About Me

Ronni Butts is an ambitious student reporter who aspires to report on politics in the nation's capitol. A rising senior at North Carolina Central University, Ronni was a co-editor-in-chief at the Campus Echo, NCCU's student-led newspaper, in the 2025-2026 academic year. She returns to The News & Observer as a politics reporting intern in 2026 after completing her first internship with the McClatchy HBCU Development Program in the summer of 2025. 

Under Ronni's leadership, the Campus Echo increased its social media following by 70% and had its first print edition in seven years in collaboration with The Nubian Message. Ronni made key contributions to the professionalization of the newsroom by creating a policy handbook and media brand kit, establishing key communication channels for staff and advisors, leading weekly professional development exercises for staff and establishing trusting relationships with NCCU faculty, staff and administrators.  

Ronni is a member of the fourth cohort of The New York Times Corps and the 2025 cohort of POLITICO's Summer Journalism Institute. She is also a national member of the National Association of Black Journalists. 

Ronni is looking for career-building opportunities in 2026 to prepare her for full-time reporting opportunities post-graduation.