Although WRAL has had a Durham newsroom for years, the new location allows American Tobacco Campus visitors to connect daily with WRAL News
Grand Opening May 11, coinciding with Durham Bulls home opener
Although WRAL has long had a newsroom in Durham, those dedicated Durham news crews have a new place to set up shop beginning May 11. With its central location and window-front presentation designed specifically to engage visitors, this new newsroom represents WRAL’s long-standing commitment to the city and county. The debut coincides with the much-anticipated return of baseball to the Durham Bulls Athletic Park, right next door to the new bureau home base.
The new newsroom windows are outfitted with a news ticker and TVs set up for the public to watch and listen to newscasts, with picnic tables outside. It is centrally located between the Durham Performing Arts Center and the Durham Bulls Athletic Park, making it easy to get a quick update on news headlines and weather forecasts while on your way to anything happening at the American Tobacco Campus.
WRAL News Director Rick Gall spoke on how the new space will allow for our continued dedication to the Durham area. “We’re excited to have a new, vibrant home for our crews who work hard daily to keep Durham residents informed of what’s going on locally. This visible newsroom will help emphasize our unwavering dedication to serving the Bull City.”
The American Tobacco Campus and the Durham Bulls are owned and operated by WRAL’s parent company, Capitol Broadcasting Company. This addition is simply a reflection of the established deep roots the company has in this community.
To add a unique, local flare to the newsroom, WRAL commissioned Durham-based artist Candy Carver to paint a mural inside the newsroom. The mural is called, “The South Got Somethin’ to Say.” Carver says the mural is meant to shine a light on all those who go unsung. The mural will be unveiled with the newsroom on May 11. You can see more of Carver’s work here.
The grand opening of WRAL’s Durham newsroom is set for May 11, just before the Durham Bulls home opening game. Stop by 359 Blackwell St. Suite #200, 4-6 p.m. to say hello and take a look through the windows!
In addition to the main newsroom at the WRAL studios in Raleigh and the Durham newsroom, WRAL has reporters based in Fayetteville and Rocky Mount. “Having reporters living and working across our viewing area in the communities they cover makes it possible for WRAL News to cover more stories that are relevant in those communities and all that makes them special,” said Joel Davis, Vice President and General Manager of WRAL/FOX 50.
Thanks to WRAL-TV for this Capcom story & for these Capcom photos.
