08/12/2026
For more than six years, Chris Rudisill has helped shape the Charlotte Journalism Collaborative into one of the nation’s leading local journalism collaboratives. This September, Chris will step down as the CJC Director as he and his husband relocate to Ohio to begin their next chapter. We are deeply grateful for his leadership and excited for what lies ahead – for Chris and for the Collaborative.
One of the strongest signs of the collaborative’s future is Queens University of Charlotte’s decision to establish a full-time leadership position dedicated to the Charlotte Journalism Collaborative within the Knight School of Communication. Combined with the recent launch of Charlotte Documenters and the collaborative’s strong network of newsroom, university and community partners, this represents a significant long-term commitment to collaborative journalism, journalism education, and civic engagement in Charlotte.
Under Chris’s leadership, the CJC expanded its role as a backbone organization for local news collaboration and civic engagement. Together with our partners – Charlotte Mecklenburg Library, The Charlotte Observer, Queens Knight School of Communication, La Noticia, Qcitymetro.com, QnotesCarolinas, UNC Charlotte Urban Institute, WCNC Charlotte, and WFAE – the CJC has:
• Produced collaborative reporting projects, including sustained multi-year coverage of Charlotte’s affordable housing crisis that reached audiences across multiple news organizations.
• Partnered with local artists to translate and creatively distribute stories about the COVID-19 pandemic, youth violence, local government, and how local news works.
• Brought journalists, community leaders, nonprofit organizations, and residents together each year in our annual Local News Impact Summit.
• Created the CJC Election Hub and other shared civic information resources that expanded access to vital local news and information.
• Expanded opportunities for student journalists to produce work published by local news organizations, strengthening both newsroom capacity and the next generation of journalists.
• Launched Shifting Ground to increase understanding of the local impacts of federal policy and funding decisions, including collaborative reporting and community engagement around immigration enforcement and Operation Charlotte’s Web.
• Launched a new model for civic engagement - Charlotte Documenters – training and paying residents to be active participants in covering local government meetings.
• Built new philanthropic partnerships that expanded investment in local journalism and demonstrated the power of collaboration to strengthen Charlotte’s news and information ecosystem.
Together, we showed the region and groups across the country what a collaborative local news ecosystem can look like.
As we begin the search for the next CJC Director, we invite leaders who believe in the power of collaboration, community engagement and strong local journalism to consider joining us in shaping the collaborative’s next chapter.
Most importantly today, however, we want to thank Chris for his leadership and commitment to Charlotte’s local news community.
The CJC has always been built on the belief that no single newsroom, university, or community organization can meet today’s information challenges alone. That belief remains unchanged.
As the collaborative enters its next chapter, our commitment to strengthening local journalism, expanding civic participation, and serving the Charlotte community remains stronger than ever.
Interested in helping lead the next chapter of the Charlotte Journalism Collaborative?
Learn more about the CJC Director position here:
Interested in helping lead the next chapter of the Charlotte Journalism Collaborative? As the collaborative enters its next chapter, our commitment to strengthening local journalism, expanding civic participation, and serving the Charlotte community remains stronger than ever.
