The Charlotte Observer set to change print days as digital transition evolves
The Charlotte Observer is taking another bold step forward in its transformation to a digital-forward newsroom that meets the expectations and demands of today’s news consumers.
Starting Sept. 16, The Observer will publish the newspaper on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays. The papers will be delivered on the same day by the U.S. Postal Service, with the Sunday paper arriving on Saturdays.
In an age in which print has become cost-prohibitive and is limited by early deadlines, The Observer must transform its business to thrive in 2024 and beyond, while continuing to prioritize essential and distinctive content.
To that end, we are moving full-speed ahead with the seven-day-a-week digital Edition featuring late-developing news, smartly-packaged local content, related links for deeper engagement, complementary multimedia and interactive puzzles and games.
If you’re like me, a cup of coffee to go along with the morning newspaper was a daily routine. Scanning headlines with ink-stained fingertips, studying box scores and comics or setting aside time to read significant stories are all part of newspaper nostalgia. Acknowledging the emotional connection we have to printed daily news is important.
However, the journalism itself is more salient than the medium. It’s journalism that impacts lives, corrects wrongs, celebrates achievements and helps us make sense of the community we live in is as central now as it has ever been.
The Charlotte Observer has served that role for 138 years. Founded in 1886, The Observer is a pillar in our community, leading consequential conversations and keeping people informed on everything from local government, politics, business and education to sports, the arts and entertainment.
Just last week, The Observer was recognized by the North Carolina Press Association with nearly 20 awards. Our reporters have also been recipients of other prestigious awards.
Investigative reporter Ames Alexander placed second in the National Headliner Award for the “Burdened After Death” series about delays in the completion of death investigations and the financial crises into which it thrusts grieving families. Alexander was also the winner of McClatchy’s esteemed President’s Award for his coverage of the power frequently leveraged by North Carolina Homeowners’ Associations to strip people of their homes for minimal unpaid dues.
Features reporter Théoden Janes took first- and third-place NCPA awards, and the Society of Features Journalism honored him with a third-place finish in the most celebrated national competition of its kind.
Sports columnist Scott Fowler was awarded in the NCPA’s “serious columns” entries for a range of work, including one titled, “He stole the other half of me” about a pair of identical twins and softball players who were involved in an accident caused by a drunk driver, killing one of the sisters and altering their family’s lives forever.
Our coverage of the five-alarm SouthPark fire, the tragic killing of four police officers, local elections, the recent City Council vote regarding Bank of America Stadium, the naming of a new Charlotte Symphony Orchestra director, high school and professional sports and so much more encompasses just some of the breadth and depth of offerings provided by The Charlotte Observer.
Last year, the NCPA awarded The Observer first place for General Excellence online, and second for overall General Excellence.
None of these accomplishments was a result of the newspaper being on paper. Rather, they are because we have a newsroom with dogged, curious and gifted journalists. And, importantly, we have the ability to get their work in front of many thousands of people each day due to the digital advancements that have revolutionized the way we share information and connect. As a result, our digital readers generally see our content before print readers.
Still, the newspaper you’ll receive three days a week will be filled with our best local, state and regional content and will of course continue to showcase the work of our award-winning visual journalists.
In recent months we’ve also hired seven journalists, with more to come.
Admittedly, newspapers were at first slow to adapt to the changing world. Those days are long behind us now. Today, we publish with urgency, many times a day and with greater context. Observer readers increasingly receive news on their phones, tablets and computers. And that’s where we are, with content on CharlotteObserver.com, the Observer app, in Edition, in our newsletters and on our social media platforms.
Because of your feedback, our website now features a revamped calendar that allows you to more easily scan and enter events, and we have improved commenting capability on stories. With Edition, you can share stories with family and friends, adjust type size, seamlessly navigate between pages and stories, play puzzles and games, scan sports statistics and read a wealth of content from The Observer and many other outlets across the nation.
These changes are necessary for sustainability. The Charlotte Observer has been and will continue to be here. With these changes, we are stronger today and positioned to remain so because we’ve adapted to the habits of our readers.
Whether you are a new or longtime subscriber, thank you for your support and appreciation for the important role journalism plays in a healthy democracy and community.
If you are not a subscriber, I ask that you consider joining us as we press forward with our community top of mind each day.
In the coming days, subscribers will receive correspondence from our customer service team regarding next steps. That team can be reached at 800-532-5350.
Want to learn more? Join us for an exclusive subscriber event in which you’ll hear more about this transition, get one-on–one help to maximize use of Edition and have your customer service-related questions answered.
What: Looking To The Future and Demystifying Digital
When: Wednesday, July 17
Time: 11:30 a.m. and 6 p.m.
Where: Charlotte Observer at The Launch Factory, 2459 Wilkinson Blvd., Charlotte, NC 28208, Suite 310
How to register: https://www.eventbrite.com/cc/charlotte-observer-subscriber-events-3488789
Rana L. Cash, Executive Editor
This story was originally published July 12, 2024 at 6:00 AM.
