Ruth Ravitz Smith

Chief Communications Officer, New Hanover County


Ruth Ravitz Smith, who started Sept. 1 in a newly created role to increase the county’s interactions with the public, is responsible for leading the county’s Department of Communications and Outreach, which includes media relations, the New Hanover County TV station (NHCTV), outreach to community stakeholders and legislative affairs.

For media, she checks the local publications and TV outlets websites and apps, The Washington Post and Politico.
 
Regular website visits include Politico Playbook “great way to get my political fix in the morning;” Mullings.com “a great political column; and of course New Hanover County’s www.nhcgov.com.”
 
With books, enjoys reading historical fiction. Recent book club read was The Aviator’s Wife by Melanie Benjamin. “It’s a novel based on the life of Anne Morrow Lindbergh, and it inspired me to learn more about her.” Also likes books by Lisa See and Anita Diamant. On her nightstand now is All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr.
 
App picks include SpotHero when in big cities – “It discounts parking in key locations.” Also pulls up traffic monitor Waze, Yelp and TripAdvisor. “I also use Overdrive – to access the New Hanover County Public Library and Wilmington Downtown. And of course my Fitbit tracker.”
 
Device recommendations lately are small charging sticks for recharging on the go.
 
On Twitter: @RRSinNHC