The NC Beat
U.S. independent, community-focused
Background
The NC Beat was founded in March 2016 by Gerald Jackson Jr. in Onslow County, North Carolina, growing out of his earlier blog 'News in Onslow County.' Before launching The NC Beat, Jackson was exposed by The Daily Beast for running that earlier blog under fake aliases and for publishing a story that effectively outed a gay teacher. Jackson also had a serious prior criminal record: in 2014 he pleaded guilty to 18-plus felony counts of making bomb threats to schools and businesses in Onslow County. In 2019, he was convicted of extortion after demanding cash from a Jacksonville, North Carolina lawyer in exchange for not publishing damaging personal information on The NC Beat. Despite that background, The NC Beat has continued to operate as an independent digital news blog. It markets itself as covering stories that are 'raw, uncut, and unfiltered,' with a particular focus on local crime, courts, local politics, entertainment, and church scandals — topics it says mainstream media overlooks. The outlet has no disclosed outside funding, sponsors, or nonprofit backing and appears to rely on advertising revenue. It has built a notable social media following on Facebook, Instagram, and X.
Sources
- About The NC Beat
- Gerald Jackson | Owner Of The NC Beat
- The North Carolina Beat: Contact Information, Journalists, and Overview | Muck Rack
- Felon Turned Fake Journalist Outed a Beloved Gay Teacher — The Daily Beast
- The North Carolina Beat — Main Site
- Gerald Jackson — LinkedIn
Profile compiled 2026-07-15; refreshed when ownership, funding, or the administration changes.