Spotlight on Charlotte’s Local News: Insights from Our January 2025 Salon Meeting
By Cathia Friou, Communications Committee
On the evening of January 14, 2025, we had the pleasure of hosting our second Salon Social at the lovely home of one of our members. The evening featured an enlightening conversation with two prominent figures in Charlotte’s media landscape: Chris Rudisill, Director of the Charlotte Journalism Collaborative (CJC), and Ju-Don Marshall, President and CEO of WFAE.
Our discussion centered around the vital role of reliable local news in serving Charlotte’s diverse population. It was a reminder of how crucial trustworthy storytelling is for fostering an informed and engaged community.
The CJC is one of Charlotte’s lesser-known treasures. Established in 2019, this initiative unites several key organizations, including:
- Charlotte Mecklenburg Library
- The Charlotte Observer
- James L. Knight School of Communication at Queens University of Charlotte
- La Noticia
- QCity Metro
- Qnotes
- UNC Charlotte Urban Institute
- WCNC-Charlotte
- WFAE 90.7 FM
Together, these partners work toward a shared mission: to be a trusted local news resource that informs and empowers the Queen City.
Recently, the CJC has concentrated its efforts on affordable housing, delivering robust, solution-oriented reporting on one of Charlotte’s most pressing issues. This kind of in-depth coverage is essential as the city navigates rapid growth and change.
Looking ahead, the CJC plans to launch Documenters Charlotte, a groundbreaking program that empowers residents to actively participate in the local news ecosystem. Through this initiative, local residents will be trained and compensated to attend and document government meetings. The result? A powerful, people-driven information resource for the entire community.
This innovative concept is already active in 25 cities, and with the necessary funding, Charlotte will soon join this list. Programs like Documenters Charlotte underscore the CJC’s commitment to solutions-based journalism that prioritizes the city’s well-being and future growth.
If you would like to explore the work of the Charlotte Journalism Collaborative, you can visit their website. And, as always, stay connected to Women’s Impact Fund by RSVPing to our many events throughout Charlotte by visiting our Events page. Most events are free and open to members and nonmembers, alike!
