Year in review: Local media highlights

Local media operations mostly held their own in 2018. While the Citizen Times staff are now tenants in their historic building in downtown Asheville, the paper bagged first place for general excellence in a statewide competition (from which Xpress also brought home a plentiful array of awards). Learn what media expert Jon Elliston found notable on the local media scene in 2018.

Sitel reaches settlement on labor charges; will change policies ***UPDATED­***

Sitel has reached a settlement with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers on charges that it violated workers’ rights at its Asheville call center. While the company admits no wrongdoing, it does agree to meet many of the union’s demands, including posting notices of workers’ rights at its facility and changing its social media and solicitation policies.

Take care of each other

Recently, at a local supermarket, a woman who had just gone through the checkout line in front of us wasn't walking away with her purchases. After the cashier scanned our items and told us our total, the woman turned to us and said, "It's on me." Stunned, we could only utter, "Sorry?" But she repeated, […]

City shifts staff in effort to advance social media, community relations

The city of Asheville is shifting staff as part of an effort to improve social media and community relations. Asheville Police Department spokesperson Melissa Williams will move into a general community relations role, including overseeing the city’s blog, Facebook and Twitter accounts, while Lt. Wally Welch will take on public information duties at the APD.