Asheville Watchdog has hired Dan DeWitt, a veteran journalist with deep ties to western North Carolina, in the newly created position of deputy managing editor/senior reporter.

DeWitt starts July 7. He is The Watchdog’s second new journalism hire this year.

“We’re thrilled to continue to grow our team of journalists,” Publisher Bob Gremillion said. “Dan has produced excellent journalism in the region for several years and we look forward to seeing his impact on Asheville and Buncombe County.”

DeWitt, who worked at the Tampa Bay Times for 28 years before moving to western North Carolina, launched Brevard NewsBeat in 2021. As the digital news site’s editor and sole reporter, he has written in-depth, investigative stories on a variety of issues, including the shortage of affordable housing, the decline of Transylvania Regional Hospital following HCA Healthcare’s purchase of the Mission Health System in 2019, and wasteful spending at a high-profile nonprofit.

“I’m thrilled to be joining The Watchdog,” DeWitt said. “Not only do I know it as a great publication, but it’s regarded in journalism circles across the country as one of the best and most inspirational examples of the grassroots efforts to revive local reporting and accountability. I can’t wait to start working with this talented and highly accomplished team.” 

From 1989 to 2017, DeWitt worked in the Hernando County bureau of the Tampa Bay Times, formerly the St. Petersburg Times and one of the best regional news outlets in the country. He covered multiple beats, including police, courts, the county commission, schools, business and the environment.

While covering growth and development, DeWitt wrote stories that led to the fraud conviction of a prominent local builder and the imprisonment on federal embezzlement charges of the executive director of a local housing authority. From 2007-2017, he wrote reported columns on local politics and business three times a week.

DeWitt received a bachelor’s degree in history from Kenyon College in Gambier, Ohio, and a master’s degree in journalism from the University of Michigan.

Founded in 2020, Asheville Watchdog is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit news organization created and run by award-winning retired journalists and media executives and funded by community donations. A mix of volunteers and paid employees, The Watchdog focuses on investigative and accountability journalism on topics of vital interest to the citizens of Asheville and Buncombe County.

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Asheville Watchdog is a nonprofit news team producing stories that matter to Asheville and Buncombe County. Keith Campbell is the managing editor of The Watchdog. Email kcampbell@avlwatchdog.org. To show your support for this vital public service go to avlwatchdog.org/support-our-publication/.

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