Experience

• 

  States Newsroom

  • President/Publisher

• 

  States Newsroom

  • Chapel Hill, NC

  • President/Publisher

    • Nov 2017 - Present
    • Chapel Hill, NC

    Lead national nonprofit state news network currently with outlets in 30 state capitals and a Washington, D.C. bureau as well as a national site, www.newsfromthestates.com. More states coming soon.

• 

  NC Policy Watch

  • Founder and Executive Director

    • May 2004 - Nov 2017

    Wrote Daily Fitzsimon File column about state government and politics. Delivered daily radio commentary on WRAL-FM. Hosted News and Views, a weekly radio show that airs on a network of stations statewide. Appeared as regular panelist on N.C. Spin, statewide public affairs show. Supervised staff and activities of N.C. Policy Watch, including overseeing reporting staff, progressive op-ed service,The Week Ahead, a progressive media tip sheet, the Progressive Pulse blog and all publications of the project. Delivered speeches on state policy to various civic groups and public interest organizations.

• 

  Campaign to Protect America's Lands

  • Washington D.C. Metro Area

  • Director

    • 2003 - 2004
    • Washington D.C. Metro Area

    Wrote Land Line, a weekly newsletter about the U.S. Department of Interior and public lands policy of the Bush Administration. Advised state and regional policy groups in the Southwest on media, policy, and advocacy activities. Appeared in national media about public lands policy. Directed research and administrative staff in Washington office

• 

  Common Sense Foundation

  • Raleigh

  • Founder and Executive Director

    • 1994 - 2003
    • Raleigh

    Created one of North Carolina's first state-based, progressive multi-issue public policy organizations. Published Common Sense Legislative Update, Common Sense Says, the Journal of Common Sense, and other occasional publications and reports. Created and supervised research studies including reports on race and the death penalty, standardized testing in public schools, the state of the worker in North Carolina. Raised annual budget principally from major donors and membership that grew from $50,000 to $400,000 Appeared as weekly panelist on N.C. Spin, statewide public affairs, television show, and was frequent source for North Carolina media on state government and public policy issues

• 

  Office of the Speaker--NC General Assembly

  • Raleigh

  • Special Assistant for Policy and Communications

    • 1991 - 1994
    • Raleigh

    Served as policy adviser on wide range of issues considered by the North Carolina General Assembly. Wrote more than 300 policy speeches for Speaker of the House Daniel T. Blue, Jr. the first African-American elected to that post in North Carolina. Served as principal public spokesman for the Office of the Speaker

• 

  WRAL-TV

  • Raleigh

  • Political Reporter

    • 1988 - 1991
    • Raleigh

    Political and State Government Reporter for WRAL-TV, the CBS affiliate in Raleigh.

• 

  WUNC-TV

  • Raleigh

  • Reporter and Anchor

    • 1985 - 1988
    • Raleigh

    Co-anchored and reported for Stateline Legislative Report, a nightly live newscast about the North Carolina General Assembly. Co-anchored and reported for Stateline, a weekly magazine show airing statewide on the Public Television Network when the General Assembly was not in session.

• 

  WECT-TV/WITN-TV

  • Raleigh

  • Political Reporter

    • 1984 - 1985
    • Raleigh

    Served as capital correspondent for two-station network of Eastern North Carolina television stationsReported and appeared nightly on both newscasts

• 

  WITN-TV

  • Washington, N.C.

  • Reporter

    • 1982 - 1984
    • Washington, N.C.

    Served as general assignment reporter covering state government and the Wilson/Rocky Mount areasServed as substitute host/anchor for morning talk show and noon news programs