The Newsroom

Jan 31 2025 100 ep. 50 mins 6
The Newsroom Podcast artwork

Hosted by WHQR News Director Ben Schachtman, the program will be an opportunity for local officials and reporters -- the people who make news and the people who report it -- to talk about the issues that affect our community. According to host Ben Schachtman, "Our goal is to have candid, in-depth conversations about the topics that concern our listeners. It will be a chance to dig a little deeper into the news." From WHQR Public Media in Wilmington, NC. Contact us at [email protected]

  News
RSS feed Share
Copy RSS


Subscribe on Podcast Addict


SYNC, ACEs, and getting to the root of children's wellbeing

Jan 31 2025 50 mins  
On this episode, WHQR News Director Ben Schachtman sat down with reporter Rachel Keith to talk about the work of SYNC — Strengthening Systems for NC Children. Keith joined about 20 other members who, starting last August, worked to develop a better, broader understanding of how adverse childhood experiences, or ACEs, impact the quality of life for children in New Hanover County.

A conversation with Sokoto House's Abdul Hafeedh Bin Abdullah about community safety

Jan 26 2025 50 mins  
On this episode, WHQR's Ben Schachtman sat down with Abdul Hafeedh Bin Abdullah, co-founder of Sokoto House and the Quality Life Blueprint, to talk about how he sees the issue of community safety through a public-safety lens, and where some other efforts — like Tru Colors and Port City United — may have fallen short.

A conversation with District Attorney Jason Smith about youth violence

Jan 04 2025 50 mins  
On this episode, WHQR News Director Ben Schachtman sits down with recently elected District Attorney Jason Smith to talk about one of the region's most pressing issues: youth violence, especially gun violence.

The WHQR news team reflects on 2024, and looks ahead to next year

Dec 27 2024 55 mins  
On this year-end episode, WHQR News Director Ben Schachtman looks back over a wild year's worth of reporting with journalists Rachel Keith, Aaleah McConnell, Kelly Kenoyer, and Nikolai Mather.

A Wilmington start-up roundtable: Jessica Kovar, Rob Cooley, Christian Pardue, and Morris Nguyen

Dec 16 2024 60 mins  
On this episode of The Newsroom, we sit down with four Wilmingtonians working in the tech start-up space: from diagnostic wearables to solving workforce issues to managing federal contract applications, they're bringing the entrepreneurial spirit to some tricky issues. We asked them about tech culture, saving your sanity while you start your company, and some of the challenges —

A conversation with former New Hanover County school board member Hugh McManus

Dec 13 2024 50 mins  
On this episode, WHQR's Rachel Keith takes over hosting duties for a conversation with Hugh McManus, who just wrapped up his term as a New Hanover County school board member. McManus has dedicated four decades to education, and in this interview, he talks about his journey as a teacher, principal, school director, and board member.

A conversation with former Wilmington Police Department Captain Mike Fanta

Dec 11 2024 77 mins  
At the beginning of this year, Captain Mike Fanta put his name to a formal complaint against Wilmington Police Chief Donny Williams. That led to a $75,000 third-party investigation in Williams' leadership, and pushback from the Black community who defended the city's first Black police chief against Fanta, some of his fellow officers, and others who joined in those criticisms.

Election 2024: Understanding campaign finance and the absentee ballots snafu

Nov 25 2024 53 mins  
On this episode of The Newsroom, we take a deep dive into what caused this year's consternation over absentee ballots and what might have prevented it (hint: better communication and more resources). Plus, a closer look at some of the campaign funding in local races — and some tips for how to check on candidate fundraising yourself.

Cape Fear election results: Purple districts, ballot-splitting voters, and uncertain outcomes

Nov 08 2024 51 mins  
On this episode, we unpack the evolving electorate and their unpredictable down-ballot choices. Plus, a cloud of uncertainty hangs over New Hanover County races with a growing number of uncounted absentee ballots that count easily swing the race for school board and commissioner seats.

Unpacking the state House and Senate candidates' forum

Oct 29 2024 50 mins  
On today’s show, WHQR's Ben Schachtman and Nikolai Mather are unpacking the forum we put on earlier this month with WECT and Port City Daily, featuring candidates running for the North Carolina House and Senate. We'll dig into what the candidates had to say, with context, analysis, and some fact-checking.