Meet Gordon Rago, The Charlotte Observer’s new growth and development reporter
It didn’t take long for me to notice just how quickly Charlotte is growing.
On my first visit here back in May, I spent hours walking and driving around different parts of town. It was hard to miss all the construction: apartment after townhome after office building.
That’s why I knew covering the growth and development beat would be a challenge — and a great opportunity. In my first few weeks at the Observer, it’s become clear many people care deeply about how this growth is impacting their neighborhoods.
I’m thrilled to be starting this new beat for such a storied newspaper and to take the torch from some talented reporters who’ve told these stories on these pages for many years.
I grew up an hour north of New York City, in a small town called South Salem.
It’s safe to say newspapers are in my blood: both of my parents are former reporters — heck, they first met while working at one. Since leaving home, I’ve lived in Pennsylvania, Idaho and Virginia.
When I’m not writing frantically on deadline, you can catch me getting walked by my dog, a black lab mix named Tucker, or eating a good burger. By the way, I’ll gladly take your food suggestions in Charlotte.
I’m a lifelong ice hockey player and a big fan of the NHL. I root for the New Jersey Devils, but might just have to start watching more of the Carolina Hurricanes.
Doing right by the community
I’m coming in as the new guy, but I’ve been around the business for close to a decade.
My first stop was in Idaho, at a paper just a few hours south of Canada, tucked away among the mountains in what’s known as the Silver Valley. I wrote about anything and everything. Crime, courts, education, Friday night high school football. My writing skills turned out better than my photo skills, but that’s still a work in progress.
I then spent a few years as a reporter in York, Pennsylvania, “covering the cops” as my favorite Miami Herald reporter Edna Buchanan would say. It was a tough beat but taught me how to write quickly and efficiently. It also taught me how much I value storytelling.
I’m all about journalism with context. I want to get these stories right and do right by the community.
My last stop before Charlotte was in Norfolk, Virginia, a military town that’s home to the world’s largest naval base as well as one of the largest container ports on the East Coast. I reported on sea level rise from sandy beaches and flood-prone streets and covered City Hall at one of the commonwealth’s largest cities.
I couldn’t be more excited to take all these years of experience to Charlotte.
The city might be growing quickly but I know there’s important history here and people who are proud to call this place home.
I hope you can follow along and join me as I learn and listen and write about my new home. I couldn’t be happier to be here. Please drop me a line with any tips, story ideas or general concerns. I’m here to listen.
