Nikole Hannah-Jones Coverage

Editorial: Budget bill fine print has big impact on UNC academic status

Wednesday, Nov. 8, 2023 -- Imagine running a $6.5 billion university system -- with 240,000 undergraduate and graduate students and a staff of 47,400 including 14,283 faculty - only to discover a major revision to a critical faculty recruitment tool was secreted into 1,411 pages of state budget legislation.

Journalist Nikole Hannah-Jones can't apply to work at UNC-Chapel until 2028, settlement says

The journalist and UNC alumna was at the center of a tenure dispute last year. Hannah-Jones turned down a five-year contract and went to Howard University instead.

Bryan Anderson, WRAL state government reporter

Nikole Hannah-Jones says UNC settlement was not about the money

Nikole Hannah-Jones took to Twitter on Tuesday to give details on her settlement with the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

'This was never about me.' Hannah-Jones says UNC settlement goes beyond money

An agreement between UNC-Chapel Hill and journalist Nikole Hannah-Jones came in response to a dispute last year over a tenured position at the university.

Bryan Anderson, WRAL state government reporter, and Sarah Krueger, WRAL Durham reporter

NCCU law professor reacts to UNC's settlement with Nikole Hannah-Jones

North Carolina Central University law professor Irving Joyner joined WRAL News at 7 to discuss the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's settlement Nikole Hannah-Jones

UNC trying to move on from negative publicity of Hannah-Jones tenure fight

David Boliek, chairman of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Board of Trustees, said a settlement with Nikole Hannah-Jones will "resolve the lingering potential legal action," "close this chapter" and "give the University the space to focus on moving forward,"

UNC reaches settlement with Hannah-Jones over tenure saga

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill has reached a settlement with journalist Nikole Hannah-Jones over the saga of her aborted hiring last year, according to the university's Board of Trustees chairman.

Travis Fain, WRAL state government reporter, and Monica Casey, WRAL reporter

UNC journalism school accreditation gets downgraded

The agency responsible for evaluation of university journalism and mass communication programs voted last week to downgrade, at least temporarily, the accreditation of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's Hussman School of Journalism and Media, according to an email from Interim Dean Heidi Hennink-Kaminski.

Questions about diversity, inclusiveness threaten accreditation of UNC journalism school

Interim Dean Heidi Hennink-Kaminski informed faculty and staff of the Hussman School of Journalism and Media's provisional accreditation status in an email.

Cullen Browder, WRAL anchor/reporter

Group of university professors could sanction UNC system over 'violations of academic freedom'

A decision from the American Association of University Professors, could come in early summer, as AAUP leaders mull a 38-page report the group released Thursday claiming political interference in campus governance and alleged racism on North Carolina campuses.

UNC-Chapel Hill names Raul Reis new dean of journalism school

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill has named Raul Reis as the new dean of the university's journalism school. Reis served as dean and professor of the School of Communication at Emerson College. While there, he coordinated the development of the school's diversity plan which involved "a comprehensive curriculum audit to ensure equity and inclusion were integrated at every level," according to a news release from UNC.

Full interview: Outgoing UNC-Chapel Hill dean discusses Nikole Hannah-Jones controversy, future of journalism

Susan King, who will step down as dean of the Hussman School of Journalism and Media at UNC-Chapel Hill at the end of the month, discusses the Nikole Hannah-Jones tenure controversy and the future of journalism.

Nikole Hannah-Jones: NC has taken steps backward in education

As conservative lawmakers and activists push to curb discussions about race in classrooms, Hannah-Jones said educators and community members need to be just as vocal on teaching about race and other issues as their opponents.

Emily Walkenhorst, WRAL education reporter

After Nikole Hannah-Jones controversy, donor making quiet visit to UNC-Chapel Hill

Walter Hussman, the Arkansas newspaper publisher whose $25 million donation put his name on the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's journalism school, was to meet with school administrators on campus Friday, but not with faculty critical of his role in a recent controversy.

'What the hell is going on?' Alumni, staff, students look to protect UNC-Chapel Hill

A group of University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill alumni, faculty, staff and students on Thursday announced an initiative to promote and defend the university's autonomy.

Kasey Cunningham, WRAL reporter, & Jessica Patrick, WRAL multiplatform producer

DRAUGHON DRAWS: Some facts that don't need discussing

Tuesday, July 20, 2021 -- Capitol Broadcasting Company's editorial cartoonist.

Is UNC-Chapel Hill chancellor's job in jeopardy? Trustees chair, faculty chair disagree

The new chairman of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's Board of Trustees said Wednesday that the rumors of Chancellor Kevin Guskiewicz's imminent demise are greatly exaggerated. But Mimi Chapman, chair of the university's Faculty Council, said Guskiewicz's job has become so tenuous that officials are bandying about names for a potential replacement.

Sarah Krueger, WRAL Durham reporter

Emergency meeting at UNC-Chapel Hill comes amid concerns over chancellor, race relations

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's Faculty Council is holding an emergency meeting Wednesday afternoon.

Aaron Thomas, WRAL reporter

Timing of UNC Faculty Council meeting raises eyebrows as university copes with controversies

Members are expected to discuss university administration and governance.

Cooper spoke with Hannah-Jones during UNC saga, laments governance issues at state universities

The governor and the Pulitzer Prize winner spoke twice ahead of the UNC-Chapel Hill tenure vote, governor's office confirms.

Travis Fain, WRAL statehouse reporter

Editorial: UNC's hard-earned reputation shattered by lingering racism, difficult to mend

Tuesday, July 13, 2021 -- "Glass, China, and Reputation, are easily crack'd, and never well mended," Ben Franklin reminds us in Poor Richard's 1760 Almanack. Seventy years of reputation repair shattered. This is nothing for anyone to take any satisfaction from. Acknowledge the damage now. Work to diversify the UNC Board of Governors and the individual campus boards of trustees, faculty and student bodies. Start the mending.

NAACP call for removal of UNC acting police chief accused of punching student protester

Students at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill continue to call for the removal of acting police chief Rahsheem Holland.

Matt Talhelm, WRAL reporter

DRAUGHON DRAWS: Sour taste at UNC's fountain

Thursday, June 8, 2021 -- Capitol Broadcasting Company's editorial cartoonist.

Black students say UNC-Chapel Hill not safe for them

Groups of Black students and faculty laid out a list of demands Wednesday for University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill administrators to make the campus more inclusive.

Black students, faculty demand changes at UNC-Chapel Hill

Groups of Black students and faculty laid out a list of demands Wednesday for University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill administrators to make the campus more inclusive.

Sarah Krueger, WRAL Durham reporter