4 min read Podcast

SoDu We Like Local News Episode 9: Who's Your Neighborhood News Guy?

SoDu We Like Local News Episode 9: Who's Your Neighborhood News Guy?

Just who the heck is your neighborhood news guy and why is he stubbornly insisting on chasing down what’s happening in South Durham?

Well, now’s your chance to find out!

Hello again. I’m Wes Platt, neighborhood news guy for South Durham, and you’re listening to SoDu We Like Local News, a podcast about what’s happening right here in our backyard around Southpoint, Hope Valley, Parkwood, Fairfield, and more! It’s freely available to readers of Southpoint Access – your source for ultra-local news in SoDu. But really, you should become a paid subscriber! Read local, right? Plus, you get access to neat features like the weekly SoDu Shopping Basket, which compares prices on products at our local supermarkets.

Before I ramble on about me, let’s talk about a great opportunity for young people in Durham, courtesy of Kids Voting Durham. They’ll have paid full-time or volunteer part-time opportunities for youths 14 to 24 years old to work on the latest Election Guide for Mayor and City Council.

Their name’s included in the election guide and other civic engagement products, plus they get to learn from experts about civic engagement while they meet city and state officials and candidates.

Paid team leads earn a $3,000 stipend and work about 30 hours per week from June 15 to Aug. 8. They should apply by April 11. Volunteer youth civic leaders work a minimum of six to eight hours a week from June 22 to Aug. 1. Their applications are due no later than May 15.

Also, congratulations to Tyler D’Angelo, a Durham Public Schools agriculture teacher at Jordan High School. He was recognized by the North Carolina Center for the Advancement of Teaching for his work in career and technical education. He’s credited with helping his students exceed state benchmarks, earn industry-recognized credentials, and gain work-based experience.

Now, looking ahead to Wednesday, Feb. 26, I’m holding a Meet the Editor event via Zoom. Whether or not you’re a paying subscriber, you’re welcome to sign up and attend for an opportunity to learn more about my work and why I’m doing it. Come ready to ask questions about my background in journalism – from my days at The St. Petersburg Times to The Herald-Sun to School Bus Fleet to Southpoint Access. Or ask about what brought me to Durham to begin with! Or whatever else is on your mind. It’s also a chance for you to let me know how I can do it better. Because, bottom line, I’m an independent, local neighborhood news guy who doesn’t work for some big media chain. I work for you. The meeting is set to run 7 to 8 p.m. I don’t expect anyone else to be on camera if they don’t want to do so – but I’ll show my cranky old face, anyway. I sure hope you’ll join us. But if you miss out, it won’t be the last opportunity. I’m hoping to do these at least once a month and – at some point – I want to host one of these as an in-person event.

Oh, and while you’re here and thinking about how you can help Southpoint Access – guess what? Southpoint Access can help you! I’ve teamed with FirstPromoter to create a referral program. For every paying subscriber that signs up for Southpoint Access because of your referral, you get a 10% recurring commission while those subscriptions remain active.

Thanks for listening to SoDu We Like Local News. I hope you’ll become a subscriber of our newsletter at soduwelikelocal.news. Every paid subscription helps support my work as your neighborhood news guy, keeping up with what’s going on in our schools, in city and county government, and new businesses and developments.

If you’re already a subscriber, THANK YOU! Please share these emails with other neighbors and help spread the word about Southpoint Access.

Southpoint Access also wouldn’t be possible without the support of my sponsors, including Holly Hayes of Nest Realty, Matthew Burkert at Constantinou and Burkert law firm, Jill E. Burton and Associates, and the Greek Festival coming this May 3-4 to St. Barbara Greek Orthodox Church in Durham.

And thanks a lot to Tomato Jake’s for making print copies of the special monthly edition of Southpoint Access available to customers!

Until next time, take care and stay curious.

Spread the word by sharing this Southpoint Access newsletter with friends and neighbors. Got a tip for your neighborhood news guy? Send email to southpointaccessnews@gmail.com.

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Wes Platt

Wes Platt