I was able to intern at the Salisbury Post in the summer of 2019 because of the support of the Journalism Department at Wake Forest. During my time at the Post, I wrote both breaking news and enterprise stories. I am most proud of writing a long piece about the foster parent shortage in Rowan County and North Carolina, more generally. As I got deeper into the reporting process, I realized the story would be two-fold: unpacking why the shortage existed and outlining what foster parents do. For sourcing, I first went to the Rowan County Social Services office to gain a basic understanding of the problem. They connected me to other welfare agencies and to two foster families that were willing to share their experiences. That way, I could craft a narrative that highlighted structural and personal aspects of the shortage. After my internship ended, my editor nominated the story for the North Carolina Press Association award in the category of news enterprise reporting and I won second place. I am grateful for my summer experience at the Post and am continuing to freelance with them as I finish my Wake Forest education. 

 

Read Natalie’s winning story here.