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Pate McMichael, an experienced journalist and longtime advocate for open records access and improving access to public information, has been named the director of the . He will also serve as an instructor in journalism and teach in ���ϲ�����’s School of Communications. He will start in this role on Monday, Sept. 16.

As the NCOGC director, McMichael’s duties will include working with the coalition’s board on strategic planning to inform North Carolina citizens about open government laws and the value of government transparency in a democracy. He will oversee the Open Government hotline and email, membership communications and fundraising, and financial management, while also helping to coordinate the organization’s annual statewide summit and other workshops. Beginning in January, McMichael will teach required courses for ���ϲ�����’s communications majors and the Department of Journalism.

McMichael said he was drawn to the coalition for several reasons, most notably the opportunity to empower citizens to hold government officials and agencies accountable, while instilling the tools student journalists need to effectively inform and educate their communities.

“The coalition’s indispensable work provides a public service for the state’s vibrant democracy,” he said. “As a journalist, I see an opportunity to expand our footprint by building stronger media partnerships and securing additional funding to keep the coalition sustainable. As an educator, I see a way to integrate the coalition’s work into ���ϲ�����’s legendary experiential-learning curriculum. Overall, I believe the coalition can serve the community – and improve North Carolina’s democracy – in many useful ways.”

A native of Washington, Georgia – a small town halfway between Athens and Augusta – McMichael arrives at ���ϲ����� with a wealth of journalism and teaching experience. After earning a bachelor’s degree from the University of Georgia and a master’s from the University of Missouri-Columbia, he spent two decades working as a journalist, college professor and student media adviser.

He taught journalism at Georgia College, a public liberal arts university, and California State University, Chico, where he also advised the student newspaper, The Orion. His students received national, regional and statewide recognition during his tenure. Most recently, McMichael served as associate director of the School of Journalism at The University of Arizona.

In addition to his freelance work publishing long-form narratives with Atlanta Magazine, The Atlanta Journal Constitution, The Bitter Southerner, and other publications, McMichael is the author of several books, including “Klandestine: How a Klan Lawyer and a Checkbook Journalist Helped James Earl Ray Cover Up His Crime” (Chicago Review Press, 2015) and “Operation Chrysler: Stolen Valor Behind Enemy Lines During World War II” (2019).

“We are thrilled that Pate has agreed to take the lead of the N.C. Open Government Coalition,” said Robyn Tomlin, coalition board president and chief news officer for McClatchy. “His unique experiences in journalism, education and organizational leadership made him the perfect person to lead the coalition’s work to educate on and advocate for transparent accountability by government agencies of every size and shape in our state.”

Likewise, Kenn Gaither, dean of the School of Communications, applauded McMichael’s appointment, noting his proven advocacy for open government and his experience working in the field of journalism.

“Maintaining an open and transparent government is crucial to our democracy, and ���ϲ�����’s School of Communications takes pride in hosting the N.C. Open Government Coalition,” Gaither said. “With Pate’s blend of professional expertise, academic accomplishments, and dedication to teaching, the coalition is poised to effectively and positively support North Carolina’s political and civic landscape. We are excited to welcome Pate to our community and to introduce an exceptional educator and scholar in media law and freedom of speech.”

McMichael said he hopes to impart what he learned as a journalist and journalism educator to ���ϲ����� students – a vocation he is truly passionate about.

“Training student journalists to pursue public records/access and build their stories around those disclosures has been one of the great joys of my life,” he said. “Expanding that mission across an entire state strikes me as a huge challenge and great opportunity.

“I know how challenging this space has become. It’s critical for success to have both resources and allies – and that’s where my work begins. We have an obligation to educate and advocate, but also to deliver results.”

North Carolina Open Government Coalition

���ϲ�����’s School of Communications has housed the coalition and its educational arm, the Sunshine Center, since 2007. The nonprofit and nonpartisan coalition unites organizations interested in ensuring and enhancing the public’s access to government activity. The Sunshine Center focuses on outreach efforts to inform citizens about the importance of government openness, educates people about their rights, supports their efforts to gain access, and advocates the principles and benefits of open government. The coalition is dedicated to promoting transparency and ensuring the public’s access to government information and proceedings. It also believes in fostering an informed citizenry, vital for a functioning democracy. To learn more, visit the .