Good morning! Today is Monday, May 11, 2026. You’re studying The Charlotte Ledger, an e-newsletter with native business-y information and insights for Charlotte, N.C.
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Happy Monday, Ledger readers, it’s Ashley. Today’s e-newsletter is (inadvertently) a bit media industry-heavy — longtime media reporter Mark Washburn tells a compelling story about one thing newer Charlotteans won’t know: what Ted Turner’s time within the Queen City was like earlier than he began NCS. We even have an evaluation of what will get lined rather a lot (and what’s underreported on) amongst native information organizations, primarily based on a Columbia University report, and we’re introducing our summer time interns — one in every of whom begins with us this week! Plus, rather more.
Today’s Charlotte Ledger is sponsored by The Village on Morehead. The Village on Morehead’s Aging Boldly Speaker Series continues May 20 with Ramona Holloway, “Navigating Change, Embracing Opportunity,” adopted by Riley Fields, Director of Community Relations, Carolina Panthers on June 17.
The late billionaire media mogul’s time in Charlotte performed a key function in his ascent
Ted Turner died final week at age 87. Before beginning Cable News Network, he made his mark on the Charlotte media {industry}. (Photo from Getty Images)
Ted Turner’s wild journey by Charlotte’s broadcasting world within the Nineteen Seventies started with a chapter and completed with a fortune.
Turner, who died final week at 87 after incomes billions, revolutionizing cable tv and creating the 24-hour information cycle, spent that fortune creating the Cable News Network.
A bit-known chapter of Turner’s chaotic profession started in 1970 when he drove up from his native impartial station in Atlanta to purchase some broadcast tools from Charlotte’s fledgling Channel 36, which was in receivership after years of losses.
Turner appeared the station over and determined he’d simply purchase the entire thing by assuming its debt of $1.2M.
It was such a hopeless funding that his board at Turner Communications refused to place any cash into it, leaving Turner to purchase it out of his personal pocket.
He modified the station’s name letters to WRET (for his formal identify, Robert Edward Turner III) and began exhibiting motion pictures, wrestling, curler derbies and reruns of “The Andy Griffith Show.”
Channel 3 (WBTV) and Channel 9 (WSOC) have been Charlotte’s dominant stations. Both have been community associates, each had massive newsrooms and each have been extremely worthwhile.
Turner’s WRET barely had a pulse. As a UHF station, its sign was weak, viewers wanted a particular antenna to obtain it, and it wasn’t even on the TV dials of the time that lined channels 2 by 13.
WRET offered prime-time 30-second advertisements for $24 and located few takers. Over at WBTV, by comparability, 30-second spots have been going briskly at $800.
In February 1972, WRET was in such straits that Turner launched a “Save Our Station” fundraiser.
“And as a bonus,” he stated from the station’s decrepit studios on Hood Road, “we’re going to run a good movie … with no commercial interruption.”
He additionally promised to repay the contributions when the station grew to become worthwhile. Viewers donated $52,000, together with a verify for $500. That held off the collectors and stored WRET going.
Turner quickly landed a heaven-sent shopper. Pat Robertson started shopping for time on the station to air his Christian Broadcasting Network.
Then one other spiritual group started shopping for hours: the Fort Mill-based “PTL Club” starring Jim Bakker and his spouse, Tammy Faye.
Finally, within the black
In 1974, the station started making a revenue, and in 1976, Turner stored his phrase: He not solely repaid his telethon donors however added 6% curiosity. One little woman who had mailed in 1 / 4 acquired again 32 cents.
WRET’s programming additionally improved barely, significantly after Turner acquired the Atlanta Braves and Atlanta Hawks, each league doormats, and began airing their video games in Charlotte.
And one thing historic occurred, although nobody observed on the time. Larry Sprinkle, Charlotte’s longest-serving TV character and nonetheless on Channel 36, started internet hosting afternoon motion pictures on WRET in 1976 — sure, that’s 50 years in the past — between gigs on native radio.
Saturday nights featured one of many station’s highest-rated exhibits, a horror film with WRET’s announcer, Bob Chassen, rising from a casket in vampire apparel as “Dead Ernest” to introduce the function.
Chassen’s Saturday night time shtick was additionally carried on Turner’s Atlanta station, the place it delighted a captive viewers. Fan mail poured in to the wisecracking ghoul from inmates on the Atlanta federal penitentiary.
Today’s supporting sponsor is Landon A. Dunn, attorney-at-law in Matthews:
Nothing — not even Parkinson’s — was going to maintain Andy Salisbury Sr. from his son’s marriage ceremony
Andy Salisbury Sr. watches and celebrates his son’s marriage ceremony from 160 miles away at Southminster retirement group. He was recognized with Parkinson’s illness practically 30 years in the past. (Photo by Ken Garfield for The Ledger)
Andy Salisbury attended his son’s marriage ceremony on Saturday, if not in physique then in coronary heart and soul.
A Charlotte lawyer who used to play rugby and ski downhill quick, Andy Sr. was 44 when he was recognized with Parkinson’s illness. Today, 29 years later, he’s 73. Credit his guts, his docs’ experience and the assist of household and buddies.
Chief, as he’s recognized to many, lives on the Southminster retirement group in south Charlotte. The mind dysfunction has left him in a wheelchair, unable to speak. His warrior of a spouse, Camille, has been beside him each step of this journey.
Now to Saturday’s marriage ceremony at Reid Memorial Presbyterian Church in Augusta, Ga. And at Southminster.
Andy Jr., the youngest of the 2 Salisbury children, graduated from Charlotte Country Day School. He’s a lawyer in New York. His bride, Sarah Louise Boland, has labored in gross sales improvement. Their 5:00 marriage ceremony within the sanctuary of Sarah’s hometown church was, as Rev. Brandi Casto-Waters instructed the gathering, full of love.
So, too, she stated, was the room at Southminster the place the daddy of the groom was taking all of it in.
Unable to make the journey to Augusta, Andy Sr. “attended” the marriage through livestream.
With a dozen buddies and longtime household helper Rosa Cornelius, he watched Andy Jr. stroll his mother down the aisle, one in every of them smiling, the opposite teary. When the pastor requested who gave this bride away, Andy Jr. hugged his father-in-law-to-be. Back in Charlotte, Andy Sr. whispered, “I remember that part.” He watched his daughter (and bridesmaid), Sara, stroll down the middle aisle with Vivian in her arms — Sara’s daughter and Andy Sr.’s granddaughter. Among the groomsmen was Partha, Sara’s husband and Andy Sr.’s son-in-law.
When it got here time for the congregation in Augusta to recite The Lord’s Prayer, Andy Sr. whispered it together with them: “Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name…”
Not even Parkinson’s may steal the phrases of his religion.
On the day his son was married, Andy Sr. wore a flower in his lapel. There was chilly shrimp for the event. And champagne. And a toast, after all.
As the bride and groom marched out of the sanctuary to applause after which to the marriage reception, 160 miles away, the daddy of the groom smiled. Then wept. —Ken Garfield
Charlotte media protection skews closely towards uptown, whereas many neighborhoods barely register, new research exhibits
A brand new evaluation of greater than 18,000 tales from Charlotte media organizations over the course of a yr exhibits that uptown acquired a disproportionate share of protection, whereas many different elements of the town acquired little or no.
The research, launched final month by researchers at Columbia University, examined the sorts of tales produced by native media, together with the geographical areas of the subject material and the sorts of organizations producing the fabric. The purpose was to higher perceive Charlotte’s data wants, which may assist philanthropic donors allocate cash in methods which might be more practical.
It discovered that of Charlotte’s 183 census tracts, Tract 5.01 — which incorporates Third Ward uptown, together with Bank of America Stadium — was referenced in 487 articles in a 12-month interval in 2024-25, probably the most of any census tract. In the identical interval, 52 Charlotte census tracts acquired 10 or fewer mentions.
The research’s authors concluded that articles with identifiable areas tended to “cluster in Center City and other neighborhoods, such as University City South, that contain the airport, hospitals, or event venues.”
It stated that whereas Charlotte’s media scene seems strong, with dozens of shops, there are nonetheless “neighborhoods with content gaps, which we define as areas outlets claim to cover but in fact do not.”
Racial gaps in protection: “Predominantly Black neighborhoods are more likely to be covered in the context of crime, while predominantly white neighborhoods are more likely to be covered in the context of entertainment,” the research stated.
Who’s offering data: The report recognized 66 suppliers of native information in Charlotte. It stated about half (32, together with The Charlotte Ledger) have been “local journalism originators.” The others, that are usually tradition and life-style shops, “do not employ journalists or do not provide a watchdog function.”
By medium: Print continues to be the primary medium for 15 Charlotte shops, or 23% of the whole. Websites accounted for an additional 23%, adopted by tv (14%), radio (14%), newsletters (11%) and magazines (11%).
Ownership: About 2/3 of Charlotte media organizations studied are regionally owned. The remaining 21 nonlocal homeowners embody massive media firms reminiscent of Axios; TV station homeowners Charter, Nexstar and Tegna; and McClatchy (which owns The Charlotte Observer). “Local ownership has been shown to be crucial for the quality of local journalism in myriad ways, resulting more often in original reporting about the communities it serves,” the research stated.
Communities served: About 29% of the Charlotte media organizations explicitly serve nonwhite or ethnic audiences, together with 10 serving Hispanic communities, 5 geared toward Black Charlotte residents and others serving Jewish, Greek Orthodox and Asian communities. —Tony Mecia
🎭 TOPPMAN ON THE ARTS
Local arts criticism — from touring Broadway exhibits to group theater and museum displays — from longtime critic Lawrence Toppman.
Three Bone Theatre’s “Oedipus el Rey” runs by May 24 on the Arts Factory, 1545 W. Trade St. (Photo by Becky Schultz/Three Bone Theatre)
“Oedipus el Rey” at Three Bone Theatre turns the basic Greek tragedy into a contemporary story about gangs, jail and future in Los Angeles, with sturdy performances and putting staging, although the variation’s chaotic, godlike twist on Oedipus finally drifts too removed from Sophocles’ authentic themes.
☀️ Meet The Charlotte Ledger’s summer time interns
The Ledger put out a job posting this spring searching for a part-time reporting intern for the summer time. We have been fortunate to get so many wonderful functions that we have been in a position to rent not only one, nor two however three (!) interns to work with us this summer time. They’ll start working with us at totally different instances all through the summer time, however will every be with us for eight weeks.
Get to know The Ledger’s summer time 2026 intern cohort:
Emily Brietz, social media/viewers engagement intern
Emily is a rising junior at UNC Chapel Hill, double-majoring in media and journalism, and historical past with a focus in U.S. research. Her expertise contains reporting for The Daily Tar Heel and Sports Xtra at Carolina, and as a correspondent on the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Games. Emily, a Charlotte native, joins The Ledger on June 22.
Taylor Douglas, social media/viewers engagement intern
Taylor is a rising senior at UNC Charlotte, majoring in communication research with a focus in media and know-how. Taylor was most just lately an intern with The Creative Cornerstone and works part-time as a digital media coordinator with MayDayz Smokn BBQ. Taylor, a Charlotte native, joins The Ledger crew this week.
Cooper Hall, reporting intern
Cooper is a rising junior at UNC Chapel Hill, double-majoring in media and journalism and train and sport science. She has served as a senior author and columnist for The Daily Tar Heel, a workers author and photographer for the Iredell Free News, and as a correspondent on the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Games. Cooper, who’s from Statesville, joins The Ledger on June 22.
You may be occupied with these Charlotte occasions
Events submitted by readers to The Ledger’s occasions board:
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TOMORROW: “Coffee with the Chamber,” 8:30-9:30 a.m., at Residence Inn by Marriott Charlotte Uptown, 404 S. Mint St. Join the Charlotte Area Chamber of Commerce for an invigorating morning occasion that brings collectively espresso lovers and enterprise professionals from throughout the Charlotte space. Whether you are a startup founder, a seasoned govt or only a morning individual, this occasion is the right alternative to brew new connections and spark revolutionary conversations. Registration required. Free for members. $5 for non-members.
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TOMORROW: “MHS Evening Program: ‘Charles Cornwallis, Kings Mountain & the Hornet’s Nest,’” 6:30-8 p.m., at Trinity Presbyterian Church Fellowship Hall, 3115 Providence Rd. Join the Mecklenburg Historical Society and listen to from writer Andrew Waters as he discusses how the hazards Charles Cornwallis confronted in Charlotte contributed to British main Patrick Ferguson’s defeat on the Battle of Kings Mountain, and the way these intertwined disasters ruined England’s technique to reconquer the American South. Refreshments shall be supplied. Free, however donations are inspired.
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MAY 18: “A Conversation with Chef Sam Hart,” 5:30-7 p.m., at ImaginOn: The Joe and Joan Martin Center, 300 E. seventh St. Join the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library Foundation for a night on the intersection of culinary arts and library advocacy. In a moderated dialog, the town’s first Michelin-starred chef, Sam Hart, will share how storytelling shapes each course they create and why they’re donating a curated assortment of culinary books to the brand new Main Library at Charlotte Mecklenburg Library. $15/ticket.
In temporary
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Stacked City Council assembly tonight: If you comply with Charlotte City Council conferences, buckle up. Among different gadgets, tonight’s agenda contains: a dialogue on information facilities, a public listening to on the proposed fiscal yr 2027 metropolis funds, a proposed decision for the Interstate 77 growth challenge, a public listening to to increase University City’s Municipal Service District boundary and improve its millage price, a listening to and vote on metropolis incentives for Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corp.’s 2,000-job growth — and it’ll be the primary council assembly since Mayor Vi Lyles introduced her June 30 resignation final week. The enjoyable begins at 4 p.m. in Room 267 on the Government Center in uptown, then continues at 6:30 p.m. within the Government Center’s principal chamber (the assembly will even be live-streamed on the city’s YouTube channel) (Meeting agenda)
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CMS funds talks stay testy: The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools Board of Education and Superintendent Crystal Hill met on Friday for practically 5 hours in a dialogue that turned heated at instances, after the board rejected Hill’s really useful funds in an 8-1 vote on April 28. Hill stated on Friday that the board had given her an unimaginable activity by asking her to revise a $2.1B funds so shortly. The clock is ticking, because the district should submit a remaining funds request to the county by this Friday. (WFAE)
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Norway’s Kristoffer Reitan wins Truist Championship: Kristoffer Reitan, a 28-year-old rookie from Norway, earned his first PGA Tour victory yesterday on the Truist Championship on the Quail Hollow Club in south Charlotte. He completed at 15-under 269. (PGA Tour)
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Former mayor says she will ‘jump in right away’ with upcoming mayor emptiness: On Friday, former Charlotte mayor Jennifer Roberts stated she has all of the {qualifications} to complete Mayor Vi Lyles’ time period after she resigns on June 30. Roberts (who Lyles defeated within the 2017 Democratic main for mayor) additionally stated the group has referred to as on her to guide, however she stopped wanting saying definitively that she is going to apply for the job. “If I hear from some council members and they want me to apply, then I would do that,” Roberts stated. (WBTV)
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Data breach affected Charlotte-area Atrium sufferers: Atrium is notifying folks affected by a “security incident” in February 2025, in line with a letter dated April 30, 2026. Cerner Health, a third-party digital medical report vendor, notified Atrium in December that sufferers’ private or well being data could have been accessed by an unauthorized social gathering, in line with Atrium. The Charlotte-based health-care system stated it not makes use of Cerner, however was storing information and serving to to maneuver affected person information. (Observer, subscriber-only)
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The story behind Charlotte’s hottest run membership: Mad Miles Run Club, which celebrates its sixth anniversary this yr, hosts greater than 1,000 runners every week throughout its weekly runs in Plaza Midwood, Camp North End and uptown. Founder Cornell Jones attributes the membership’s progress and success to years of consistency and a Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) “day on the yard” ambiance with DJs, in addition to partnerships that maintain the membership free and accessible. (Axios)