Carolina Journal

This is the John Locke Foundation’s flagship media program. It consists of a monthly print newspaper, Carolina Journal, as well as a weekly radio show and a daily website. Since its debut in 1991, Carolina Journal, now edited by Richard Wagner, has published hundreds of articles on politics, education, health care, crime, taxes, and other issues. With a statewide readership of nearly 180,000 — through mail circulation, boxes, and partnerships with local newspapers in Charlotte, Greensboro, Asheville, and Hendersonville — CJ covers state government and the legislature while also offering special sections on education, books and culture, higher education, and local government.

While known for its analysis and commentary, the newspaper is also a leader in investigative journalism. In 1997, CJ Executive Editor Don Carrington broke the story of a $21 million slush fund used by legislative insiders for pork barrel projects in violation of law. The following year, a CJ investigation of hiring and promotion practices in state government helped to prompt former Gov. Jim Hunt and lawmakers to enact reforms of the state personnel system. More recently, the newspaper’s writers – including Associate Editors Paul Chesser and Michael Lowrey – have exposed conflicts of interest and misuse of public funds in stories on the infamous taxpayer-subsidized Randy Parton Theater in Roanoke Rapids, a natural-gas boondoggle in Northeastern North Carolina, problems in the state ferry division, state grants to politically connected nonprofits, and many other issues. Partly as a consequence of CJ investigations, former State Sen. Frank Ballance resigned his office as a freshman member of Congress in 2004 and was later indicted for federal crimes. CJ also published important reporting on the scandals surrounding former House Speaker Jim Black, who also ended up in federal prison.

Carolina Journal reporting and analysis are available in several other forms as well. Carolina Journal Weekly Report is distributed by e-mail each weekend to thousands of North Carolinians who have an interest in politics and public policy. Its daily web site, CarolinaJournal.com, provides JLF commentaries and news reports, summaries of breaking stories in the state’s major media, and links to newspapers, wire services, blogs, and other information resources. About 23,000 different North Carolinians visit CarolinaJournal.com each month. On the airwaves, Carolina Journal Radio is an hour-long newsmagazine broadcast each weekend for some 40,000 listeners on 19 commercial radio stations across the state. As co-hosts, Associate Editors Mitch Kokai and Donna Martinez interview CJ writers, contributors, and special guests about the major issues of the day.

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