Former Asheville Citizen-Times publisher, editorial writers launch commentary site

Jason Sandford

Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.

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Virgil Smith, former publisher of the Asheville Citizen-Times, and three former editorial writers who worked with him – Julie Martin, Jim Buchanan and Joy Franklin – have launched a new website called Carolina Commentary.

The site is described as “a not-for-profit platform established for the purpose of commenting on North Carolina public policy issues.” Writers on the site “hope to contribute to more fact-based dialogue, less polarization and more in-depth awareness of issues that affect North Carolinians.”

The site encourages North Carolina news sites to send in their commentaries for publication, and to pick up share the commentaries published on Carolina Commentary.

The site is the brainchild of Smith, who worked as publisher of the Citizen-Times for 10 years and retired as a corporate human resources executive with Gannett, which owns the newspaper. Martin, Buchanan and Franklin are all veteran journalists and editorial writers.

The site has several editorial pieces already posted that cover a range of topics – from the solar eclipse to immigration and health care reform.

Congratulations to the Carolina Commentary team!