Katie Banks joined the 9 On Your Side team in February 2012. She is a
general assignment reporter and digital journalist who reports, shoots,
writes and edits her own stories.
Prior to arriving at WNCT, Katie earned her master's degree from
Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism. At Medill, she
honed her skills in on-air reporting, video production, newswriting,
photography, web content and social media.
While working for the Medill News Service, she covered urban affairs,
politics and education in Chicago and Washington, D.C. Highlights of
her reporting include Rahm Emanuel's Chicago mayoral victory, Christmas
at the White House and interviewing family members of 9/11 victims as
they raised money for the Flight 93 memorial. Her work can be seen in
publications such as McClatchy newspapers, Northwest Indiana Times,
DailyCaller.com, Austin Weekly News and Chicago Journal.
Before attending graduate school, Katie worked as a production
assistant at ESPNU, an ESPN channel dedicated to college sports
coverage. She has also interned at Good Morning America, MTV Networks,
GoDuke.com and ABC11-WTVD in Durham, N.C.
Katie graduated from Duke University in 2010 with a bachelor's degree
in political science. In college, she joined the student cable station
and decided she wanted to turn her love of journalism into a career.
Katie is a North Carolina native who is excited to return to her home
state! Growing up, she split time living in the Appalachian Mountains
and on the coast near Jacksonville and Emerald Isle. She has since
quenched her thirst for city living in Washington, D.C., Chicago, New
York City and Barcelona, Spain.
When she's not reporting, Katie enjoys kayaking, traveling and rooting for her beloved Blue Devils during basketball season.
Katie looks forward to getting to know you, so please say hello if
you see her around town! She wants to report about the things that
matter to you most, so send your story ideas to her kbanks@wnct.com. You can also follow her on Facebook and Twitter.
Friday, May 17 2013 5:22 PM EDT2013-05-17 21:22:34 GMT
It's that time of year again – testing time. It's only natural for your child to get a little nervous about performing well, so teachers at one school in the East decided to do something about it. Pink
Tests can make anyone nervous -- so how about dancing out your fears?
Volunteers build dream playground at a Kinston elementary school
Friday, May 17 2013 5:14 PM EDT2013-05-17 21:14:43 GMT
It's taken nearly 50 years, but the students at a Kinston elementary school are finally getting their dream playground. On Friday, teachers, parents and community volunteers offered to help assemble the
It's taken nearly 50 years, but the students at a Kinston elementary school are finally getting their dream playground.
80-minute free period at J.H. Rose has students taking responsibility
Thursday, May 16 2013 6:38 PM EDT2013-05-16 22:38:08 GMT
For 80 minutes each day, students at J.H. Rose High School in Greenville live by one rule: "Be smart," says math teacher Tracey Moore. The free period is appropriately called "Smart Block," which stands
For 80 minutes each day, students at J.H. Rose High School in Greenville live by one rule: "Be smart."
Wednesday, May 15 2013 7:05 PM EDT2013-05-15 23:05:39 GMT
More school resource officers, textbooks and vocational training for your children. Those are just a few of the things Pitt County commissioners want to see from school leaders next year and it
More school resource officers, textbooks and vocational training for your children. Those are just a few of the things Pitt County commissioners want to see from school leaders next year and it
Genetic testing: How it works and if it's worth the money
Tuesday, May 14 2013 6:49 PM EDT2013-05-14 22:49:27 GMT
Would you want to know whether you're going to get cancer? There are pros and cons to both answers, but as mega-star Angelina Jolie proved, information is power. "It sounds like her mom had ovarian
Would you want to know whether you're going to get cancer?
Local teachers lobby state lawmakers to keep teacher assistant jobs
Monday, May 13 2013 6:53 PM EDT2013-05-13 22:53:02 GMT
More jobs in our state are on the chopping block. This time, the governor has his sights set on teacher assistants. Those positions cut the teacher-to-student ratio in half and allow educators to
More jobs in our state are on the chopping block. This time, the governor has his sights set on teacher assistants.
Thursday, May 9 2013 6:30 PM EDT2013-05-09 22:30:31 GMT
When it comes to your child's school, less money means fewer resources. And some educators say it's driving the best teachers away. "It's been really tough that we have not felt valued as educators,"
When it comes to your child's school, less money means fewer resources. And some educators say it's driving the best teachers away.
Unfunded state mandates put more pressure on school systems
Wednesday, May 8 2013 6:45 PM EDT2013-05-08 22:45:59 GMT
A good education doesn't come cheap. And now, more than ever, state legislators are cutting funding and drafting and passing bills that require teachers to do more with less. In fact, North Carolina
A good education doesn't come cheap. And now, more than ever, state legislators are cutting funding and drafting and passing bills that require teachers to do more with less.
Tuesday, May 7 2013 6:42 PM EDT2013-05-07 22:42:32 GMT
You can find anything at Wal-Mart. So when a judge needed a handful of jurors to serve during a criminal trial, that's exactly where the sheriff's office bailiffs headed. It happened
You can find anything at Wal-Mart. So when a judge needed a handful of jurors to serve during a criminal trial, that's exactly where the sheriff's office bailiffs headed. It happened
Tuesday, May 7 2013 11:27 AM EDT2013-05-07 15:27:31 GMT
Greenville's police chief plans several strategies to combat crime, including surveillance cameras, amped up undercover patrols and a strong line of communication between officers and the community. He
Greenville's police chief plans several strategies to combat crime, including surveillance cameras, amped up undercover patrols and a strong line of communication between officers and the community. He
Monday, May 6 2013 11:50 AM EDT2013-05-06 15:50:36 GMT
It's every kid's dream, a life-sized game of Chutes and Ladders. And that dream's coming true for children in Greenville. They'll be able to play on a 40-foot-long flat replica of the classic board game.
It's every kid's dream, a life-sized game of Chutes and Ladders. And that dream's coming true for children in Greenville. They'll be able to play on a 40-foot-long flat replica of the classic board game.
