Community Conversations: Justice & Journalism event moved to February 27th
Davidson Local warmly invites the public to join award-winning journalist Michael Hewlett, former Salisbury Post reporter and editor Elisabeth Strillacci, and Davidson Local Publisher Antionette Kerr for a lively and informative dialogue.
Please note that this event, originally scheduled to follow the MLK Day Parade, has been moved to Thursday, February 27th. Thanks to our generous partners, this event is FREE and open to the public. Press Club donors should report to a designated area for more information.
About the panel:
Michael Hewlett, a native of Richmond, Virginia, specializes in courts and law. He previously served as the legal affairs reporter at the Winston-Salem Journal, where he and his colleagues won the Henry Lee Weathers Freedom of Information Award. Recently, Hewlett received the N.C. Coalition for Open Government's Sunshine Award for his coverage of the Lexington Charles McNeair case.
Elisabeth Strillacci grew up in Lexington and began her journalism career at the age of 16 with her first story for Joe Sink at the Dispatch. After graduating from Wake Forest in 1986, she worked in Connecticut for 23 years, holding various roles from reporter to managing editor of a daily newspaper. She took two years off to serve as press secretary to the Connecticut Senate president. Although she and her husband thought they had retired in South Carolina in 2012, they found it difficult to remain idle. Elisabeth returned to journalism with the Sun News and, in 2018, came back to her roots in Lexington. She served as City Editor and then Executive Editor at the Salisbury Post before returning to reporting full-time. Throughout her career, her primary focus has been on crime, police, fire, and courts. She has developed strong relationships with many of the individuals she has covered and deeply values the trust they place in her. Elisabeth is a passionate advocate for free and independent media and the truth it upholds.
Moderator, Antionette Kerr is a Lexington native and UNC-Chapel Hill alumna with over 20 years of reporting experience across various publications. Davidson Local is a subsidiary of Bold & Bright Media, which is dedicated to empowering storytellers whose experiences inspire growth in others. Antionette spent over a decade in the nonprofit sector before transitioning full-time to writing and publishing. She earned the inaugural Innovative Leaders Scholarship for the Yale University Magazine Publishing Course and co-authored "Modern Media Relations for Nonprofits." She has worked as the North Carolina/Tennessee producer for radio through The Public News Service and continues to serve on various nonprofit boards and consultancies. Her most recent position was with Brooklyn-based Rebuild Local News.
This dialogue is being held in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., a prominent figure in the civil rights movement. King often disagreed with scholarly interpretations of the movement and believed in the power of media to inspire change. He and others recognized the impact of showing violence on television, which could shift public perception. This event aims to carry on the movement's legacy and emphasize the role of journalism in addressing social justice issues.
The panel will engage in a brief moderated discussion about the current state of journalism and its impact on news and governmental accountability while highlighting unheard voices. According to the organizers, "Audience questions and comments are not just welcomed but are integral to the conversation."
This event presents an opportunity to learn how local journalism promotes accountability and keeps us informed about the decisions that affect our daily lives. The discussion will also cover the assets and barriers to accessing information locally.
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Davidson Local is a free online news source for Davidson County, NC, with the motto, "We report, and you decide." For more information, call 336.308.3490. To subscribe for a free daily email featuring hyperlocal news, culture, and entertainment delivered directly to your inbox, visit Subscribe — DavidsonLocal.com.
