2026 Local News Impact Summit

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 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.

Shifting Ground: Nonprofits, Policy & the Changing Landscape - 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.

The Heart of Community: Libraries as Civic Infrastructure - Libraries have long been trusted spaces—but today, they are evolving into something even more essential.

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.

Resilience in Real Time: Community Response and the Human Impact of Policy - 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. Through a panel or live interview format, we’ll explore how communities respond in real time—and what these stories reveal about strength, solidarity, and the role of local news in telling them with care and accuracy.

Documenters Charlotte: Building Community-Powered Journalism - 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

Additional sessions, speakers, and opportunities for engagement will be announced soon. Expect a dynamic mix of conversations, networking, and hands-on experiences designed to spark ideas and build connections across Charlotte’s information ecosystem.

Host sponsor: Knight School of Communication at Queens University of Charlotte

Sponsor the Summit! Click here for more information.

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Host or Publisher Charlotte Journalism Collaborative