About Southpoint Access

Southpoint Access is South Durham’s hyperlocal news source, serving neighborhoods around The Streets at Southpoint, Hope Valley, Woodcroft, Parkwood, Fairfield, and beyond.

About Southpoint Access

Southpoint Access is South Durham’s hyperlocal news source, serving neighborhoods around The Streets at Southpoint, Hope Valley, Woodcroft, Parkwood, Fairfield, and beyond. Founded and edited by Wes Platt, a longtime Triangle journalist (The Herald-Sun; formerly at The St. Petersburg Times), we bring you reliable, useful coverage that helps you navigate life in SoDu.

Our Mission

We focus on ultra-local, solutions-driven journalism - schools, roads, development, small businesses, public safety, arts, and neighborhood life. Our goal: keep South Durham informed, connected, and engaged.

What Subscribers Get

Free Subscribers

  • Saturday Week in Review: a concise, community-wide roundup of the week’s top South Durham headlines.
  • SoDu Fuel Tracker: comparing gas prices around South Durham.
  • SoDu Traffic Map: live traffic monitoring in the region.

All of the above, plus exclusive access to our five daily themed newsletters and premium features:

  • Monday – Your Week Ahead: key civic updates, school notes, and events to plan your week.
  • Tuesday – Life and Legacy: obituaries, history, APS pet of the week.
  • Wednesday – Locally Aware: criminal incident updates, government meetings, and policy news shaping SoDu.
  • Thursday – Kitchen Table: food, dining, local markets, and home life in South Durham.
  • Friday – Viewpoints and Voices: community perspectives, editorials, and guest columns.

💡 Premium Features for Paid Members:

  • SoDu Shopping Basket: grocery price tracker across South Durham stores.
  • SoDu Events Calendar: Regularly updated calendar with upcoming events.
  • Priority consideration for community submissions (photos, op-eds, event listings).

Support Local News

Editorial Standards

  • Accuracy first: we verify, attribute, and correct promptly.
  • Service journalism: clear, actionable information.
  • Transparency: if we make a mistake, we fix it and note the change.

Where to Find Us