North State Journal Group will operate Charlotte printing facility

North Carolina’s only statewide newspaper will soon be printed in Charlotte along with several other regional and national publications after the completion of an acquisition announced Tuesday. The newly formed Charlotte Publishing Company, Inc. will operate the former Charlotte Observer printing facility at 9140 Research Dr. in Charlotte.

“The addition of printing capabilities strengthens North State Journal’s position as a leader in print newspapers in the South,” said Neal Robbins, president of Charlotte Publishing Company and publisher of North State Journal. “The long-term viability of North Carolina’s independent press requires high quality printing, and the Charlotte facility is second to none.”

Charlotte Publishing Company is acquiring the printing assets of The McClatchy Company located at the Research Drive location. The plant was built in 1982 as a printing site for The Wall Street Journal and was acquired in 2013 by McClatchy where it printed the Charlotte Observer and several other McClatchy owned newspapers as well as The Wall Street Journal. North State Media, the parent company of North State Journal, acquired the building and land at 9140 Research Dr. in late 2022.

“We look forward to working with McClatchy and the employees at the Charlotte facility on a transition plan over the next few months that will keep jobs in Mecklenburg County and maintain the Queen City’s position as a hub for important print publications on the East Coast,” said Robbins. “North State Journal has strong readership in the Charlotte metro area and we hope our increased presence will improve our ability to cover important stories there.”

About the North State Journal:

North State Journal is North Carolina’s only statewide newspaper. First published in 2016, the North State Journal’s mission is to delve deep, engage with truth, help citizens find common ground, and fill a void in North Carolina’s media landscape. The award-winning newspaper reaches readers in all 100 counties of North Carolina through its flagship print edition and its website, nsjonline.com. North State Journal has six local editions located in Chatham, Forsyth, Hoke, Moore, Randolph and Stanly counties.