DL Weekend Update: Stories behind the stories
By Antionette Kerr
I grew up as a fan of Saturday Night Live’s Weekend Update sketch. My grandmother and I used to sit in her living room on Thurgood Ave and watch the satirical news program… religiously.
What I like most is Weekend Update’s funny focus on current events. Besides my days of playing Kermit the Frog Reporter, my fascination with news wasn't a precursor to my new nerd destiny.
Fast-forward to our roles. Kassaundra and I have been searching for ways to bring out the juicy details and behind-the-scenes stories of local reporting to the forefront. So many times we comment, “If people only knew what went on behind the scenes.” We pitched this idea in our last staff meeting…and came up with the Davidson Local Weekend Update, so here goes our first installment of our version of Davidson Local’s Weekend Update. Like many newspaper editors and publishers…we plan to alternate behind-the-scenes voices.
Elections coverage, who are the real winners?
In today’s climate, election seasons bring a whirlwind of true and false information. Our team got swept up in a good way during the primaries and last general election. We’re gearing up for November. Everything from correcting misinformation, to a power outage at the local BOE reminded us that hyperlocal news is needed in Davidson County.
The NC Local Workshop invited us (brand new…little ole DL) to share our experiences with other news outlets in the region. I went and brought award-winning intern Sidney Briggs, who did an incredible job of covering government news, supporting Facebook lives and interviewing local candidates. She’s moving on to college but Sidney and I served on a panel last week with seasoned journalism professionals. We think Sidney deserves several awards (taking a chance on a startup news outlet isn’t easy). She will be presented with a North Carolina Press Association Award later this month. Sidney figured out that local communities win when they are informed. If you see her, please take a moment to say “Thank You!”
{North Carolina Local News Workshop Journalism and Democracy with presenters Sidney Briggs (intern), Antionette Kerr (publisher) & Deborah Holt Noel (NC PBS) Photo: Antionette Kerr}
Nonprofits helping other nonprofits, what happened to the Hunger Games?
If you’ve ever seen the film series or read Suzanne Collins’ Hunger Games, you might understand what it’s like to raise money for your cause in Davidson County. The fight for every cause can get brutal. After years of working in the nonprofit sector in Davidson County, I know the competition for every cause is a battle, but it’s exciting to see nonprofits work together. Readers saw two examples of that camaraderie in this week’s coverage.
The United Way Week of Caring
The United Way of Davidson County is excited about sponsoring the largest community volunteer project in Davidson County – the Week of Caring in September. The Week of Caring is an opportunity for businesses and other organizations to have their employees involved in a short-term community service project that benefits a nonprofit agency in Davidson County. The Week of Caring benefits several local nonprofits and their clients. To learn more, check out the story here.
JLD Scholarship Fund YouTube Channel
Dia Dawkins Nyarko, Lexington native and director of the Johnny Leroy Dawkins Scholarship Fund, says having a passion for a cause will not be enough. Nonprofits require just as much foresight and knowledge about running an organization as any for-profit business. She aims to help other nonprofits avoid common mistakes nonprofit founders make.
“I love helping others and sharing knowledge I’ve learned to overcome obstacles. One day I was thinking back over how far we’ve come with scholarship funds, how difficult it was to get to this point and how I’m still learning things along the way,” Nyarko explained.
The scholarship fund has created a YouTube channel to cover topics that will include:
· How to become incorporated
· Nonprofit 101: How to get started
· Partnerships with United Way
· Applying for grants
Don’t Pass Up on Our Press Pass Dinner- August 27 (Space is limited)
We’re excited to introduce our first, fast and funny evening of culture, food and conversation with chef Michael Morefield @ Roots on Main in Lexington. Press Pass dinners are a new way to support local news. Expect a local spin on bread, greens and entrees.
Purchase tickets here or at Rustic Roots on Main.
In every installment you'll learn about local news; bone up on an odd bit of local history and then wash it down with a themed cocktail/mocktail recipe; meet writers of note; have your burning local news questions answered; savor an emerging food trend; and hear what’s on the horizon. We promise swag and at least one new announcement at each event.
Lights, Camera, Action: Join us for the second free Black Butterfly Film and a fashion show!
Saturday, August 20 will be the second installment of the Black Butterfly Networks FREE summer film series. For those who attended the first event…expect a slightly different feel for the showing of Mahogany.
Plot: Tracy (Diana Ross), an aspiring designer from the slums of Chicago, puts herself through fashion school in the hopes of becoming one of the world's top designers. Her ambition leads her to Rome spurring a choice between the man she loves (Billy Dee Williams) or her newfound success.
On August 20, 2022 at Bull City Ciderworks facilities room
Gates open at 6 p.m. No blankets or chairs needed.
The dance party begins at 6:30 p.m. Let off some steam, bust your favorite move or let's make up a new one!
The Fashion Runway Competition will begin at 8 p.m.
Come runway ready and decked out! Then strut it on the runway and release your inner super model for a chance to win "King or Queen for a Day" with a pampering Spa Package ($300 value) at a fabulous spa. Entry fee for Runway Walk is $15. (Register to walk or get more information by emailing Clarence Hargrave at eventhorizonevents@gmail.com.com)
The movie will begin playing at sunset.
Between dancing, while waiting for the Runway Walk and the sun to set and for the movie to begin, enjoy mingling at the Bull City Cider Bar (they have water, sodas, domestic beer and wine too!).
Also, have dinner with one of the food vendors featuring a variety of fresh, delicious food, including freshly popped popcorn and snacks.
Until next weekend…
Antionette
