Journalists In Training: Wake Forest Students Tackle Local News

Wake Forest University students are taking on community journalism in an upper-level course taught by Director of Journalism Phoebe Zerwick.

Students produce a regular online news report, Heard it Here, during the fall semester focused on the people and places that make downtown a community.

According to Zerwick, their mission is to present "downtown's many voices with stories that build community through accurate, independent and accountable reporting."

Here's a sampling of some of their work:

"Local Non-Profit Treats Opioid Addiction"  by Erin Stephens & Jessica Clifford

Every day except Sunday for the past two years, 31-year-old “Anna” has come to Insight Human Services, Inc. for a dose of methadone for her heroin addiction. In addition to being treated through medication-assisted therapy, Anna attends five group sessions per week. “This place saved my life,” she says.

"Airbnb Presence in Downtown Winston-Salem Grows" by Stephen Bechtel

Airbnb, the worldwide lodging service, is beginning to make its mark on downtown Winston-Salem — a cause for concern for some.

“It certainly has turned neighborhoods on their heads,” said George Bryan, a member of the City-County Planning Board.

"Domino's Pizza By The Slice In Downtown" by Meredith Happy

Amongst the thriving, up-and-coming businesses along 4th Street sits a Winston-Salem staple—Domino's, which is unique in that it serves pizza by slice.

"The rich people can afford to eat at the nice restaurants downtown, but if you're young just out of college starting off, working, you need affordable options—we wanted to be an affordable great option downtown," said Sean Heaney, franchise owner.

You can find more stories from Wake Forest University students at Heard it Here.

WFDD was not involved in the creation or editorial oversight of this content.