Welcome to North Carolina, D.C. Reporter.
We're glad that your national publication found our state worthy of coverage, especially with all that stuff going on in your usual haunts: New York, California and Iowa.
In the past, some of your colleagues have made dumb mistakes when writing about North Carolina, so here are a few tips:
THE OBSERVERS: A lot of our newspapers have similar names: The Charlotte Observer, the Raleigh News & Observer and the Fayetteville Observer. Try to keep them straight.
RALEIGH, DURHAM: Yes, the hyphen at the airport is confusing. But there is no such place as Raleigh-Durham. They're separate cities. (Winston-Salem is one city, though.)
TAR HEEL: That's two words. It's the name of UNC-Chapel Hill (called Carolina or North Carolina in sports) team and one name for residents of the state.
NORTH, SOUTH: We're not South Carolina, and we hate being confused with it. For starters, Charleston is in South Carolina; Charlotte, in North Carolina.
BARBECUE: That's a noun, not a verb. It's made with pork. There's two kinds: Eastern style has a vinegar sauce; Lexington style, a tomato-based sauce.
That should cover the basics. Now get to reporting!
Comments
Re: Welcome to North Carolina, D.C. Reporter.
April 24, 2009 - 3:35pm — Gosh (not verified)Of course not. You drive here.
Perhaps I forgot the light-hearted raspberry emoticon on my first response to you ribbing folks in your profession living where you do and reporting on where and what you do, and for not knowing things like there's no such thing as "Western NC BBQ" or that the UNC mascot is actually a ram and not a "Dirty Foot."
Actually, no I didn't.
Keep in mind you brought this up.
:P
Now get to reporting on NC stuff Seattle guy!
Re: Welcome to North Carolina, D.C. Reporter.
April 24, 2009 - 10:29am — ryanteaguebeckwith (author)I've working out of D.C. since November, but having spent the previous six years living in Raleigh and the the last two years covering North Carolina politics, I'm hardly a parachutist.
— RTB
Re: A Parachutist's Guide to N.C.
April 24, 2009 - 10:23am — ryanteaguebeckwith (author)Fair enough. I've amended the post.
— RTB
Re: A Parachutist's Guide to N.C.
April 24, 2009 - 10:23am — cfpopeMay I offer a seemingly small but important correction to the article above? Carolina's mascot is a ram - Ramses XVIII. I'm sure he wouldn't want to be overlooked. "Tar Heels" is the nickname for the team.
Welcome to North Carolina, D.C. Reporter.
April 22, 2009 - 10:22am — Gosh (not verified)Where are you based now RTB?
Not picking, I just hate the demise of local reporting and two formerly fine papers now using AP to cover NC issues (when it does happens to hit the radar), then posting the exact same story in Charlotte and Raleigh as if people and their concerns are the same all over.
I agree though that the DC Pot sucks my dear Kettle. Just saying.
Tar Heel and Tarheel
April 22, 2009 - 10:14am — jjsmith2We should tell some North Carolinians that Tar Heel is two words then, since a lot of businesses use Tarheel.
Please put me down as someone who never wants to be referred to as a Tar Heel or someone from the Tar Heel State. I have no association with Orange County Community College. The Old North State will suffice for the State's nickname.
Re: A Parachutist's Guide to N.C.
April 22, 2009 - 7:38am — domewatcherAnd let's not forget to tell them how dangerous NC can be for a reporter. Do you remember when the big, bearded Palin supporter sent a Greensboro reporter sprawling to the ground? I'm sure those big-shot, out-of-state reporters wear nicer clothes than our local guys and their imitation "Cotton Dockers." So warn them to dress down in case they get sent sprawling to the ground.
Maybe some real parachute training so they can hit the ground in the proper position. Keep those knees bent!
Re: A Parachutist's Guide to N.C.
April 21, 2009 - 4:17pm — ryanteaguebeckwith (author)OK. I've changed it.
— RTB
Fun stuff.
April 21, 2009 - 4:12pm — James_Protzmann/t
Re: A Parachutist's Guide to N.C.
April 21, 2009 - 3:53pm — ryanteaguebeckwith (author)Well, I'm from Seattle, so I don't pretend to be a "true North Carolinian"...
— RTB
Re: A Parachutist's Guide to N.C.
April 21, 2009 - 3:33pm — GrayJAny true North Carolinian knows it is Lexington Style not Western Style. Consult D.G. Martin or Bob Garner if you do not believe me.