Book review: ‘Journalistic Autonomy: The Genealogy of a Concept’

The structure of contemporary American journalism is often described using the metaphor of walls. The news operation and editorial board are separated by walls. The newsroom and advertising department are divided by walls. And so on. The idea behind this walled structure is autonomy and independence. If news and advertising are separated, then reporters and…

Q&A with Sara Salinas of CNBC.com

Sara Salinas is deputy business editor at CNBC.com. A native of Maryland, she has worked in various roles at CNBC since earning a degree in journalism from UNC-Chapel Hill in 2017. In this interview, conducted by email, Salinas discusses her role at CNBC (including editing and headline writing) and offers advice to college students interested…

Q&A with Triangle Blog Blog

Melody Kramer, Stephen Whitlow, Martin Johnson and Geoff Green are contributing writers/editors at Triangle Blog Blog, which describes itself as "a group blog for the civically curious." Launched in March 2022, it focuses on issues such as housing, transportation and governance in two adjacent North Carolina towns, Chapel Hill and Carrboro. In this interview, conducted…

Q&A with CNET copy editor Dawnthea Price Lisco

Dawnthea Price Lisco is a copy editor at CNET, a tech-focused news organization that describes itself as "your guide to a better future." She previously worked at Slate and The Free Lance-Star in Fredericksburg, Virginia. In this interview, conducted by email, Price Lisco discusses her job at CNET and her role in the site's recent…

Q&A with Meg Kinnard, politics reporter for The Associated Press

Meg Kinnard is an Associated Press politics reporter based in Columbia, South Carolina. A native of Tennessee, she is a graduate of Georgetown University and UNC-Chapel Hill, where she earned a master's degree in digital communication. In this interview, conducted by email, Kinnard talks about her work at the AP, discusses her diagnoses and treatment…

Q&A with Josh Bergeron, editor of The Salisbury Post

Josh Bergeron is editor of The Salisbury Post in Salisbury, North Carolina. Before taking that position in 2018, he worked as an associate editor and reporter there. He previously worked at newspapers in Kentucky, Mississippi and Alabama. In this interview, Bergeron discusses his role at the Post, including news judgment and headline writing. Q. Describe…

Q&A with Rogelio Aranda, local news editor at The Charlotte Observer

Rogelio Aranda is local news editor at The Charlotte Observer. He started at the Observer in 1998 as a copy editor and page designer in the sports department, and he has served in various roles there over the years. In this interview, conducted by email, Aranda discusses working with reporters and how editing and headline…

Seeking answers about vaccine mandates

UNC-Chapel Hill encourages but does not require vaccination against COVID-19. Students who are not vaccinated must get a COVID test twice a week. We are a month into the fall semester at UNC-Chapel Hill. In that time, North Carolina has seen a rise in COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations and deaths. Discussion continues about whether to require…

Q&A with Sarah Nagem of the Border Belt Independent

Sarah Nagem is editor of the Border Belt Independent, a nonprofit news organization that covers four counties in southeastern North Carolina. She previously worked at The Salisbury Post and The News & Observer. In this interview, conducted by email, Nagem discusses her role at the BBI and her transition to a small, nonprofit newsroom. Q.…

Q&A with Elizabeth Baier of WUNC

Elizabeth “Liz” Baier is digital news editor at WUNC. She joined the radio station in 2016 after eight years of reporting for Minnesota Public Radio News. Prior to that, Baier worked as a newspaper reporter at The Miami Herald and South Florida Sun-Sentinel. This interview was conducted by email. Q. Describe your job. What is…