This week’s unprecedented State Board of Elections hearing into the campaign finances of a former governor generated multiple media opportunities for John Locke Foundation and Carolina Journal staff. Before the hearing started, both the Fayetteville Observer and Rhino Times reminded readers of the role CJ and Executive Editor Don Carrington played in bringing Easley’s dubious dealings to light. N.C. Senate Republicans highlighted CJ‘s coverage plans in a blast e-mail Monday, then spotlighted Associate Editor David Bass‘ witness-by-witness, day-to-day hearing coverage. The News & Observer noted Carolina Journal‘s role in a legal action involving potential hearing witness Ruffin Poole. Carrington hit the radio to discuss the Easley case with Lockwood Phillips on WTKF and Henry Hinton on WTIB. CJ Managing Editor Rick Henderson spent part of each weekday morning with Scott Fitzgerald on WPTF, and he added an afternoon appearance with Tara Servatius on WBT. Segments from Henderson’s WPTF interviews highlighted that station’s regular newscasts. Henderson also recorded a session of Curtis Media Group’s “People and Politics” program, aired on WPTF and WSJS. John Locke Foundation President John Hood also discussed the Easley case on WPTF, and Senate Republicans sent an e-mail highlighting Hood’s Daily Journal column on the former governor’s ongoing scandal. Vice President for Communications Jon Ham designed the well-received “Who’s Who at the Easley Hearings” feature for CarolinaJournal.com, one of the prime factors in CJ Online’s doubling of its normal daily page views on Wednesday. Bass’ report of Easley’s testimony that day ended up reprinted in the Lincoln Tribune and in The County Compass of Bayboro. (The latter publication is also reprinting a CJ article from Associate Editor Michael Lowrey on a court case involving Beaufort County schools.)
