Trevon McGlone has been selected as the new content writer for The Sampson Independent. Born in Manhattan, New York as the middle child in a family of five, he moved to Hickory when he was 2 years old. He graduated from Hickory Career Arts and Magnet High School (HCAM), Catawba Valley Community College, and finally East Carolina University after two and a half years at the institution in December 2024, with a bachelor’s degree in communications focused in journalism. After graduating university, he moved to Garner, where he currently resides.
During his time at ECU, McGlone was a part of The East Carolinian, the campus newspaper, for two years as a sports reporter and for his final semester at the organization, he was the sports editor.
“I’ve always been motivated to write stories,” McGlone said. “Whether it was the community on campus, sports, or events the organizations were in charge of. I will bring that exact passion and drive to The Sampson Independent.”
He added that he believes it’s important for the community and news to have a close connection. “It’s the news’ job to inform and communicate information to the community in a truthful and meaningful way. That’s my mission and what I hope to accomplish is to build a bond with this community through The Sampson Independent.”
Editor Abby Cavenaugh said she was pleased to add McGlone to the paper’s relatively new editorial team. “The entire editorial staff has been revamped this year, and I think we’re stronger than ever,” she stated. “Trevon joins us at a pivotal time, when we are establishing a new era at The Sampson Independent, one that we hope will continue for years to come. We’re very excited for him to get to know the community and the towns, businesses and most importantly the people that make Sampson County a great place to live and work.”
McGlone will cover the towns of Garland, Newton Grove and Roseboro, as well as the Clinton City Board of Education, taking over from Anthony Goodman, who was recently promoted to sports editor. Content writer Noah Britt joined the staff in July, and covers the city of Clinton, the towns of Autryville and Salemburg, and the Sampson County Schools Board of Education. Cavenaugh rounds out the staff, covering Sampson County commissioners and Sampson Community College.
“Together, we are a great team,” she said, “and I’m very excited for our future as Sampson County’s local news source.”
McGlone said becoming a content writer is a natural step for his burgeoning career in journalism. Oftentimes, when he was a child, McGlone said he would make up scenarios or retell the stories he saw on the news.
“I used to come up with stories and read them out loud in the way a reporter would when I was a kid,” he shared. “I also liked to talk about the stories I would see on the local news as well and just try to tell it in a different way than it was originally presented.”
In particular, stories about the community, and how the events or situations among them captivated his attention. “The stuff I would read in the Hickory Daily Record at my grandmother’s house, I would always keep track of,” McGlone recalled. “It was mainly sports. But I figured out about things like what the convention center was doing, blood drives, local donation drives, things like that.”
McGlone stated that he is a big fan of creative writing, because it was an outlet for him in terms of a getting comfortable to write out his thoughts in a meaningful manner. He also believes that the most important thing when it comes to content writing, is the ability to break complex issues or subjects and make them digestible to everyone.
“Every article I write will have that in mind,” McGlone said. “Because at the end of the day, what matters is that people understand what I’m trying to explain to them. My job is to paint the clearest picture the best way I possibly can. That’s what I’m striving for.”