Mary Helen Jones joined the Spectrum News team in 2018 as a reporter in Greensboro before making her way to Raleigh in June 2021.

She grew up in the South Carolina coast and began her news career in Rapid City, South Dakota.

Mary Helen is part of the Spectrum News political team, reporting on the State Legislature. In her time at Spectrum News, she's covered hurricanes, presidential visits, Congressional election parties, and North Carolina Supreme Court cases. She also served as the nationwide Spectrum News correspondent for the final 2020 presidential debate in Nashville.

Mary Helen is passionate about speaking to people who are impacted by the decisions made every day by our elected and appointed leaders. She considers it a huge responsibility to be trusted with their stories. One of the most impactful stories Mary Helen covered was that of a mother who lost two children to drugs and went on to fight for higher penalties for drug dealers.

When she isn’t working on her next story, it’s a safe bet that Mary Helen has found a sport to watch, from Formula 1 to college football, cheering especially loud for her alma mater, The University of Georgia.

You can reach Mary Helen on Twitter @MHJreports or Facebook at  Mary Helen Jones News.