People profiles, restaurant coverage top reader priorities for The Paper in 2025 survey

People profiles and restaurant news led readers’ selection for Top Stories for The Paper in 2025, outranking coverage tied to Ingles, local legal troubles, and Valdese politics in a recent reader survey.

When asked to rank five proposed Top Story topics based on importance and impact, respondents placed people profiles at the top, followed closely by restaurant news, reflecting strong reader interest in coverage centered on familiar faces and local businesses

Coverage related to Ingles Markets, including store operations and corporate decisions affecting the region, ranked third. Stories involving legal troubles tied to local figures placed fourth, while Valdese politics rounded out the list of five topics presented in the survey.

The survey reached out to more than 2,000 subscribers and collected responses Tuesday and Wednesday.

Angela Copeland, The Paper’s executive editor, said the results reinforce a consistent theme in reader engagement data.

“These rankings show that readers gravitate toward stories where they recognize the people, places, and consequences,” she said. “That kind of coverage connects daily life to larger issues.”

An open-ended question asking whether another story belonged on the Top 10 list generated 67 responses, though editors said themes varied widely and will be reviewed individually as part of planning for 2026 coverage.

Readers overwhelmingly pointed to public education, Hurricane Helene recovery, and local government accountability as stories they believe belong among The Paper’s Top 10 for 2025, according to open-ended responses in the survey.

When invited to name additional stories deserving top-tier coverage, respondents repeatedly cited issues involving the Burke County Board of Education, including governance disputes, financial planning concerns, and allegations of censorship. Several responses called more broadly for sustained coverage of public school operations and decision-making.

Another dominant theme was Hurricane Helene recovery, which appeared in dozens of responses across both pages of the survey. Readers highlighted storm damage, long-term repairs, park and trail recovery, and the need for continued reporting on funding and progress more than a year after the storm.

Multiple respondents emphasized specific locations, including Catawba Meadows Park and downtown infrastructure, as areas needing follow-up coverage.

Local government and development issues also featured prominently. Readers called attention to slow permitting, infrastructure delays, downtown parking, and barriers preventing new businesses from opening. Others suggested deeper reporting on county politics, municipal councils, and major development projects, including megasites, and water resource planning.

Human-interest reporting remained important to respondents. Suggestions included coverage of veterans, faith communities, local history, homelessness, health care costs, and recognition of individuals and organizations making a positive impact in Burke County.

Several readers specifically asked for continued columns and enterprise reporting already familiar to The Paper’s audience.

A smaller number of responses pointed to crime, court cases, and unresolved legal matters as deserving ongoing attention, while others suggested expanded coverage of sports, restaurants, inspections, and tourism growth.

“These comments show readers are paying attention to long-running issues and want accountability, follow-through, and local context,” Copeland said. “They also reinforce the importance of reporting that stays with a story long after the initial headlines fade.”

— AVN