Horace Carter and courageous journalism
The Carolina journalism school lost a favorite son this week when Horace Carter passed away in Tabor City, N.C.
Horace earned his UNC journalism degree in 1943, and he founded the Tabor City Tribune in 1946.
In 1953, the Tribune became the first weekly newspaper to win the Pulitzer Prize for meritorious public service. It was because Horace Carter had the courage to stand up against the Ku Klux Klan. He waged a campaign against the Klan in the face of violence and repeated threats, eventually leading to more than 100 convictions of Klansmen.
In 1991, Horace gave the school his Pulitzer gold medal, and we display it proudly in Carroll Hall. He said he wanted to inspire future journalists to fight for justice and high principles.
Our students and journalists everywhere should follow Horace Carter’s example of courage and conviction to do the right thing – whether they work for a large or small organization in a print or digital medium.