The Charlotte Observer expands online accessibility with more free articles
The historic Supreme Court ruling overturning Roe vs. Wade landed loudly in every corner of the country. In Charlotte, some churchgoers shouted praise while abortion-rights advocates sounded alarms. From protests to Sunday morning services, The Charlotte Observer chronicled the dismantling of the landmark case and its effects in North Carolina.
All of those stories were free to our readers and available on all of our platforms.
Essential, urgent news is important to everyone and no longer out of reach for anyone. The Observer for more than 135 years has been the news leader in Mecklenburg County and beyond. Through our website and e-edition, we reach hundreds of thousands of our neighbors every day.
But there are still members of our community for whom the Observer has not been accessible. It costs more to do just about everything these days. Driving to work, buying groceries, paying rent and even enjoying an evening out all pinch the budget. Making ends meet in many households is becoming more difficult.
That is why you’ll now get the majority of stories we publish for free. Removing the barrier separating many Charlotte-area residents from news and creating equitable access ensures we are there for our entire community. Of course, it costs to produce quality local journalism produced by people who live here and are invested in this community just as you are. For this reason, we hope that you will see the value in stories and visuals that help you navigate life in Charlotte and for those who can, consider subscribing.
The Charlotte Observer is distinguished by the depth and power of its accountability reporting, revelatory databases, powerful visuals and unique commentary and analysis.
These types of exclusive stories, along with our award-winning investigative reporting, will be accessible to the Observer’s loyal subscribers whose long-term support of our journalism allows us to dig even deeper on topics that matter most.
From the exhaustive reporting on the proliferation of corporate investors swallowing up the home ownership market, to a profile of a Charlotte man who ran three marathons in the three years after being told he had 18 months to live, watchdog reporting and storytelling produce unforgettable journalism. And the Observer’s commitment to inclusive content that represents all of the city’s residents provides unequivocal value to our readers.
Our service journalism desk is answering the questions most pressing on your minds. Our team of breaking news reporters is responding with urgency to major developments. Every day, our journalists are scouring public records, asking hard questions and standing in the gap for the public, with our audience always front of mind.
Now, a large portion of those stories -- the stories you’ll want to read to stay informed, safe and entertained -- are no longer behind a paywall. Alongside those free-to-read stories will be subscriber-only articles you won’t see anywhere else.
We hope you’ll join us as we move forward as the best news organization in Charlotte.
This story was originally published June 29, 2022 at 7:00 AM.
