Sarah Nagem named editor of the Border Belt Independent

Sarah Nagem is the new editor of the Border Belt Independent

Sarah Nagem will join the staff of the Border Belt Independent as editor June 1.

“Sarah brings with her a passion for journalism that gives voice to the most vulnerable people in society,” said BBI Publisher Les High. “Growing up poor in West Virginia, she saw firsthand how generational poverty can limit access to many basic needs, including health care, transportation and education. She is excited to take on solution-based stories in southeastern North Carolina. We’re very fortunate to have someone of her reputation and caliber.”

Nagem attended West Virginia University, where she studied journalism and learned how to drive in the snow. After a few years in Baltimore helping connect inner-city kids and their families to education and health resources, Nagem ventured south. She began her journalism career as an eager reporter at the now-defunct Smithfield Herald, and then she spent about a year as an education reporter for the Salisbury Post. 

She moved to Raleigh, where she made her way through the ranks of The News & Observer’s community newspapers and eventually became assistant metro editor at The N&O. She has spent the last three years working for the parent company, McClatchy, as a national real-time editor. 

In addition to editing and assigning stories, Nagem will write a number of stories.

The BBI is a nonprofit online news organization that publishes in-depth stories on issues and covers newsmakers in four southeast North Carolina counties: Bladen, Columbus, Robeson and Scotland.