Why I joined The Ledger
The Charlotte Ledger's new managing editor, Ashley Fahey, introduces herself
Local journalism still matters — and I’m thrilled to be back in it
I started writing this letter, ready to tell you why local journalism is so important, and came up short.
This is a wild thing for someone who has made being a good journalist her entire personality for more than a decade to admit. But there it is.
I could name all of the reasons I think most people know, and that I firmly believe:
Local news is important because an informed society makes better decisions.
Local news is important because what happens in our city and our region makes a much bigger difference than … whatever is going on at the federal level.
Local news is important because unchecked power means the most powerless and vulnerable among us are the ones most likely to be left behind.
I think those are all solid reasons, but there’s more, and it’s personal, and it’s something I can’t quite articulate. There’s something about local reporting that gets me up every day, excited and full of relentless energy. There’s a very specific feeling I get when I break a big story; land a coveted exclusive; write a thoughtful, nuanced piece about a complicated topic; or hear from a reader who says, “Thank you for writing about this,” or “I didn’t know about this until I read your story.”
All that is to say, I’m happy to be back in local news. I joined The Charlotte Ledger two weeks ago as its managing editor. Since you’re going to be hearing from me regularly in your inbox, I’d like to take a moment to introduce myself and to tell you what makes me tick — and what you can expect from The Ledger going forward.
This is the kind of job in the kind of newsroom I’ve been seeking for a long time. Although I’ve been based in Charlotte since 2016, when I moved here to take a job with the Charlotte Business Journal, I’ve been out of local journalism since mid-2021.
Still, in my first couple of weeks on the job, it has been nice to reconnect with old sources and drive past now-completed developments, projects I broke the news on years ago. While getting back into local journalism has felt in some ways like putting on a well-worn jacket, I also feel confident this opportunity at The Ledger will challenge me to find new stories, and stretch in new directions as a reporter, editor and journalist.
Something most people don’t know about me: Although I was born in the Northeast, I spent a short bit of my childhood here in Charlotte. I have fuzzy memories of ice skating at Eastland Mall (for those who missed out — yes, it was as cool as it sounds). I attended second grade at Mallard Creek Elementary School — decked out many days, like other ’90s kids, in OshKosh B’gosh overalls. I remember swimming at the Marion Diehl Recreation Center pool and seeing “The Nutcracker” at Belk Theater when it was brand new.
I’ve more recently lived in Charlotte since the spring of 2016, after accepting a job to cover commercial real estate at the CBJ. After about six months of raging imposter syndrome, I broke my first big story — that a major company, CoStar, wasn’t putting hundreds of jobs in Charlotte because of the controversial state “bathroom bill,” House Bill 2. I started to find my footing after that and also slowly became enamored with this Queen City — so ambitious, always looking to be the “next big thing,” perhaps a little insecure about its identity … a bit like the millennial stereotype, in some ways. (One thing about me: I tend to make self-deprecating jokes about my status as a millennial.)
In 2021, I decided to take on a new challenge — covering real estate nationally, as part of American City Business Journals’ (CBJ’s parent company) national newsroom, where I later became managing editor. In the four years I spent there, I grew enormously as an editor, a manager and a leader. I learned from a lot of smart journalists at ACBJ, and I’m grateful for the near decade I spent there.
Still, something was always missing. I kept wanting to get back into local journalism, covering the big stories affecting this city I still called home. I’d even say I had a bit of FOMO when a big story broke and it wasn’t me chasing it. So when The Ledger’s founder, Tony Mecia, called me this summer, with the news that there was an opening to help lead the publication, it presented an exciting new possibility for me.
I had known The Ledger as a legitimate competitor in my years covering real estate at CBJ, after Tony started The Ledger in 2019. I’d be so mad if he got the scoop on something real estate- or development-related — it didn’t happen often, if I’m being honest — but I respected what he brought to the table. Plus, I enjoy competition.
Beyond that, I also respected The Ledger’s ability to sniff out news and stories that weren’t being reported elsewhere. I think The Ledger’s lineup of talented and veteran reporters — which Tony and my talented predecessor in this role, Cristina Bolling, cultivated in a few short years — also speaks volumes about the quality of the publication and its mission to do meaningful journalism.
I’m excited to keep building on what the Ledger’s team has already established. And while I’m glad to be stepping back into my old shoes, covering real estate, growth and development — shameless plug but, FYI, my first Real Estate Whispers had some good scoops — I’m eager to report on new beats and coverage areas like education, local politics and housing affordability. I’m also excited to think more entrepreneurially — as a journalist, certainly, but also from the business side.
That’s where you come in. I want to hear from people across Charlotte — and even the broader region — about the stories that aren’t being told and what matters to you. I’m also eager to grow The Ledger’s readership — geographically, demographically and otherwise — and the way we do that is by reporting on stories that matter to communities beyond the ones we’re reaching today. The things about Charlotte you find yourself talking about at your dinner tables, in your community meetings, next to the water cooler at work, during your book clubs and over drinks at happy hour are interesting to me. Being a well-rounded local journalist also means getting out of my comfort zone and talking to folks who don’t come from my background.
I’m also excited to grow awareness around The Ledger and to get on more Charlotteans’ radars. It all starts with me sitting down with many of you and listening to what you think deserves to be covered.
My inbox — at ashley@cltledger.com — is open for story ideas, tips or just to say hey. Constructive criticism and thoughts on what we missed or did wrong are also welcome. The Ledger is continuing to evolve, and hearing from readers — even when we miss the mark — is part of that process.
If you’re a paid subscriber to The Ledger, thank you. Your support is crucial to help us pursue original, informative and interesting stories across Charlotte.
If you’re not, I encourage you to join us, for only $12 a month or $129 per year. I find it can be difficult to convince people to pay for news, but think about it this way: That streaming service you watch maybe a couple of times per month probably costs you more, and it won’t make you more informed about your community.
I’ve said a lot here, and I know many more words are forthcoming. But I’m galvanized by the opportunity to heighten the quality of journalism in Charlotte and the chance to make a difference in this community through smart, thoughtful and high-quality journalism.
I’m grateful to Tony for extending me this opportunity, and also to the countless people in Charlotte and beyond who believe in me and are excited about what we can accomplish at The Ledger.
Ashley Fahey
Managing Editor, The Charlotte Ledger
ashley@cltledger.com
Need to sign up for this e-newsletter? We offer a free version, as well as paid memberships for full access to all 6 of our local newsletters:
The Charlotte Ledger is a locally owned media company that delivers smart and essential news. We strive for fairness and accuracy and will correct all known errors. The content reflects the independent editorial judgment of The Charlotte Ledger. Any advertising, paid marketing or sponsored content will be clearly labeled.
◼️ About The Ledger • Our Team • Website
◼️ Newsletters • Podcast • Newcomer Guide • A Better You email series
◼️ Subscribe • Sponsor • Events Board • Merch Store • Manage Your Account
◼️ Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, X/Twitter, LinkedIn
So glad you are at the Ledger! Real estate drives so much of what happens in Charlotte, so we are lucky to have someone as knowledgeable and experienced as you reporting.