By NICK MATHEWS
Sports Editor
Newport News (Va.) Daily Press

Story posted on Aug. 7, 2008

Two cities. Two newspapers. One sports staff.

The merger of the Charlotte Observer and Raleigh News & Observer sports reporting operations has caught the attention of journalists across the country. Gary Schwab, the editor appointed to take charge of the venture, is optimistic about this new North Carolina connection and warns others before they follow suit.

"I would hope that people react smartly about their own situation when they see this," said Schwab, whose title is Senior Sports Editor for the Charlotte Observer and Raleigh News and Observer. "We are not saying this is the wave of the future. This just makes sense for our two papers at this moment. My goal is better journalism."

The merger announcement came in mid-June, at the same time as McClatchy's announcement of a 10 percent cut in its workforce.

Schwab was the executive sports editor in Charlotte from 1986-2000. He then became the investigations and projects editor at the Observer. While in that position, he helped shepherd better cooperation between the two newspapers.

For decades, they were competitors. But, after the Knight-Ridder sale to McClatchy, they became partners. While there was some cooperation, there was some hesitation as well.

Now, the sports departments have combined. Instead of about 12 reporters at each paper, there are now 24 on the staff.

"It's a bold change," said Schwab, who reports jointly to Observer Managing Editor Cheryl Carpenter and N&O Senior Editor Linda Williams. "A point is to avoid duplication. Another is to really strengthen and broaden our coverage."

They hope to avoid duplication in coverage of the ACC, pro sports, big events and some high school. More important, they want to combine their resources for enterprise and investigations, as well as increased online coverage.

"What I hope this is most about is improving the quality of the content," Schwab said. "What we couldn't do before with 12 reporters, maybe now we can. With more than 20 reporters, we should have a special story every Sunday – as well as many days of the week.

"This is a change in pulling together and flexing our new muscle a bit."

The cities are 170 miles apart. Schwab takes the train from Charlotte to Raleigh on Tuesday and comes home on Wednesday. He knows he has to be there, to learn the staff and, more important, learn more about the readers.

"For me, being in the building and being in Raleigh, I understand more what is needed there," he said. "I ask a lot of questions and listen a lot."

While there are days when the two newspapers' front pages look similar, they maintain the focus of what the readers want most.

Readers of both papers care passionately about college football and basketball, as well as stock car racing. In Raleigh, there is more focus on hockey and the NHL Hurricanes. In Charlotte, focus is on the Panthers (NFL) and the Bobcats (NBA).

"We are holding onto each newspaper's identity," Schwab said. "We are not making it one newspaper that comes out for two towns."

Many times, though, stories, especially features and enterprise, would be of interest to both audiences.

Schwab gave the example of a recent feature on Mike DiFelice, a 39-year-old catcher with the Durham Bulls who shuns comparisons to Crash Davis of "Bull Durham" fame.

"That's a great story for Charlotte, Raleigh – or Idaho," Schwab said. "We want to tell more great stories."

Schwab said one of the reasons this venture works is because of the high quality of the group of people working with him – Mike Persinger (executive sports editor in Charlotte), Harry Pickett (deputy sports editor in Charlotte), Charlotte assistant editors Mary Ann Lawrence and Kelvin Hart and Raleigh assistant sports editors Andy Curliss, Steve Ruinsky and Steve Bawden.

Nick Mathews is the chair of the Atlantic Coast Region. You can reach him at (757) 247-4962 or via e-mail at nmathews@dailypress.com.

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