Our Stories
At Beacon Media, we focus on telling the stories that truly matter to our communities. Beacon Media is built around the people who are preserving and strengthening democracy in North Carolina communities. From healthcare and education to housing and justice, our stories are crafted to inform, inspire, and spark meaningful change. It is these community leaders and trusted messengers who will shift our collective narrative and show us what is possible — and then they are the ones who will make it a reality. We share their words and voices far and wide. That’s why all of our commentary is free to republish. We encourage you to use and share our work to help amplify the voices and issues that need attention across our state.
Read The Latest Stories
Opinion: Has the campaign of fear against Latinos in North Carolina awoken a sleeping giant?
Brutal treatment and indiscriminate policing by federal law enforcement shown across social media has galvanized thousands of Latinos in North Carolina and beyond.
Combating gun violence takes empathy, commitment
The mayor of an Eastern North Carolina town offers lessons on how a town went from a gun violence epidemic to a milestone anniversary of no gun deaths. By Weyling White One day in 2019, we were celebrating my grandmother’s birthday. We took her to the church for a...
North Carolina expanded Medicaid. Now what?
Medicaid expansion is a lifeline, but in rural North Carolina, a lack of healthcare providers leaves many still struggling for care. How can we bridge the gap?
When a monster truck crossed the Currituck Sound
On July 4, 1994, Dennis Anderson drove the legendary monster truck, Grave Digger, across the Currituck Sound, making history.
Flor Herrera-Picasso: How North Carolina fails its farmworkers
Justice after the horrific death of José Arturo González Mendoza would mean we ensure dignity for farmworkers across North Carolina. By Flor Herrera-Picasso One year ago this September, José Arturo González Mendoza, 30, was headed to work in Nash County, picking sweet...
Great Dismal Swamp isn’t as great, dismal or swampy as it used to be
Once vast and wild, the Great Dismal Swamp is now wooded, restored, thriving, and perfect for solitude seekers.
The real reason we’re being told to hate Pride
Small-town pride events showcase the best of us. Why do some want to stoke hate? By Gwen Frisbie-Fulton From Sylva to Wilson, from Boone to Shelby, small towns across North Carolina are celebrating Pride – turning small parks and main streets into brightly colored,...
Can a billionaire make North Carolina’s public schools poor?
Veteran campaign finance expert says political donations are driving school privatization By Bob Hall NC Newsline Despite strong opposition, the North Carolina Senate voted this month to boost enrollment in privately run K-12 schools by doubling state...
For Latinos, ‘parent’s rights’ should be about support and respect
Growing up, I aimed to leave rural North Carolina, but now I help Latino families navigate education through Casa Azul.