Queens University of Charlotte
Thursday, May 21, 2026
CJC Local News Impact Summit 2026
Connecting Community. Powering Local News. Driving Solutions.
The Charlotte Journalism Collaborative’s Local News Impact Summit brings together journalists, community leaders, nonprofits, and residents for a day of conversation, connection, and action.
This year, we are widening the conversation to align with our Shifting Ground collaborative editorial project. At a time when our city is rapidly changing, this summit creates space to explore the issues shaping Charlotte—and the role local news plays in helping communities understand, respond, and thrive. Through panels, conversations, and interactive sessions, we’ll examine how information flows through our city, who it serves, and how we can strengthen it together.
Speakers and Agenda
Join us for complimentary coffee and beverages at 9:30 a.m. Program will begin promptly at 10 a.m.
In a year marked by heightened immigration enforcement and uncertainty, Charlotte residents have shown remarkable resilience. This session will center the lived experiences of individuals and families navigating these realities, alongside the organizations and neighbors supporting them. This panel will explore how communities responded in real time—and what these stories reveal about strength and solidarity, and the role of local news in telling them with care and accuracy.
Prior to this session, we shared a short compilation of the coverage from Charlotte Journalism Collaborative newsrooms during Operation “Charlotte’s Web” in our city. Watch that video here.
As federal funding priorities and policies continue to shift, nonprofits across Charlotte are navigating new challenges—and new uncertainties. This session will explore emerging data on how these changes are impacting organizations on the ground, from service delivery to long-term sustainability. Through the lens of Shifting Ground, we’ll connect policy decisions to real community impact—and examine how local journalism can surface these stories in ways that inform, empower, and drive understanding.
Lunch will be served in the courtyard outside of Trexler Student Center. CJC partners will direct attendees.
Lunch is provided thanks to the generous support of our sponsors:
North Carolina Local News Lab Fund, home of Press Forward North Carolina and Press Forward Charlotte
John S. and James L. Knight Foundation
Host sponsor: Knight School of Communication at Queens University of Charlotte
The CJC Local News Community Impact Award celebrates the storytellers, advocates and partners who shape Charlotte’s local news community. Congratulations Rana and Taylor on this year’s award!
Libraries have long been trusted spaces—but today, they are evolving into something even more essential. Knight Foundation’s Charles Thomas sits down for a conversation with Shamichael Hallman, author of “Meet Me at the Library: A Place to Foster Social Connection and Promote Democracy.” This conversation will explore the growing role of libraries as hubs for information, connection, and community care. From hosting public dialogue to providing access to critical resources, libraries are redefining what it means to serve a city in transition. Join us as we examine how these spaces support belonging, bridge information gaps, and strengthen the fabric of Charlotte.
As debate over the I-77 expansion and toll lane project intensified, so too has public frustration — raising important questions about when and how communities are informed about major infrastructure decisions. This panel brings together journalists, policymakers, and community voices to examine the role local media has played throughout the lifecycle of the project — from early planning states with limited coverage to the surge of reporting as tensions grew.
What if residents helped document the decisions shaping their communities? Documenters Charlotte is launching a new model for civic engagement—training and paying community members to attend public meetings, take notes, and share information back with their neighbors. This interactive session will introduce the program, feature voices from the national Documenters Network, and invite attendees into the conversation. Together, we’ll explore: what meetings matter most in Charlotte; how residents can get involved; and how this model can transform access to local information.
Who attended the 2026 Local News Impact Summit?
You can find a list of organizations here.
Code of Conduct
The short version – The CJC Local News Impact Summit is dedicated to providing a harassment-free experience for everyone. We do not tolerate harassment of participants in any form. Be kind, be respectful, and assume good intent. Read more here.
Visit the old CJC website for content prior to 2024. Link
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