Carolina in real life: Tunnell joins SI
Jun. 3—Jack Tunnell loves to write, and he loves the beach. That combination was the driving force behind his decision to accept the position offered to him as a reporter with The Sampson Independent. He started in the job June 1.
"We are thrilled to welcome Jack to our staff," said General Manager Sherry Matthews. "His enthusiasm is infectious; his love of writing like a breath of fresh air. He is going to be a tremendous asset to our already great editorial team and someone that subscribers, and the community as a whole, will love."
Tunnell comes to the Independent from Rome, Ga.. He said he is thrilled to join the ranks of North Carolinians and Sampsonians.
Having been raised in a household with a deep connection to the state, he began visiting the Wilmington area and his favorite beaches by age three, and he's had thoughts of moving to N.C. ever since. He said he has always loved snowboarding in Maggie Valley and has always had family to visit in the state. Having grown up in a house full of huge fans of James Taylor and the state of North Carolina, with his initials of J.T. being the same as those of the artist, Tunnell said the song 'Carolina in My Mind' was a staple of the car speakers during his formative years. The song obviously had an effect, and J.T., the new reporter, is headed to Carolina in real life to join the local newspaper.
Tunnell brings a unique skill set to the Independent and the community, as he graduated from Georgia State University with a degree in English literature. After several years at the University of Richmond, Tunnell chose to return to Rome to manage a clothing store while earning his Associate Degree from Georgia Highlands College. He then moved to Atlanta to finish his degree at Georgia State. Since graduating, he has worked as a substitute teacher and tennis coach for his high school alma mater.
His experience writing about literature has taught him how much power words have in books and movies — in a novel, words can show whether a character is trustworthy, bending the truth, or lying entirely. Tunnell believes that words carry the same weight in the 'real world,' perhaps even more so, and the challenge is to capture the tone and tempo of a moment and put that feeling into words authentically, he noted. In tandem with that priority, he said he understands the importance of never having an agenda in any reporting; a reporter, he said, must avoid being in the news and focus on reporting it.
When reporters concentrate more on a narrative than facts, Tunnell remarked, "we are all worse for it." This is why Tunnell is passionate about the importance of local media, as he feels strongly that it brings people together at a fundamental level that allows everyone to grow together.
"Having spent so much time writing about the characters, words, and narratives in literature and film, I feel journalism will allow me to learn and write about life as it happens," Tunnell said. "The characters are no longer on the page or screen, and I feel a tremendous amount of responsibility being entrusted to me with the job of a reporter. I couldn't be more excited to join the Sampson County community and am so thankful for this opportunity to do work I care about in a place I care about."
Tunnell will cover city government, the Sampson County Board of Education, Sampson Community College, the towns of Garland, Turkey and Salemburg, and the United Way of Sampson County, just to name a few areas assigned to him.
With his love for people and writing, Matthews said she was sure Tunnell would hit the ground running in his new role at the Independent and getting to know the community.
"I hope the community will be as excited about reading Jack's work as I am, and I hope they will welcome him as warmly as they always welcome me," Matthews said.
