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
DYELH Podcast: Episode 8 – Parkway Controversy, Recent Travels, and the Voting Rights Act
For this week's episode, Preston and Dalton talk about a recent post they made in response to an ongoing project on the Blue Ridge Parkway and their own concerns, discuss their recent travels to Arizona and D.C., and wrap up by sharing Preston's column on the Supreme...
Beyond belief in Ashe County
Organizer Nancy Weaver, who lives on multigenerational land, wants to make sure government dollars are spent on those who most need them By Nancy Weaver One Sunday morning in November of 1977, my little sister Ann woke us up and said “The field is full of...
Leadership is not for someone else
Especially in the wake of the deadly hurricane, seeking political office shouldn’t be about an insider’s game or internet celebrity. By Gwen Frisbie-Fulton The last few days in North Carolina are a head-turning study in contrast. For weeks, we’ve had Mark...
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,...