The State Port Pilot has announced a news veteran with more than 20 years experience in community journalism has joined its staff.
Tom Woerner, who joined the paper last week, will be the Pilot’s regular face at Southport Board of Aldermen and county commissioners meetings, and will cover the municipal government in the Village of Bald Head Island. He will also cover general news assignment stories throughout the community.
Woerner worked at three newspapers in two counties before leaving the field in 2019 to continue a career in public education, most recently having held a position teaching social studies at Cleveland High School in Johnston County. He previously taught at the middle school level in Dunn and served in two alternative learning schools in Harnett and Anson counties. In addition he spent a year as a substitute teacher in Wake County.
His career in journalism started in 1997, working as a reporter and sports writer for the Clayton News Star in Johnston County.