We Open the Doors Today
Charlotte Mercury hits send this morning. No paywall, no tracking pixels, only the essential civic homework every resident deserves. Last year 127 U.S. newspapers closed, stranding nearly 55 million people in news deserts (Medill State of Local News 2024). At the same time only 22 percent of adults follow local news very closely, down fifteen points since 2016 (Pew Research Center). Charlotte is not exempt.
Why the Old Model Collapsed
Ad Dollars Fled to Platforms
Classifieds vanished into Craigslist; display budgets now orbit Google and Meta. Newsrooms shrank to invoices and obits.
Chains Cut Muscle, Not Fat
Debt‑heavy chains slashed beats then bragged about “synergies.” Residents lost watchdogs; hedge funds banked fees.
Metrics Reward Outrage
Algorithms count clicks, not zoning motions. Public meetings go uncovered; misinformation fills the gap.
Our Counter‑Plan
Build in Full View
Every Friday, we’ll publish a Newsroom Scorecard: stories shipped, stories spiked, revenue earned, mistakes logged.
Local First, Always
Council votes, school bonds, sidewalk petitions—nothing “too small” if it shapes a block or tax bill.
Clear Math for Advertisers
Sponsors will see open dashboards: impressions, reads, redemptions. No black‑box “reach.”
Rights You Can Use
All articles carry a Creative Commons license so neighborhood newsletters can reprint watchdog work without begging.
What “Building in Public” Means
- Live Roadmap — product updates, CMS bugs, SEO experiments, all pushed to Blog.
- AMA Sessions — reporters answer reader criticism in comment threads.
- Transparent Budgets — spending categories posted quarterly.
- Source Credit — if a tip comes from a PTA bulletin, we link it.
How Readers Can Move the Needle
- Subscribe at charlottemercury.com for inbox delivery.
- Send Tips to tips@mercurylocal.com.
- Advertise if you run a business that values proof over puffery.
- Hold Us Accountable—publicly, loudly.
We are here because empty beats cost real money in taxes, trust, and talent. Let’s plug the holes together.
About the Author
Fueled by a double‑shot cold brew, Peter Cellino lurks on @pc51.bsky.social and answers every DM. Explore more at Blog, run numbers in Case Studies, raid the Resource Library (start with the Local SEO Playbook), or find ethical ad spots under Advertising for Charlotte Mercury and Strolling Ballantyne.
Footnotes & Fine Print
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Creative Commons License
© 2025 Mercury Local / Mercury Local
This article, “Charlotte Mercury Launches Today, Building Local News in Public,” by Peter Cellino is licensed under CC BY‑ND 4.0.
“Charlotte Mercury Launches Today, Building Local News in Public”
by Peter Cellino, Mercury Local (CC BY‑ND 4.0)
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