This week marks the beginning of Volume 10 of North State Journal. As with each new volume, we have selected a tagline that embodies our goals for this next year of issues. “Foundation for the Future” reflects both the strong groundwork laid over the past decade and our vision for what comes next.
Volume 9 was our best volume. It marked the first full volume with our two newest local editions, Chatham News & Record and Duplin Journal, further solidifying our presence in communities across the state. We also launched North Carolina Farm Life, a magazine dedicated to agriculture, rural life and the people who sustain our state’s farming traditions.
Our commitment to excellence was recognized at the N.C. Press Association Editorial Awards, where North State Journal earned 16 awards, including seven first-place honors. We were also proud to receive one of the association’s five General Excellence Awards for newspapers, reaffirming our place as one of North Carolina’s best.
During Volume 9, we also transitioned to printing all our editions at the Charlotte Publishing Company facilities in Charlotte. The addition of printing capabilities was designed to put North State Journal in a leadership position in the print newspaper industry in the South and maintain the highest printing quality for our readers. The long-term viability of North Carolina’s independent press requires high-quality printing, and the Charlotte facility produces the best quality newspapers in our region with a highly skilled and experienced team of executives and press workers.
As we step into Volume 10, we will continue to build on these successes while looking ahead — expanding our reach, deepening our coverage and introducing new ways to tell North Carolina’s story.
This year, we will add some new elements to North State Journal to further engage our readers and add more people to the conversation. The Features and Business sections, an area where readers say they want more content, will see much of this new content.
As North Carolina’s only statewide newspaper, we are committed to readers from Murphy to Manteo. Since our first issue, the Murphy to Manteo section has been a unique and enduring feature, and Volume 10 will see an expansion of that brand.
Volume 10 is about more than just growth — it’s about strengthening the foundation of statewide journalism. We recognize the challenges facing local newspapers and remain committed to supporting the voices, perspectives and communities that make North Carolina the remarkable state it is. We will be launching several initiatives designed to allow all North Carolinians and even more print newspapers to join the conversation.
We will also expand our digital footprint with an upgraded web platform that will support our other improvements.
Our readers come from every county in the state, and our mission is to serve them with trusted, high-quality journalism that informs and connects. As we expand our coverage and explore new ways to reach our audience, we do so with an eye on the future — a future built on a strong foundation.
Thank you for being part of the conversation. Welcome to Volume 10.
Neal Robbins is the publisher of North State Journal.
