The Mission
The Campus Echo is a student-led publication that serves students, faculty and staff at North Carolina Central University and the surrounding Durham community. We tell stories that matter from perspectives that matter and are committed to reporting news with integrity, accuracy, and fairness.
The Campus Echo is the official student newspaper of North Carolina Central University. NCCU, a historically-black college/university (HBCU), is one of the 16 constituent member schools of the University of North Carolina System. It has been targeted as a “growth institution” by UNC. NCCU, with its more than 9,000 students, is located in the heart of Durham just minutes from the Research Triangle Park, a booming technology and biotechnology center.
NCCU is renowned for educating African-American professionals and community leaders. The university has programs in biotechnology, education, criminal justice, nursing, health education, law and public administration. Additionally, NCCU is home to the Institute for the Study of Minority Issues and the new Biomedical/Biotechnology Research Institute, a program partnered with the National Institutes of Health and companies like Glaxo Wellcome and Eli Lilly to address the health needs of minority groups.
In the last 15 years, the print and online editions have won over 250 national and regional awards from the Black College Communication Association (BCCA), the Society for Professional Journalists (SPJ), the Associated Collegiate Press and the North Carolina College Media Association.
These honors include the national Mark of Excellence Award for Best Online Student Newspaper and numerous general excellence awards from the BCCA and the SPJ. We are eager to serve your advertising needs and to enroll your support of our student newspaper.
If you decide to advertise with us, your ad will be seen in one of the nation’s very best black college student newspapers. The Campus Echo is one of the most highly recognized HBCU student newspapers in the nation.
Who you will reach with our online/mobility-enhanced web edition:
- Our readers are the 9,160 undergraduate and graduate students enrolled in NCCU and the approximately 1,000 full-time faculty and staff of the institution, plus thousands of NCCU alumni
- average age of NCCU full- and part-time students is 24 years
- the majority of students are North Carolinians, but 37 states are represented in the student body
- 83% of the students are African-American; 14% are white
- 65% of the students are female
Editorial Staff
Ronni Butts, Editor in Chief
Ronni Butts is a junior political science student with a mass communications minor. She has been a member of the Campus Echo staff since October 2023 and is an aspiring White House correspondent.
De’Zaria Lucas, Editor in Chief
De’Zaria Lucas is a junior mass communications student concentrating in journalism. She joined the Campus Echo staff in March 2024 and is an aspiring multimedia journalist focusing on foreign affairs and social policy. She serves as one of the co-editors for the 2025–2026 school year.
Daijah Boyd, Sports and Photo Editor
Daijah Boyd is a senior business administration major concentrating in marketing. She joined the Campus Echo in October 2023 and serves as sports and photo editor this year. After graduation, she plans to pursue a master’s in sports business administration and work in sports media and marketing.
K’Mari Greene, News Editor
K’Mari Greene is a junior mass communications and journalism student at North Carolina Central University. She has written for the Campus Echo since January 2024 and is the news editor this year. After graduation, she plans to pursue a career as an on-air reporter.
News Staff
Charles Green, Sports Writer
Andre Roberson, Staff Writer
Amiya Neal, Staff Writer
Alexander Murphy, Staff Writer and Photographer
Christian Newell, Staff Writer
Advisors
Kara Andrade, Lead Faculty Advisor
Richard Hart, Contributing Advisor
Daniel Hooley, Faculty Advisor
Tom Letts, Faculty Advisor