Will Doran Email & Phone Number

Raleigh, North Carolina, United States

Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina Area

I investigate state agencies and write about how politics affects our state employees, and vice versa.I started at the newspaper as a reporter covering multiple local governments for The Cary News. I also wrote a monthly column on the area's fast-growing craft beer scene. Was later promoted to start PolitiFact NC, and then to covering state politics.

PolitiFact partnered with the News & Observer, and I was asked to start and lead the fact-checking venture. I was the sole writer and researcher while also managing the PolitiFact NC social media and the front end of our website. After leading the site through the 2016 elections and North Carolina's 2017 legislative session, I was promoted to a new job.

Sanford, NC

One of two reporters for the paper that was named best small daily newspaper in North Carolina in 2012, 2013 and 2014. I reported on everything from education to fracking to murder trials. Also started a weekly business column, for which I was named the Sanford Area Chamber of Commerce's 2014 Small Business Advocate of the Year.

Wrote two to four unsigned editorials every week reflecting the views of the board as a whole and also wrote a signed editorial column every other week. It generally focused on UNC's administration and policies.

Conducted database analysis and exhaustive sourcing surrounding an NCAA football investigation at UNC. Really learned the value of open-records laws to journalists.

Helped manage a staff of more than 50 writers and oversaw the research, development and finances beat of University coverage. Focused much of my own writing on the on-campus effects of budget cuts at the state and national levels.

Wrote stories, shot photos and created videos. More than half of my stories ran on the front page of either the A or B section. Also helped manage several blogs and Facebook pages for the paper covering everything from sports to the Gulf of Mexico BP oil spill that affected the region.

Wrote a mixture of features, profiles and breaking news for the University desk. Was promoted to assistant editor of that desk after a single semester.

I started out making coffee and copies, but was later promoted to research assistant. Helped create a presentation that lawyers from the firm gave to the American Bar Association as part of the ABA's December 2009 consumer protection law update.