Meet Our Leadership

I'm here because of two things I'm passionate about—local news and North Carolina. Growing up in rural Level Cross in Randolph County, I viewed local news as a connector for my community. By the time I was off to study journalism at UNC, my hometown had already lost its newspaper—a staggering trend we've since seen across the state and nation. But as communities have lost journalists and news outlets, the need for trustworthy local news has risen.

I've had the privilege of leading the NC Local News Workshop, a journalism support organization, since 2021. Through this work, I've seen our news and information ecosystem become more collaborative and interconnected. The focus on community needs and service-minded leadership has grown stronger, and newsrooms have committed to equitable journalism for their communities.

Still, challenges in adapting to new business models and digital platforms persist. NC still has significantly fewer journalists than it did 15 years ago. State government coverage doesn't make its way home to communities outside the Capitol region like it used to. When we talk with community members across the state, they tell us they need more information that not only tells them what happened in Raleigh but helps them understand how they're affected. They want to participate and discuss issues. They want to feel the same kind of connection I once did in my small-town community. They need their communities to be represented by trusted messengers.

We need a new, future-focused model to strengthen access to local news and information services. We're not building a newspaper. We're not just launching a website. We're creating a collective force for local news in NC that works in partnership with mission-aligned newsrooms, information leaders, community partners, technologists, product leaders and philanthropists who want to see a more engaged and informed North Carolina. We'll be experimental. We'll be responsive. We'll test, and we'll learn. Our aim is to fill gaps in coverage, widen the reach of information, boost the value of news partners and connect communities with information they've told us they need.

We're building a team to make it happen, and we're forming a coalition of news partners, philanthropic funders, community organizations and others who want to see stronger local news and civic engagement across our state. We'd love to hear from you. 

-Shannan Bowen

Read Shannan's op-ed on NC Local's mission.

MEET OUR EDITORIAL DIRECTOR

Laura Lee is a journalist and former attorney. Since 2023, she has served as news director at Blue Ridge Public Radio, the NPR affiliate for Western North Carolina. In late 2024, she managed the organization’s award-winning coverage of Hurricane Helene, the most devastating storm in the state’s history. 

Laura began her journalism career as a producer and booker at NPR on All Things Considered and Talk of the Nation. She returned to her native North Carolina to manage The State of Things, a live daily statewide show on North Carolina Public Radio WUNC. 

After working as a managing editor of EdNC, an education journalism start-up, she became a writer and editor at a national education publication, Edutopia. She then served as the news editor at Carolina Public Press, a statewide investigative newsroom.

During her tenure at BPR, Laura received the 2025 Public Media Journalists Association’s Editor of the Year award.  Laura received her master’s in journalism from the University of Maryland and her bachelor’s degree in political science and J.D. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She is licensed by the NC bar.

MEET OUR DIRECTOR OF STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS

Una Kelley joins as our inaugural Director of Strategic Partnerships. She previously served as the Director of Philanthropic Development at The Associated Press, where she led a team focused on institutional fund development.  She also served as a deputy within the News Partnerships group where she helped lead a team and a body of cross-departmental initiatives focused on fundraising, program development and grant management. 

Prior to joining the journalism field, her career had been at philanthropic and nonprofit organizations including the Oak Foundation, Nonprofit Finance Fund and Grantmakers for Effective Organizations. Una’s appreciation for philanthropy was also formed at Bank of America where she served as a program officer for many of the trusts and foundations under management at the Bank. 

Una has a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of North Carolina, a

master’s degree in business administration from the University of Maryland, and has

gained valuable experience serving on various boards. Una previously served on NC Local’s board. She lives in Chapel Hill, N.C.

Melanie Sill co-developed NC Local and will serve as its initial board chair.

She is a Pulitzer-Prize winning editor who held top roles at The News & Observer and other newsrooms. She also founded the NC Local News Workshop.

Orage Quarles III is the former publisher of The News & Observer and other local news outlets. He serves as the board chair for Journalism Funding Partners and on the boards of the Freedom Forum, North Carolina History Museum and Dorothea Dix Park Conservatory.

Chris Weatherly is a seasoned digital executive who most recently served as VP of Digital for Capitol Broadcasting Company. He has held board positions with the Local Media Association and co-chaired the broadcast committee for the Local Media Consortium. Today, Chris consults organizations on digital innovation, sales strategy and enablement.

Daniel Williams is the co-founder and CEO of BlueLena. He previously cofounded a marketing tech company and has worked as a media executive for several national organizations, including McClatchy and The New York Times Co. Daniel also serves on several industry boards.

Dr. T. Kenn Gaither is the third dean of Elon University School of Communications. Gaither has held leadership positions at Elon University for two decades and also has significant professional experience in public relations and strategic communications.

Jed Williams is the chief operating officer and chief revenue officer for Lookout Local and has expansive experience leading growth and revenue for a variety of types of media brands.