ABOUT US
The Virginia Mercury is an independent, nonprofit online news organization covering state government and policy. The Mercury launched in 2018 to bring a fresh perspective to coverage of the state’s biggest political and policy issues and fill the gaps in statehouse reporting created by a shrinking media industry.
The Mercury is an affiliate of States Newsroom, the nation’s largest state-focused nonprofit news organization, supported by grants and donations. We retain full editorial independence and are a proud member of the Virginia Press Association and the Virginia Capitol Correspondents Association.
Our staff is composed of five veteran journalists and we also publish original and guest commentary on a range of topics, including politics, environment/climate, education, health, labor, criminal justice, and more. We also consider commentary pieces on other topics, such as arts and culture and media criticism, on a case-by-case basis.
Guest commentary submission guidelines
We’re actively seeking opinion pieces from diverse voices. We want to publish perspectives from underrepresented communities, women, young people, and thinkers from all backgrounds with something valuable to say.
The Virginia Mercury generally features progressive commentary, though we are open to considering submissions on policy issues from a range of ideologies. We do not usually accept submissions, however, from declared candidates for public office or sitting elected officials.
While we welcome thoughtful analysis, criticism and opinions in the commentary we publish, we do not condone or publish hate speech, writing that includes stereotypes, or cruel humor that disparages individuals or organizations.
Successful commentary submissions will be between 700-800 words. On occasion, we may consider publishing longer commentary pieces. We only accept submissions of original work that haven’t been pitched or published elsewhere. Please include links and sourcing to expedite fact-checking and use AP style. We don’t require photos to be included in submissions, but please consider suggesting imagery that could visually represent your writing.
We reserve the right to edit all submissions for clarity and factual correctness prior to publication.
Contact Editor-in-Chief Samantha Willis with submissions: [email protected]
Samantha Willis
Editor-in-Chief
The Mercury’s Editor-in-Chief Samantha Willis is a native Virginian and journalist with 13 years of digital, print and broadcast media experience. Willis joined the Mercury as Deputy and Commentary Editor in January 2023. Prior, she helped launch VPM News’ weekly television news show Focal Point, working as the broadcast’s editorial producer, a reporter and writer; one of the episodes she worked on, which focused on mental health, won an Emmy Award in 2023 for Best Public Affairs Program. She’s also earned first place Virginias Associated Press Broadcasters and Virginia Press Association awards, among others. She was formerly a digital content producer and manager at WRIC ABC 8News and arts editor/writer at Richmond Magazine, and for five years worked as a full time freelance reporter/writer. Willis attended Radford University and lives in Ashland with her husband and three sons.
Markus Schmidt
Senior Politics Reporter/Deputy Editor
Markus is an award-winning journalist who brings more than 25 years of experience, including two years as an investigative reporter for BILD, the largest national daily publication in his native Germany, and more than four years with the Richmond Times-Dispatch. Markus comes to the Virginia Mercury from Cardinal News, where he covered state politics and broke numerous exclusive stories. Prior to that he served as associate editor for Virginia Living, the most read lifestyle magazine in the commonwealth. Markus has also spent several years in the music business, and he has a knack for Virginia bourbon and vintage jazz records.
Nathaniel Cline
Reporter
Nathaniel is an award-winning journalist who's been covering news across the country since 2007, including politics at The Loudoun Times-Mirror and The Northern Neck News in Virginia as well as sports for The Plain Dealer in Cleveland, Ohio. He has also hosted podcasts, worked as a television analyst for Spectrum Sports, and appeared as a panelist for conferences and educational programs. A graduate of Bowie State University, Nathaniel grew up in Hawaii and the United Kingdom as a military brat. Five things he must have before leaving home: his cellphone, Black Panther water bottle, hand sanitizer, wedding ring and Philadelphia Eagles keychain.
Charlotte Rene Woods
Reporter
Charlotte Rene Woods is an award-winning political reporter with a passion for solutions journalism. Previously, she was a politics reporter at The Richmond Times-Dispatch where she covered Virginia’s executive branch, state legislature, and members of Congress. Before that, she was a local government reporter at Charlottesville Tomorrow where her work chronicled changes in city hall and the police department following the deadly 2017 Unite the Right rally and the years-long process to remove Charlottesville’s Confederate monuments. Charlotte has also worked for various other publications in Virginia reporting on politics and business. She earned her master’s degree from Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond and her bachelor's degree from The New School in New York City.
Charles Paullin
Energy & Environment Reporter
Charles Paullin is a Richmond-based reporter with a background of working for the Northern Virginia Daily in the Northern Shenandoah Valley, and central Connecticut region across over the last five years. An Alexandria native, Charles graduated from the University of Hartford initially wanting to cover sports. He's received several Virginia Press Association awards the past two years covering crime, local government and state politics. Catch him during a morning run or in nature experiencing all the outdoors has to offer.
Roger Chesley
Columnist
Longtime columnist and editorial writer Roger Chesley worked at the (Newport News) Daily Press and The (Norfolk) Virginian-Pilot from 1997 through 2018. He previously worked at newspapers in Cherry Hill, N.J., and Detroit. He's been writing for the Mercury since 2019.
Bob Lewis
Columnist
Bob Lewis covered Virginia government and politics for 20 years for The Associated Press. Now retired from a public relations career at McGuireWoods, he is a columnist for the Virginia Mercury. He can be reached at [email protected]. Follow on Mastodon: @[email protected]
Ivy Main
Columnist
Ivy Main is a lawyer and a longtime volunteer with the Sierra Club's Virginia chapter. A former U.S. Environmental Protection Agency employee, she is currently the Sierra Club's renewable energy chairperson. Her opinions are her own and do not necessarily reflect those of any organization.