Originally from Maryland, she moved to Wilmington in July 2023.
After graduating from George Washington University's School of Media and Public Affairs, I joined the StarNews team in October and was drawn to the dynamic, local nature of the public safety and trending news position.
In just a few months, I have already had the opportunity to learn a lot about the tri-county region and its diverse communities. Each day is different, offering unique experiences and opportunities to further immerse yourself in Wilmington's vibrant culture.
While I continue to learn something new every day, I would like to share some key insights from my experience in this role so far.
Q: What is the most difficult aspect of your job?
As a public safety reporter, I am responsible for covering crime and related safety issues in Wilmington. This often involves delving into serious and challenging subject matter.
Reporting on tragic events such as tragedies, accidents, and acts of violence presents unique challenges. My responsibilities include covering these cases while maintaining a delicate balance between confidentiality, accuracy, timeliness, and comprehensiveness.
As important as it is to get this information to your readers, it is equally important that you approach these topics with care and interest.
Managing this balance effectively is the most difficult part of my daily job.
Q: What is the most rewarding part of your job?
As cliché as it may sound, my answer is definitely “the people” – the essence of journalism.
In accepting this role, I wanted to create a story that honestly portrayed the complexity and reality of Wilmington. That wouldn't be possible without people who are accessible, welcoming, and understanding.
Since moving to Wilmington, I have been accepted with open arms by the local community. I am deeply grateful to those who were willing to share their lives with me so I could learn more about their individual stories and expertise.
Forming meaningful connections within communities and being tasked with telling people's stories definitely stands out as the most fulfilling aspect of my job.
Learn more: Read Molly Wilhelm's latest articles.
Q: What do you wish more people knew about your work?
I want more people to know that input from the community increases the effectiveness of my role.
Please feel free to get in touch! I really enjoy working with local people. You can share your thoughts on the topics you'd like us to cover, voice your concerns about public safety, or join a chat about your experience in Wilmington. I would love to hear your thoughts as I would like to learn more about this area.
Please email MWilhelm@gannett.com. Connect with me on X (formerly Twitter)or on Facebook!
Q: What is trending news?
Trending topics can include a wide range of subjects. From discovering North Carolinians' favorite dog breeds to rankings of Wilmington schools to discovering unexpected animals, we've got you covered.
If it's relevant, unique, exciting, inspiring, and informative, it can become a trending topic. Covering trending news beats is a lot of fun. Because it means you can dive into all sorts of interesting things.
