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Welcoming Watauga Democrat’s New Sports Reporter: Zach Colburn by Kade Maiden

Headshot for Zach Colburn (Submitted by Zach Colburn)


The Watauga Democrat dutifully covers our student-athletes here at Watauga High School, and recently, on March 18, the newspaper appointed a new member to their sports reporting team. Zach Colburn has over 15 years of experience with many papers in our region and will be sure to up our game when it comes to supporting local athletics.


Colburn is a 2007 graduate of Western Carolina University with a Bachelors of Science in Communications with a concentration in electronic media. 


“I originally went for broadcasting because I wanted to be a sports broadcaster. During my sophomore year at Western Carolina University, the school newspaper had a help wanted ad looking for sports writers,” said Colburn. “I didn’t really have a lot of writing skills but I had always enjoyed sports, so I gave it a try. Once I realized how much I enjoyed it, I wanted to continue to do it, and after graduating with a degree in Communications with a concentration in electronic media, I worked a number of different jobs in the field, but nothing gave me as much joy as writing sports.”


Throughout his career, Colburn has earned six individual awards from the North Carolina Press Association while working for the Tribune in Elkin and the Yadkin Ripple in Yadkinville. He has also received four more individual awards for sports reporting in 2023.


Colburn has had a long and esteemed career, with many stories covered. His favorite was when he had the chance to cover the Wilkes Central Women’s Basketball Team making the NCHSAA 2A championship during the 2014-15 season.


“What made that championship run my favorite was what happened three years earlier when they reached the state championship for the first time in school history (only had one loss going into the state title game), but lost to a very talented Jordan-Matthews squad,” Colburn said. “Several of those players were freshmen on that team and for them to close out their careers with a state title was very satisfying and a joy to cover — almost a finish to their story if you think about it.” 


This coverage is much akin to our Lady Pioneers recent appearance into the final four, where Colburn was also in attendance. In his time month and a half in Watauga, Colburn has attended and learned a lot about our sports community.


“One thing that I’ve noticed so far since I’ve been with the Watauga Democrat is how the entire community gets behind the athletic programs; that was very evident from the Lady Pioneers’ appearance in the NCHSAA 4A Western Regional championship game at Wake Forest University,” said Colburn. “I’ve also seen good crowds for the spring sports as well.” 


Newspapers are a dying art, but there is still a great importance in reliable news coverage, which will never become obsolete. There are still plenty of readers of online and print editions of local papers.


“For many areas, where would the local public hear about the stories that affect their town and everyday lives, if not for the local newspaper?” Colburn said.


Zach Colburm is a talented writer, photographer, and journalist, and is sure to be an asset for our Watauga County community.


“What’s excited me has been getting to cover new athletes and build good relationships with me and getting to chronicle their athletic achievements,” said Colburn. 

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