The State Port Pilot, described in April 1935 by Editor/Publisher, James M. Harper, Jr. as “A good newspaper in a good community,” has been serving the Southport, NC, area since 1928. In the last two decades alone, The State Port Pilot has earned over 600 awards in the annual North Carolina Press Association news and advertising competitions — including more than 20 General Excellence awards — proof that James Harper’s stated goal in 1935 is still the standard the newspaper strives for today.