The values of Not Just Headlines (NJH) are rooted in the following principles:

  • Nonpartisan Integrity

    NJH is committed to making local politics accessible without partisan bias. We believe young people deserve to make their own informed decisions and engage with candidates and issues from all perspectives based on facts.

  • Voter Empowerment

    A core value of NJH is to educate and engage young voters, particularly Gen Z, empowering them to understand and participate in local elections.

  • Fostering Accountability

    NJH builds civic power by encouraging young people to stay informed and actively hold their elected officials accountable. We believe accountability doesn't end on Election Day; it's an ongoing responsibility.

  • Community Engagement

    NJH strives to build a strong, informed community of young voters through campus organizing, speaking events, and peer-to-peer mobilization. We believe change happens when young people connect with each other and take collective action.

  • Inclusivity

    NJH seeks to represent all young North Carolinians in our work, ensuring diverse perspectives and experiences are centered in our organizing and advocacy. We believe every young person deserves access to civic engagement, regardless of background or political identity.

  • Innovation

    NJH embraces creative approaches to civic engagement, meeting young people where they are. On social media, on campus, and in their communities. We believe in making local politics relevant, accessible, and engaging for our generation through fresh perspectives and authentic connections.

Our Purpose

  • Empowering young North Carolinians to engage in local politics through education, organizing, and community building.

  • We envision a future where young voters are engaged and empowered to vote in local elections, giving them the tools to make informed decisions at the ballot box.

Frequently Asked Questions

Getting Started

  • Not Just Headlines is a youth-led civic engagement movement mobilizing young North Carolinians to participate in local politics. We make down-ballot races accessible through voter education, campus organizing, speaking engagements, and community building. Founded in 2024 by Lily Oatis, we've interviewed 60+ candidates and reached thousands of students across the state.

  • Lily Oatis is the founder of Not Just Headlines and a student. As a first-time voter in 2024, she was frustrated by how difficult it was to find information about local candidates. That experience led her to create Not Just Headlines - first by interviewing every candidate on her ballot, then by building a movement to help other young people engage with local politics. Lily speaks at campuses and community events across North Carolina about why down-ballot races matter for Gen Z.

  • No. Not Just Headlines is non-partisan. We believe young people deserve access to information about all candidates and should make their own informed decisions. Our work focuses on increasing civic participation and making local politics accessible, regardless of party affiliation.

Getting Involved

  • We'd love to partner with your campus! We offer:

    • Speaking engagements on youth civic engagement and local politics

    • Voter registration drives and election day organizing

    • Candidate forums and issue discussions

    • Leadership training for student organizers

    Contact us at contact@notjustheadlinesmedia.com or fill out our speaking inquiry form to discuss bringing NJH to your school.

  • There are several ways to join the movement:

    For Students:

    • Follow us on Instagram and share our content

    • Host a voter registration drive at your campus

    • Volunteer at our events

    For Organizations:

    • Partner with us on voter engagement initiatives

    • Book Lily to speak at your event

    • Co-host candidate forums or civic education workshops

    For Everyone:

    • Sign up for our newsletter

    • Share local election information with your networks

    • Show up and vote in EVERY election

  • Absolutely! While our primary audience is young voters, we welcome support from allies of all ages. You can:

    • Invite us to speak at your organization

    • Support our voter registration efforts

    • Connect us with students or campuses

    • Share our resources with young people in your life

    • Sign up for our newsletter to stay updated

About Our Work

  • In two years, we interviewed 60+ candidates for North Carolina's elections. Those interviews helped us realize that young people need more than just information - they need community, organizing, and ongoing engagement. We've evolved from a podcast into a full civic engagement movement. The interview archive remains available as a resource, but our focus is now on direct organizing and mobilization.

  • Currently, yes. We're building deep roots in North Carolina before expanding. Our goal is to become the leading youth civic engagement organization in the state, then use that model to support similar efforts in other states. Local impact comes before national growth.

  • Not Just Headlines currently operates through speaking fees and grassroots support. We're exploring partnerships with civic organizations and foundations that support youth voter engagement. We do not accept funding from candidates, campaigns, or partisan political organizations to maintain our independence.