Lilly Knoepp will serve as the Senior Regional Reporter for Blue Ridge Public Radio, the public radio organization announced today.
”It’s an honor to serve the region where I grew up,” Knoepp said. “I’m excited to continue to highlight the culture of Western North Carolina and share local news that informs our community.”
The creation of a senior regional reporting position reflects Blue Ridge Public Radio’s commitment to serving all of its 14-county service area.
“Lilly is trusted both as journalist in the community and a collaborator with colleagues,” BPR CEO and General Manager Jeff Pope said. “Her recent investigative work in Macon and Cherokee counties not only informs local communities but highlights the importance of local media presence in the region.”
The transition follows Knoepp’s recent award from the Public Media Journalists Association. Knoepp received the PMJA award in the “Special Feature: Underrepresented Communities” category for her story on the Qualla Boundary’s efforts to raise awareness of missing and murdered Indigenous women in Western North Carolina.
“The story is a clear example of Lilly’s ability to report on underrepresented communities and share their perspectives in a respectful and engaging way,” BPR News Director Laura Lee said.
Knoepp joined BPR in May 2018 as its first full-time Regional Reporter based in Sylva, covering the region’s westernmost counties. Originally from Franklin, Knoepp is the former assistant editor of Women@Forbes and digital producer of the Forbes podcast network. She holds a master’s degree in international journalism from the City University of New York and earned a double major from UNC-Chapel Hill in religious studies and political science.
Knoepp’s work at BPR has earned multiple accolades, including six awards from the Radio Television Digital News Association of the Carolinas and third place NC Press Association Awards for her elections coverage in partnership with The Smoky Mountain News in 2020.
As an anchor and an established collaborator of the Western North Carolina news ecosystem and the largest NPR affiliate in the region, BPR is expanding its news team, recently hiring Lee and former AVL Today senior editor Laura Hackett, now the station’s Asheville and Buncombe County reporter. The station also anticipates welcoming an additional host and reporter in the coming weeks.
