museum, conducted a press conference with Rep. Reneé Price, explored the state Capitol, and attended a Winston-Salem Dash baseball game.

Zoya Balakrishnan, a rising senior from Warren, New Jersey, said the experience “solidified my goal to pursue communications.”

Launched in 2021 through a Scripps Howard Fund grant, the Emerging Journalists Program is now supported by 51��. EJP received a record 170 applications this year; all applicants were invited to the program’s virtual Exposure experience in the spring.

Donohue credited the program’s success to the contributions of curriculum coordinator Kelly Furnas and the many Elon faculty and staff involved. “EJP happens because of a dedicated team that believes in the power of an Elon education,” he said.

As of fall 2025, 16 former EJP students are enrolled at Elon.

A Year of Transition and Impact

The North Carolina Open Government Coalition’s 2024–2025 year was one of transformation – internally, statewide and nationally. Through it all, the Coalition remained steadfast in its mission to promote freedom of information, government transparency, and public access to records across the Old North State.

In summer 2024, the Coalition completed a successful leadership transition. Former Director Brooks Fuller accepted a new role as research director for American Oversight. Following a national search, Pate McMichael – previously associate director of the University of Arizona School of Journalism – assumed the role of director in September. Coalition Board President Robyn Tomlin, chief news officer for McClatchy, praised McMichael’s appointment, citing his deep experience in journalism and his strong advocacy for open records.

“Pate’s unique experiences in journalism, education and organizational leadership made him the perfect person to lead the Coalition’s work to educate on and advocate for transparent accountability by government agencies of every size and shape in our state,” Tomlin said.

The fourth annual NC News & Information Summit – the Coalition’s signature event – was another across-the-board success, showcasing North Carolina’s resilient journalism ecosystem and commemorating the 20th anniversary of Sunshine Week. The 2025 Summit saw record-breaking attendance, the most sessions ever offered, and the largest number of facilitators to date. Planning is already underway for the 2026 Summit, which will return in March during Sunshine Week.

Throughout the year, the Coalition’s hotline fielded more than 100 inquiries from journalists, citizens, advocates, attorneys and academics seeking guidance on open government and public records issues. The Coalition also provided expert commentary to more than a dozen news outlets across radio, television, print and digital platforms.

Membership engagement remained steady, with dues-paying members holding at approximately 50. Newsletter subscriptions grew from 160 to 200, reflecting increased interest and awareness of the Coalition’s work.

In March 2025, the Coalition represented North Carolina at the inaugural Sunshine Fest in Washington, D.C., marking the 20th anniversary of Sunshine Week. The event was hosted by the Brechner Center’s Freedom of Information Project in partnership with the National Freedom of Information Coalition.

News & Information Summit draws record attendance

The fourth annual NC News & Information Summit took place at North Carolina Central University in Durham. Now established as the go-to statewide gathering for journalists, media lawyers, academics, students, activists, funders and policymakers, the Summit continues to grow. This year saw record attendance (300 registrations), a record number of sessions (21), and a record number of facilitators (45), building on the momentum of previous years.

The March 2025 event began with a keynote panel moderated by Dean Baquet, a Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative journalist and former executive editor of The New York Times. Baquet interviewed five exceptional Western North Carolina journalists, whose resilient coverage of Hurricane Helene helped save lives.

A diverse lineup of sessions followed throughout the day. Among the most popular were “Building Resilient News Ecosystems through Community Listening,” “Movement Journalism: When Activism and Journalism Collide,” and “Here’s What Journalism School Didn’t Teach You.” Other sessions commemorated the 90th anniversary of the state’s public records law, examined coverage of the 2024 North Carolina gubernatorial race, explored the impacts of climate change statewide, and assessed the growing role of AI in journalism.

CAPTION: A panel titled “A lifeline for Western North Carolina” kicked off the fourth annual NC News & Information Summit at North Carolina Central University in Durham on March 12, 2025. Among the panelists joining moderator Dean Baquet was Patricia Serrano of Enlace Latino NC (with microphone).

“Unfortunately, there are few places for the people and the organizations who make up our information infrastructure to gather together, share resources, and build partnerships. The NC News and Information Summit provides a rare, and critical opportunity to do just that. The citizens of North Carolina and the state as a whole will be better off as a result.”

Christopher A. Cooper, Director, Haire Institute for Public Policy

Sunshine Awards

The NC Open Government Coalition recognized several Sunshine Award winners at the Summit:

Dan Kane, an investigative reporter for The News & Observer, received a Sunshine Award in the journalism category for his ongoing series, “Power & Secrecy.” Kane’s reporting has exposed millions of dollars in questionable expenditures by Republican state legislators. Kane also exposed the existence of federal subpoenas related to his reporting on legislative spending.
WRAL’s 5 On Your Side team – Keely Arthur, Pritchard Strong and Kara Lysle – also received a 2025 Sunshine Award in the journalism category. Their reporting on the closure of NC State’s Poe Hall raised concerns about the building’s legacy of toxic chemicals and the prevalence of cancer among university employees working in the facility.
Emily Vespa, a 2024 NC State graduate and former managing editor of The Technician, received a Frank Barrows Award for Excellence in Student Journalism for reporting that “exemplifies the vital role of open meetings, public records, and press access in public life.” Vespa’s story in The Assembly highlighted the scope of PCB exposure across the UNC system.
Lucas Thomae, a reporter for Carolina Public Press, also received a Frank Barrows Award. A 2024 UNC graduate and a former managing sports editor at The Daily Tarheel, Thomae revealed violations of the state’s public meetings law and debunked misinformation in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene.

Workshop winds down, NC Local moves on

Launched in 2020 in response to North Carolina’s local news crisis, the NC Local News Workshop sought to address the loss of journalists and outlets while fostering innovative approaches to keeping residents informed on public affairs and civic issues. Based at the 51�� School of Communications and funded by the North Carolina Local News Lab Fund, the Workshop provided a foundation for collaborative growth in local journalism.

Over the past five years, the Workshop – first led by Melanie Sill and later by Shannan Bowen – championed local news access and quality across the state. Through its popular NC Local weekly newsletter and efforts in convening, connecting, and building capacity, the Workshop prioritized inclusivity and support for communities historically underserved by traditional media.

Now, to better meet the changing needs of the media landscape, the Workshop has transitioned into an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, rebranding as NC Local. Supported by a Knight Foundation grant, the organization has broadened its mission to become a statewide media hub, offering content, tools and services to trusted news outlets across North Carolina. Though no longer housed within 51��, NC Local will remain a close academic partner with the School of Communications, with Dean Kenn Gaither serving as a member of NC Local’s governing board.

ACC Commissioner headlines Sport Management Symposium

A day after attending a College Football Playoff meeting in Dallas, where FBS commissioners met to discuss potential changes to the upcoming playoff structure, ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips addressed a standing-room-only crowd at 51��’s Sport Management Symposium.

Jim-Phillips — ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips (right) served as the keynote speaker at the 2025 Sport Management Symposium, participating in a lengthy conversation with Assistant Professor of Sport Management Bill Squadron. Photo by Aidan Blake ’26.

More than 220 students, faculty, staff and community members crammed into Turner Theatre on Feb. 26 to hear from Phillips, one of the leading voices in the college sports landscape.

As part of the symposium’s keynote conversation, Phillips and Assistant Professor of Sport Management Bill Squadron delved into a broad range of topics impacting college athletics, including the implementation of Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) policies, the upcoming House v. NCAA settlement, and the ongoing challenges of the transfer portal.

After Phillips’ conversation, the symposium moved on to two panel discussions, first exploring the debate over how to fairly distribute the revenue generated by college football and potential ways to compensate players. The later panel discussed the potential pros and cons of the Football Bowl Subdivision branching away from other collegiate athletic offerings.

Allison Carter ’09 with Dean Kenn Gaither

Fall 2024 Homecoming

Outstanding Alumni Award

Allison Carter ’09, executive editor of PR Daily, was recognized with the School of Communications Outstanding Alumna Award during Homecoming Weekend. In her remarks, Carter reflected on her unexpected career journey and the value of resilience and curiosity. The Elon alumna emphasized to the student audience that their paths, too, would be filled with struggles and triumphs – and that both should be embraced. “Allison’s corpus of work as an editor at PR Daily is earmarked by her coverage of critical public relations issues with the applied rigor of a journalist,” said Dean Kenn Gaither, who taught Carter years ago and presented the award. Carter is the 14th recipient of the award.

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