{"id":47,"date":"2026-05-11T22:35:35","date_gmt":"2026-05-11T22:35:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/raleighmovingnews.com\/?p=47"},"modified":"2026-05-11T22:35:35","modified_gmt":"2026-05-11T22:35:35","slug":"its-not-just-negativity-in-here-behind-the-pages-of-one-of-americas-longest-running-inmate-publications","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/raleighmovingnews.com\/?p=47","title":{"rendered":"\u2018It\u2019s not just negativity in here\u2019: Behind the pages of one of America\u2019s longest-running inmate publications"},"content":{"rendered":"
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NASHVILLE, N.C. (WNCN) \u2014 Inside a newsroom tucked within Nash Correctional Institution\u2019s massive printing plant, incarcerated journalists gather story ideas, conduct interviews, create artwork, and assemble pages for one of the nation\u2019s longest-running prison publications.<\/p>

Read more Canvas access fully restored in Wake County after hacking, potential data leak<\/a><\/p>\n

Four times each year, the men behind The Nash News<\/em> produce a newsletter filled with stories from inside prison walls \u2014 a process they said provides both creative purpose and a connection to others living behind bars.<\/p>\n

\u201cA lot of the time, we\u2019re definitely looking for content for an issue, but you just kind of overhear somebody\u2019s story, which is their life,\u201d inmate journalist Michael Sutton said. \u201cBut then you hear them talking about it, and like, that\u2019s a really interesting story.\u201d<\/p>\n

The publication begins with inmate journalists gathering stories throughout the prison.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen we get a chance to tell those stories, those are the ones we jump on first,\u201d inmate journalist Kwame Teague said.<\/p>\n

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After identifying stories, the men conduct interviews throughout the prison, sometimes meeting with inmates in housing units and other times bringing them into the newsroom depending on the topic.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe set up interviews with the people, we\u2019ll sit in the block and interview them, sometimes we\u2019ll take them over to the newsroom and interview them, depending on the subject matter and how sensitive it is,\u201d Sutton said.<\/p>\n

Once completed, the stories move through an editorial process led by inmate editor Timothy Johnson.<\/p>\n

\u201cI oversee all of the activities of The Nash News<\/em>, lead the weekly meetings, assign the articles,\u201d Johnson said.<\/p>\n

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Inmate editor Timothy Johnson, left, and inmate illustrator Jason Williford. (CBS 17)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The publication also features original artwork created by inmate illustrator Jason Williford, who said the role allows him to pursue a longtime passion.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was always a dream of mine as a kid to be a comic book artist, so this is right up my alley,\u201d Williford said.<\/p>\n

Assistant editor Cris Gardner handles the layout and visual presentation of each edition.<\/p>\n

\u201cI use this to lay out all the stories, put in all the artwork \u2014 I choose the graphics and the overall look of the publication,\u201d Gardner said.<\/p>\n

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Four editions of The Nash News<\/em> are printed every year \u2014 one for each season \u2014 and uploaded to a digital database accessible by prisons across the country.<\/p>

Read more NC resident among those evacuated from hantavirus-infected cruise, state health officials say<\/a><\/p>\n

For many involved, the publication offers more than just a creative outlet.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt created community,\u201d Teague said. \u201cIt created community and a sense of belonging. I always say making the best of a bad situation, finding other individuals who were doing the same thing.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Gardner said the work also serves as an escape from the daily pressures of prison life.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is where I get away from all the stress that\u2019s on the block, the noise, the aggravation,\u201d Gardner said.<\/p>\n

The newsletter\u2019s impact becomes especially visible once copies are distributed throughout the prison.<\/p>\n

\u201cI live on a top tier of the prison block, and I go and I pass out The Nash News<\/em> \u2014 I put them on everybody\u2019s door and on their beds, and some guys don\u2019t care, they\u2019re just going to throw them aside,\u201d Gardner said.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut sometimes, I\u2019ll sit up there on the top tier, and I\u2019ll look down and I\u2019ll watch, and somebody\u2019s got it open, and they\u2019re looking at it, or someone will come up to me later and say, \u2018Hey, I saw my picture in there,\u2019\u201d he said. \u201cI appreciate that.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Sutton said seeing the impact the stories have had on others inside the prison changed how he viewed the publication.<\/p>\n

\u201cOnce I could see the joy in people\u2019s faces when you can articulate stuff that they can\u2019t and get their stories out, and the joy they find when they see themselves and their stories in The Nash News<\/em>, it just kind of made me fall in love with it,\u201d Sutton said.<\/p>\n

The men behind The Nash News<\/em> said the stories also help show a side of prison life often unseen by the public.<\/p>\n

Looking for more positive news in your day? Check out The Bright Side \u2600\ufe0f<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s not just negativity in here,\u201d Teague said. \u201cThere are guys in here who are really, really trying to better their lives, and they deserve a second chance.\u201d<\/p>\n

For Williford, the publication represents something many inmates search for during lengthy prison sentences \u2014 hope.<\/p>\n

\u201cThings like that just give you hope,\u201d Williford said. \u201cIf you have a long-term sentence like I do, you need something to hold on to, you need something to give you hope.\u201d<\/p>

Read more Kids of all ages need regular recess for physical and mental health, pediatricians group finds<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

NASHVILLE, N.C. (WNCN) \u2014 Inside a newsroom tucked within Nash Correctional Institution\u2019s massive printing plant, incarcerated journalists gather story ideas, conduct interviews, create artwork, and assemble pages for one of the nation\u2019s longest-running prison publications. Four times each year, the men behind The Nash News produce a newsletter filled with stories from inside prison walls […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":42,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-47","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"yoast_head":"\n\u2018It\u2019s not just negativity in here\u2019: Behind the pages of one of America\u2019s longest-running inmate publications - Raleigh Moving News<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/raleighmovingnews.com\/?p=47\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"\u2018It\u2019s not just negativity in here\u2019: Behind the pages of one of America\u2019s longest-running inmate publications - Raleigh Moving News\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"NASHVILLE, N.C. 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