You’re driving down Highway 17, maybe headed toward Shallotte or swinging down toward the Oak Island pier, and you realize you have no idea what’s actually happening in the neighborhood. Sure, Facebook groups are loud. They're usually full of people arguing about a new car wash or another housing development near Southport. But when you want the real dirt—the zoning board votes, the high school football scores, and the actual crime logs—you need a Brunswick County NC newspaper.
Finding one isn't as simple as it used to be.
The local media landscape here is kind of a patchwork quilt. It’s messy. You have legacy prints that have been around since your grandparents moved here, and then you have the digital upstarts trying to shake things up. It’s not just about getting the news; it’s about knowing which source actually has boots on the ground in Bolivia or Leland.
The Big Players: The State Port Pilot and The Brunswick Beacon
If you’ve spent more than five minutes in Southport, you know The State Port Pilot. It’s an institution. Honestly, walking into their office on Moore Street feels like stepping back into a version of North Carolina that doesn't exist much anymore. They’ve been covering the waterfront since the 1930s.
They win awards. A lot of them.
The North Carolina Press Association basically has a permanent seat reserved for them at the awards gala. Why? Because they still do the "unsexy" work. They sit through the long, boring Board of Commissioners meetings where they talk about sewer expansion and tax rates. That’s the stuff that actually changes your life, even if it doesn't get the most clicks.
Then there’s The Brunswick Beacon.
Based in Shallotte, the Beacon covers a massive footprint. If you live in the southern end of the county—Calabash, Sunset Beach, Ocean Isle—this is likely what’s sitting on your driveway or the rack at the grocery store. They’re owned by Cooke Communications, and they’ve stayed remarkably consistent while other papers have shriveled up. They have a massive focus on community milestones. Obituaries, weddings, the Dean’s List at UNCW—it’s the social glue for the western side of the county.
Why Print Still Matters in a Digital World
You might think print is dead. It’s not. Not here.
Brunswick County has a unique demographic. We have a massive retiree population moving into places like St. James, Winding River, and Magnolia Greens. These folks want a physical paper. They want to hold it while they drink their coffee at 7:00 AM.
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But it’s more than just habit. In a county that is growing as fast as ours—Brunswick is consistently one of the fastest-growing counties in the United States—the local newspaper acts as the "official record." When a developer wants to clear-cut 200 acres for a new subdivision, they are legally required to post those public notices in the paper. If you aren't reading the Brunswick County NC newspaper, you're going to wake up one day and wonder why there are bulldozers in your backyard.
The Digital Shift: Port City Daily and Beyond
While the legacy papers hold the fort, digital-only outlets are carving out a space. Port City Daily covers the Cape Fear region, and while they are based in Wilmington, their Brunswick coverage has gotten much more aggressive.
They tend to focus on the "New Brunswick."
That means the explosion of growth in Leland and Belville. They lean into investigative pieces—things like the Chemours GenX water crisis, which, let’s be honest, is probably the biggest story to hit this region in decades. Their tone is a bit punchier. It's built for the person scrolling on their iPhone while waiting for their order at Port City Java.
What Most People Get Wrong About Local News
People love to complain that the news is "too negative."
I hear it all the time at the hardware store. But if you actually look at a Brunswick County NC newspaper, most of it is fiercely local and overwhelmingly positive. It's the high school "Artist of the Month." It's the local VFW fundraiser. It's the update on the bridge repairs that are driving everyone crazy.
The misconception is that "local" means "amateur." That's a mistake. These reporters are often living on the same streets as the people they cover. There is a level of accountability there that you don't get with national media. If a reporter at the Pilot or the Beacon gets a fact wrong about a town councilman, they’re probably going to see that councilman at the grocery store the next day.
That pressure keeps things honest.
Navigating the Paywalls and Subscriptions
Let's talk about the elephant in the room: paying for news.
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Every time a local paper puts up a paywall, a segment of the population loses their minds on social media. "Information should be free!" they say.
Well, sure. But gas for a reporter's car isn't free. Neither is the insurance for the printing press.
If you want a Brunswick County NC newspaper that actually investigates corruption or keeps an eye on how your property taxes are being spent, someone has to pay the person doing the work. Most of these papers offer a mix. You might get three free articles a month, or you might have to shell out $10 for a digital sub.
Honestly? It's the price of two lattes. If you live here, it's worth it just to know which roads are going to be closed during the next hurricane.
The Hurricane Factor
Speaking of hurricanes, this is where local newspapers prove their worth. When a storm is churning up from the Gulf or off the coast of Florida, the national weather channels are great for the "big picture." But they aren't going to tell you if the G.V. Barbee Bridge to Oak Island is closed.
They won't tell you if the local shelter in Bolivia is full.
During events like Hurricane Isaias or the unnamed "Potential Tropical Cyclone Eight" that flooded everything recently, the local journalists were the ones out in the rain, taking photos of the washouts on Highway 17. They provide the granular, street-by-street info that saves lives.
How to Support Local Journalism Without Just Subscribing
Maybe you're on a budget. Or maybe you just don't like the "clutter" of a newspaper. You can still keep the Brunswick County NC newspaper ecosystem healthy.
- Share their links. Instead of copy-pasting the text of an article into a Facebook group (which steals their ad revenue), share the actual link.
- Write Letters to the Editor. Local papers love these. It shows engagement. Talk about the traffic in Leland or the beach nourishment in Holden Beach.
- Support their advertisers. Tell the local pizza shop or the real estate agent that you saw their ad in the paper. That is the lifeblood of local media.
The Future of News in Brunswick County
We are in a weird transition period.
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The county is changing. We are seeing more people move here from New York, New Jersey, and Ohio. These new residents bring different expectations for how they get their news. They want apps. They want newsletters.
The Star-News out of Wilmington also covers Brunswick, but they’ve struggled with the same corporate downsizing that has hit many Gannett-owned papers. This has actually created an opening for the smaller, locally-owned outlets to double down on being "hyper-local."
There is a certain "Southport Magic" or "Calabash Charm" that a corporate-owned paper in another state just can't replicate. You have to know the people. You have to know that "the bridge" always refers to whichever one is closest to you at that moment.
Real Steps for Staying Informed
Don't just rely on one source. That's the biggest mistake you can make.
If you want the full picture of what’s happening in this corner of North Carolina, you need a balanced diet. Start by bookmarking the websites of the State Port Pilot and the Brunswick Beacon. If you're in the northern part of the county, sign up for the Port City Daily newsletter.
Check the public notices. Seriously. It sounds boring, but that is where the future of the county is written. You’ll find out about upcoming annexations, new commercial developments, and changes to fishing regulations long before they become common knowledge.
Lastly, if you see a local reporter out at a festival or a town meeting, say thanks. It’s a tough, often thankless job that doesn't pay nearly enough for the hours they put in. They are the ones making sure that as Brunswick County grows, it doesn't lose the things that made us all want to move here in the first place.
Support your Brunswick County NC newspaper because once a town loses its paper, it loses its voice. And in a place as beautiful as this, that would be a tragedy.
Go out and buy a physical copy of the paper this week from a gas station rack. Read the "Police Logs" or the "Sheriff’s Report." It’s the fastest way to understand the rhythm of the community. You might find out that your neighbor got a noise complaint, or more importantly, you might find a local business you never knew existed. Supporting local news is, at its core, an act of neighborliness. Keep the conversation going.