Finding solutions, informing communities, together.

Download our 2021-2022 Strategic Plan

Our Core Values

We choose courage over comfort.

• We report for truth, even when the truths are unpopular or uncomfortable.
• We explore alternative, creative ways of reaching audiences with an eye towards impact.
• We utilize our collective power to research and voice solutions to city crises even when powerful people and institutions are invested in maintaining the status quo.

We act in service for our community.

• We remain hyper focused on the problems facing Charlotte residents.
• We seek solutions for community health and well-being and aim to strengthen the overall connections with the local news ecosystem.
• We present news that resonates with and reflects diverse communities.
• We intentionally create opportunities for diverse communities to engage.
• We share information that helps residents navigate complex situations.

Stop housing harm in Charlotte.

We do this through rigorous and collaborative solutions journalism. As we grow as news professionals and as a collaborative focused on increasing opportunity for engagement and trusted information in the local news ecosystem — our goal is to impact the community we serve while revitalizing a sustainable and trust news community that is supportive and vital to the growing city of Charlotte.

The Charlotte Journalism Collaborative is dedicated to provide a platform and structured community journalism partnership that supports the future of Charlotte in its work, serves as a trusted source of information and news and addresses the problems that are the most important to our city’s residents.

Who we are

Members of the collaborative include The Charlotte Observer, La Noticia, QCity Metro, QNotes, WCNC-TV, and WFAE 90.7FM, as well as the James L. Knight School of Communication at Queens University of Charlotte, the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library, and Free Press, a community-engagement organization.

Formation of the group was led by Michael Davis, South Region Manager for the Solutions Journalism Network, based in the Charlotte area. Primary representatives of the collaborative are:

Hilda Gurdian, Publisher and founder of La Noticia, the primary media outlet serving the Latino community across North Carolina

Jim Yarborough, Publisher of QNotes, the innovative media firm established to serve the LGBTQ community in the Charlotte area.

Amy Lehtonen, Director of Digital Media for WCNC-TV, an NBC affiliate owned by TEGNA Inc., and one of the major television stations in the Charlotte region.

Glenn Burkins, Editor and Publisher who founded QCity Metro, the leading news website serving the African-American community in the Charlotte region.

Jennifer Lang, Senior Editor, Digital and Product at WFAE, the NPR news station in the Charlotte region.

Ju-Don Marshall, is the Chief Content Officer of WFAE, the NPR news station in the Charlotte region.

Sherry Chisenhall, Executive Editor at the Charlotte Observer, the leading daily newspaper and news website in the Charlotte region.

Rick Thames, Executive in Residence at the James L. Knight School of Communication, and former Executive Editor of the Charlotte Observer.

Alicia Bell, Community Organizer with Free Press, a community engagement organization working in the Charlotte area.

Seth Ervin, Chief Innovation Officer for the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library, which works closely with the CJC, hosting charlottejournalism.org and providing meeting and event space throughout the city.

Staff

Chris Rudisill, Director
Email: director@charlottejournalism.org

David Griffiths, Data and Research Intern

Margaret Thacker, Audience Engagement Intern