Helen Chickering
Morning Edition Host, ReporterHelen Chickering is a host and reporter on Blue Ridge Public Radio. She joined the station in November 2014.
Helen grew up in Texas. Her broadcast career began in television news in 1985 at WLBT, the NBC affiliate in Jackson, Mississippi. There she did everything from news to weather and found her niche in medical reporting. Over the next 20 years she covered health and science news on both local and national levels, including 5 years in Charlotte at the CBS affiliate, WBTV. In 1998, Helen helped launch the health and science desk at NBC News Channel, the network's affiliate news service. She became the first journalist to serve as president of the National Association of Medical Communicators and was on the founding board of the Science Communicators of North Carolina.
In 2012, Helen and her family moved to Asheville from Chapel Hill and she started working as a freelance producer and as a Montessori teaching assistant. A longtime NPR listener, she was thrilled to land a job at Blue Ridge Public Radio. Helen is an active member of the Asheville Science Tavern and a guest lecturer and an advisory board member at the University of North Carolina's Medical and Science Journalism Program.
Email: hchickering@bpr.org
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Journalist Mark Barrett discusses his Mountain Xpress reporting, highlighting the struggles of Asheville’s service workers in Helene’s aftermath. -
The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Storm Watch as snow and wintry weather are set to impact the region. Travel disruptions and power outages are possible. -
In his final days as governor, Roy Cooper discussed disaster recovery, housing challenges, and plans for the future during a visit to Western North Carolina. -
Efforts to manage storm debris in Western North Carolina are helping residents stay warm with and rebuild tree cover. -
North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper requests $25.57 billion in federal aid for Hurricane Helene recovery, criticizing the Republican-led state legislature’s relief efforts as inadequate and calling Senate Bill 382 a “disaster bill.” -
Con 18 casos confirmados en el condado de Buncombe desde mediados de agosto, los funcionarios de salud pública instan a las familias a controlar los síntomas y buscar tratamiento temprano. -
With 18 confirmed cases in Buncombe County since mid-August, public health officials urge families to monitor symptoms and seek early treatment.
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Retiring Executive Director Jim Barrett and his successor Jackie Kiger share their vision for the nonprofit’s continued impact in Western North Carolina. -
The young paddler from Bryson City earns a podium finish in canoe slalom and gears up for the extreme kayak cross competition. -
The embattled company running Mission Hospital faces nurse union complaints, a lawsuit in North Carolina, and continued scrutiny amid community concerns.
