DavidsonNews.net is a community news website established in December 2006 to share information and promote discussion about town news, events, and issues in the town of Davidson, N.C. It is owned by Davidson News LLC and managed by and for Davidson residents. We’re a combination of paid staff and volunteers.

CONTACT US

DavidsonNews.net
PO Box 953
231 South St.
Davidson, NC, 28036
704-896-0569
editor@davidsonnews.net ^[1]

SEND US YOUR NEWS

Send us notices of events and happenings in your neighborhood or for your church, organization or group – editor@davidsonnews.net ^[1]. Have a story we should cover? Let us know – editor@davidsonnews.net ^[1]. We also invited readers to submit Photos of the Day, capturing life in Davidson – from landscapes to local events to history.

GET OUR DAILY EMAILS

Join our free email list by clicking here. ^[2] We’ll send you the latest news headlines free to your inbox, via our email service Constant Contact.

UPDATE YOUR EMAIL OR INFO? Need to unsubscribe from the email or change your email address? Simply go to the bottom of any of our emails and click on “Update profile/email address,” or CLICK HERE» ^[2] You’ll be taken to DavidsonNews.net’s page on Constant Contact to update your information.

Just a reminder: We’ll never sell, share or trade your e-mail address or other personal information. See our Privacy Policy ^[3] for more information.

WE WANT YOUR COMMENTS

We invite readers to comment. For more about our comment policy and how to post, CLICK HERE> ^[4]

To contact the editor, please send an email to editor@davidsonnews.net ^[1]

Meet the staff

(Christopher Record photo)

David Boraks ^[1], South Street (founder and editor) – David has been interviewing national and local politicians, entertainers and artists, corporate CEOs and regular folks for more than 30 years. His work has appeared in newspapers, magazines and on the radio in the U.S. and abroad. He holds a master of arts degree in liberal studies from Wesleyan University, Middletown, Conn., and a bachelor of arts degree in history from Cornell University, Ithaca, N.Y. From 2001 to 2005, he covered the top U.S. banks for the daily American Banker in New York. In 2000, he was a senior correspondent for the online news service LocalBusiness.com. At The Charlotte Observer ^[5]from 1993 to 2000, his duties included tech columnist, business writer and assistant features editor. Other gigs included editing jobs at The Hartford (Conn.) Courant and The China News in Taipei; Editor-in-chief of The Cambridge (Mass.) Chronicle, and editing and reporting for The Waterbury (Conn.) Republican. David has lived in Davidson since 1993 and, after a 2005-2006 sojourn in Taipei and Shanghai, now works as an independent writer, editor and photographer, and part-time reporter and announcer at Charlotte public radio station WFAE-FM ^[6]. He is married to Shelley Rigger, the Brown Professor of East Asian Studies at Davidson College, and has two daughters, Emma and Tilly. Web: www.davidboraks.com ^[7]

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Lyndsay

Lyndsay Kibiloski ^[9] - (Chief Operating Officer) Develops and maintains site, including advertising, design, content posting and editing. Coordinates and creates advertising and all marketing collateral for DavidsonNews.net. Maintains ad inventory and oversees sales team – ads@davidsonnews.net ^[9]. A native of Michigan, Lyndsay attended Central Michigan University, Western Michigan University and the Center for New Media in Kalamazoo. After changing her major more times than should be allowed, she decided Graphic Design was her calling and received her degree in 2007. Shortly after, she fled Michigan’s snows and headed toward Atlanta in search of sun and a job. She never made it there. North Carolina was sunny enough and it is here where she currently resides. Lyndsay joined DavidsonNews.net in September 2008. On top of everything already mentioned she also manages the finances, helps plot business strategy and generally keeps David on his toes. Feel free to express your sympathies to her later. If you wish to view her work outside of DNN…and you should…please visit her website at www.dontspellmynamewrong.com ^[10].

Our community contributors

Brenda

Brenda Barger ^[11], Concord Road – Brenda is a longtime Davidson resident who co-wrote (along with Judy Schuh) the “In and around Davidson” column in the Lake Norman Times for a decade. In January 2008, she moved the column to DavidsonNews.net and renamed it “Around Davidson” – the name it had when it was founded at the old Mecklenburg Gazette weekly in the 1960s. Read Laurie Dennis’s Jan. 8, 2008, profile ^[12] of her and the column or go to the Around Davidson archive page, ^[13] where you’ll find all her columns. She is married to Hugh Barger. Write to her at hbarger@bellsouth.net ^[11].

Michelle

Michelle Marckwardt ^[14] is DavidsonNews.net’s Pets page editor and columnist. She posts pets for adoption, pet and animal news and events, and photos. A native of Novi, Michigan, Michelle is a 1991 graduate of Michigan State University. She moved to North Carolina to get out of the cold and pursue her dream of working in the racing industry, which she has done since 1997. When she’s not traveling to NASCAR races to handle team communications and public relations or sitting in front of the TV watching NFL football, she spends her time cleaning up after and falling in love with the animals at the Cornelius Animal Shelter. Michelle lives in Huntersville with her grumpy cat Taylor.

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Kerry

Kerry Rasenberger ^[16], Sales representative. After graduating from Penn State, Kerry started her career as an assistant buyer for Saks 5th Avenue in NYC. Eventually, she found her true passion in business….Sales and Sales Management. She continued her career with Spring Industries as an acct exec and was recruited over to Moygashel to run their USA sales office. There she developed new Account Executives with a strong monitored training plan; includes product training and specifications, sales techniques, internal order process, customer satisfaction ( internal & external), and communication skills. When Kerry moved out of NYC, she continued her career with a Steelcase dealership in Sales Management. Kerry is excited about being part of the Davidsonnews.net team. She can’t wait to start building her clientele and developing strong relationship with them.

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Carol

Carol Wilber Bradfield ^[18], Sales representative. Carol Wilber Bradfield is thrilled silly to be part of the advertising sales team for Davidsonnews.net. Raised on Lake Norman and a graduate of North Meck High, she has been allowed to live in Davidson since 1986 even though she has absolutely nothing to do with the college. After graduating from the University of South Carolina where she studied Journalism, Advertising and Marketing, Carol spent years selling and designing ads for The Weekly Newspapers and The Charlotte Observer’s Rock Hill and Hickory editions. Carol has also served as advertising manager for the Fort Mill Times and worked in radio in Atlanta. While raising her sons, Christopher and Jesse, she worked as Marketing Director for Wilber Associates architects in Cornelius. Now that the kids are grown, Carol enjoys paddling with the dragon boat team “Healing Dragons” on Lake Norman.

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Thomas

Thomas Christy ^[20], Free-lance reporter. Thomas Christy is a graduate of Davidson College, where he received a B.A. in Russian Studies through the Center for Interdisciplinary Studies. A native of Concord, Thomas attended the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics for high school and has been an active member of the Davidson Fire Department for over three years. Thomas spent the summer of 2010 interning at the New York City Office of Emergency Management before deciding on a one-year deferment from a graduate program at The George Washington University. In the meantime, Thomas is attending paramedic school and serving on the Davidson Fire Department.

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Jaletta Albright Desmond

Jaletta Albright Desmond has been writing a weekly column about faith, family, and cultural issues since 2002. It appears in various daily and weekly newspapers in OH, WV, KY and now DavidsonNews.net and CorneliusNews.net (on Fridays, under the title Life Happens ^[22]). Desmond, a Cal State Fullerton grad, is a former broadcast journalist who left her native state of California for her career but stayed in the southeast for love. She and her husband, Boston native and Audiologist Alan Desmond, met in Bluefield, WV (didn’t everyone meet their mate there before eHarmony and Match.com?). They moved to Davidson more than four years ago with their daughters, Jocelyn and Julia. This “Modern Family” was made complete by the adoption of their resilient and beloved shelter dog, Luke, who substitutes as the goofy, adorable young son from the family’s favorite TV show.

Bill Giduz, Hillside Drive – Davidson’s unofficial town photographer and head juggler, Bill contributes occasional photographs to DavidsonNews.net. He is also the director of college communications at Davidson College.

Other contributors: Gayle Shomer, Nate Davis, Shelley Rigger, Rodney Graham, Gordon Clark.

DavidsonNews.net in the news

March 26, 2013, Pekkala.org, “Journalism startup revenue ideas in action.” ^[23] and Jan. 15, 2013, Niemanlab.org, “Across the world, money to support journalism startups comes from a variety of sources.” ^[24] – An analysis of 69 journalism startups in 10 countries finds no Holy Grail, but a lot of revenue ideas in action. – Researchers Pekka Pekkala and Johanna Vehkoo write about local news startups in the US and Europe, including Davidson News LLC.

Feb. 4, 2013, Davidson College Vann Center for Ethics, panel discussion on “Ethics in the Media,” ^[25] with David Boraks, Editor of DavidsonNews.net; Glenn Burkins, Editor of QCityMetro.com; Stuart Watson, Investigative Reporter for WCNC-TV in Charlotte; Rafael Prieto Zartha, Editorial Director, Qué Pasa Mi Gente, Charlotte; and Candace Cummins Gauthier, Professor of Philosophy and Religion, UNC Wilmington. Moderated by David Perry, Director of the Vann Center for Ethics and Professor of Applied Ethics, Davidson College. Click the link above watch a video replay of the discussion.

Oct. 12, 2012, Davidson Think Tank, “Davidson Think Tank looks at Davidson News LLC” ^[26] – Video: The Think Tank’s Paul Studtmann interviews Davidson News LLC founder and editor David Boraks about the origins of DavidsonNews.net and CorneliusNews.net, their role in the community and the business of online news.

Sept. 25, 2012, BlockByBlock.us, “BxB publishers united in reporting FOR vs. ABOUT their communities.” ^[27] – a summary of the 2012 Block by Block Conference in Chicago, quoting publisher/editor David Boraks.

Feb. 8, 2012, NetNewsCheck.com, “Charlotte Media Diverge on Social Stragegy.” ^[28]

Nov. 8, 2011, CJR.org, Columbia Journalism Review, “Have You Seen Fido? Community news sites reunite pets with their owners.” ^[29]

July 2011, J-Lab, American University, “Rules of the Road: Navigating the New Ethics of Local Journalism,” ^[30] – DavidsonNews.net was among the case studies for Scott Rosenberg’s special report published by J-Lab.

July 2011, Charlotte Magazine, “The Problem with Media Sharing.” ^[31]

June 1, 2011,, BlockByBlock.us (local news industry website), “Suburban online hyperlocal seeks larger audience with radio” ^[32]

May 19, 2011, DavidsonNews.net, “Chamber names small business of the year, honors 2 others” ^[33] – Davidson News LLC – parent of DavidsonNews.net and CorneliusNews.net, received one of two Honorable Mentions in the Lake Norman Chamber 2011 Small Business of the Year Awards.

May 6, 2011, DavidsonNews.net, “Partnership links Cornelius, Davidson sites with WFAE-FM.” ^[34]

May 3, 2011,, Columbia Jouralism Review, “CJR’s Guide to Online News Startups” ^[35] – We’re profile in the journalism magazine’s Online News Database.

March 15, 2011, WFAE-FM, “Local news site expands, reflects national trend.” ^[36]

March 14, 2011, DavidsonNews.net, “Announcing CorneliusNews.net” ^[37]

2011 State of the News Media: Annual Report on American Journalism, Pew Project for Excellence in Journalism, “Emerging Economics of Community News,” ^[38] by Michele McLellan.

Dec. 14, 2010, DavidsonNews.net, “DavidsonNews.net adds staff.” ^[39]

June 2010, Reynolds Journalism Institute “promising local news site” – DavidsonNews.net has been listed as a “promising local news site” as part of research being conducted by Michele McClellan at the University of Missouri’s Reynolds Journalism Institute. See “Michele’s List” at www.rjionline.org ^[40] and click on “Micro-Local.”

June 2010, Society for Professional Journalists convention coverage - “Putting the hyper into local news,” ^[41] a note promoting a panel at the SPJ convention, mentioning DavidsonNews.net‘s participation in a regional news partnership with The Charlotte Observer and other sites.

December 2009 – “DavidsonNews.net joins regional news partnership,” ^[42] an announcement of our participation in a regional news partnership with The Charlotte Observer and other local news websites.

July 2009, Knight Batten Awards - The 2009 Knight Batten Awards for Innovations in Journalism – DavisonNews.net was not a cash winner, but we got a nice pat on the back as a “notable entry.” ^[43] And here’s the main page with a list of winners, including the NY Times which won a basketful of honors. http://www.j-lab.org/about/press_releases/2009_knight_batten_release/ ^[44]

August 2009, Charlotte Magazine – DavidsonNews.net founder David Boraks was featured in the magazine’s August 2009 “Genius Issue,” as one of 30 people helping to change the Charlotte area. In an piece called “The Online Migration” ^[45] he was profiled alongside Glen Burkins, who runs QCityMetro.com in Charlotte.

August 2009, WFAE-FM – DavidsonNews.net also was the subject of a recent feature on WFAE’s Morning Edition. “Web startup DavidsonNews.net finds niche as it seeks sustainability.” ^[46]

July 2009, FAIR.org – Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting writer Michelle Chen included DavidsonNews.net in an article “Local Heroes: A new media model might be right around the corner – literally.” ^[47]

July 2009, New Business Models for News, CUNY – “News innovators on the frontline: DavidsonNews.net.” ^[48]

May 2009, Alan Mutter’s Newsosaur blog - “No local without us says start-up web newsman.” ^[49]

May 2009, Davidson College Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award – DavidsonNews.net editor David Boraks received the Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award for community service at the May 2009 Davidson College commencement ceremony. A citation for the award read ^[50], “DavidsonNews.net has quickly become the indispensable source of news and information in town.” One of his nominators said “Davidson News makes me feel more a part of the Town of Davidson than anything else has.” See the “Latest Sullivan award winner: Your Town editor.” ^[51]

3 Comments To "About this site"

#1 Comment By Autumn Michael On January 30, 2007 @ 1:03 pm

#2 Comment By scott jeffords On March 13, 2007 @ 8:39 am

#3 Comment By ButTheGameIsOn (Howard Ryan) On April 23, 2009 @ 6:30 pm