Introducing The Charlotte Observer 2022 summer intern class

Soon you’ll be seeing new bylines in The Charlotte Observer as we welcome our 2022 intern class for the summer.

Starting in June, these seven journalists will spend 10 weeks covering news in our communities through reporting and visual storytelling.

Hosting interns and coordinating their arrival and time here has been one of my favorite parts about working at the Observer. Every year these student journalists invigorate our newsroom, take on important and interesting stories, and leave us with optimism about journalism’s future.

I’m pleased to introduce this year’s Observer internship class to you. Please let me or them know as summer arrives what ideas or suggestions you have about stories you want to see in the Observer.

Nadia Bey, Duke University

Nadia studies biology and global health and is currently digital strategy director at The Chronicle, where she was previously managing editor. Nadia will be working with the investigations team this summer.

Varun Shankar, University of Maryland

Varun studies journalism and economics, and is currently sports editor and reporter at The Diamondback. He also writes about high school sports for The Washington Post. This summer, he’ll be covering sports in and around Charlotte.

Blake Douglas, University of Oklahoma

Blake will join us after graduation from OU. He’s studying journalism and is editor-in-chief at OU Daily. He will be working with the metro news team for the summer in Charlotte.

Lorenza Medley, University of North Carolina Charlotte

Lorenza will graduate in May with a degree in Communication Studies/Journalism. She is a writer with Niner Media and will be working with the Observer’s Charlotte Five team this summer.

Gabe Castro-Root, American University

Gabe studies journalism and is interested in environmental studies and news, too. He’s a freshman currently working as a local news reporter at The Eagle. Gabe will be working with the business desk this summer.

Charlotte Kramon, Duke University

Charlotte is majoring in public policy studies and works with the 9th Street Journal. At the Observer, she’ll work with our metro news team for the summer.

Arthur Trickett-Wile, Western Kentucky University

Arthur studies photojournalism and is a staff photographer for the College Heights Herald and the Talisman Magazine. Over the summer, Arthur will work with our visuals team.

Anna Douglas

The Charlotte Observer

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Anna Douglas is The Charlotte Observer’s deputy managing editor and previously worked as an investigative reporter and news editor in the newsroom. Prior to joining the Observer, she worked as a local news reporter for The (Rock Hill) Herald and as a congressional correspondent in Washington, D.C., for McClatchy. Anna is a past recipient of the South Carolina Press Association’s Journalist of the Year award and the Charlotte Society of Professional Journalists’ Outstanding Journalism Award. She’s a South Carolina native, a graduate of Winthrop University, and a past fellow of the Dori Maynard Diversity Leadership Program, sponsored by the Society of Professional Journalists. Anna has lived in Charlotte since May 2017.