Optimism isn’t the belief that everything here is good. It’s the belief that optimism is worth fighting for. It’s that Charlotte’s worth the effort of telling the truth about, with great care.
What it is
We launched in May 2025 as a nonprofit local media outlet that exists to serve people who care most about our consequential Southern city.
We’ve become that and more. We tell interesting stories about interesting people doing interesting things at interesting points in their lives. When we tell a story about a person, we want them to feel seen. Not unfairly bashed. Not unnecessarily inflated. But seen.
Other publications exist to tell you what you should know, and they do it very well. We exist to tell you what you should spend time thinking about. We aim to be a prominent and even-tempered voice that helps you understand our city: How Charlotte works. Who makes it work. Who’s bringing big ideas. Who’s carrying the leadership torch now, who carried it yesterday, and who’ll carry it tomorrow. Where we are, where we were, and where we’re going.
We’re an independent outlet, funded by donations but not beholden to any donor.
We tell stories as we see them.
What to expect
This is a new project, but also a throwback.
Every Sunday night free newsletter subscribers can expect an original reported column from one of the city’s most experienced, connected journalists.
We provide exclusive insight into Charlotte’s leaders and how they make decisions. We also dig for the stories hidden in Charlotte’s couch cushions. Some weeks we have signature longform features. Others bring significant exclusives or scoops. Others, a quick perspective on major news events. And others might be heart-on-the-page essays or profiles.
The Charlotte Optimist’s stories come from real conversations with real people making a real mark on our community — no shade to our robot friends.
We traffic confirmed facts over rumors, curiosity over preconceived story ideas, people over partisanship, and memorable tastes over a cheap buzz.
Success looks like you telling your friends that it’s the best local reported column in the country, that it helps you connect with your community on a deeper level, and that you’re proud to have it here.
What’s different about it
The people at the center of this city sit down with us for conversations they won’t have elsewhere. And they do that not because we go easy, but because we get it right and we do so fairly. We bring the greatness of our city forward. But also the hard parts and the countervailing perspectives, without dismissing either.
As one recent prominent profile subject said in a response to a story, “You captured a three-dimensional picture, not the superficial one, and it came through with integrity and honesty.”
Trust runs both ways. Because the people who shape Charlotte trust us with their stories, we can bring you the real versions of them. In turn, our highly-engaged audience trusts us and becomes our most valuable asset.
How it stays honest
Patience and thoughtfulness requires a different business model for local media. The Optimist is a nonprofit media organization, funded by people who believe in it and beholden to none of them. We got our 501(c)3 status in the fall of 2024.
Some of Charlotte’s notable civic and business leaders helped get it off the runway. We launched with year 1 support from a generous group of founding Optimists, and we’re grateful for them. They include:
- Ric and Brenda Elias
- Hugh and Jane McColl
- Casey Crawford
- Mike and Mary Lamach
- Atrium Health
- Michael and Leslie Marsicano
- Brian and Lauren Castleberry
- Logan and Jamie Cyrus
- Linda Cladias
The Charlotte Optimist will fly in the years ahead with community support. Check out our membership program if you’d like to jump in. If you’d like to inquire about becoming a founding member, please email michael@charlotteoptimist.com.
Contact
I’d love to hear from you if you have questions about The Charlotte Optimist, or if you have a story idea that you think needs care and attention. Email michael@charlotteoptimist.com.
Friends of the Optimist
A special thanks to our board of directors:
- Brian Castleberry
- Bruce Clark
- Ami Shukla
Also to:
- Blake Pope of Field Day Marketing for the design, colors and branding.
- Jason Murtha for his tech skills
- Kacey Grantham for being my guide into the nonprofit business maze
- Abby Clark for navigating operational setup.
- And Logan Cyrus for making pictures
About Michael Graff
People trust me with their stories because they trust me to get it right.
I’ve been a Charlotte resident since 2013, but lived all around North Carolina before that. My wife is from Charlotte and grew up on Muggsy and Mr. K’s, graduated from Myers Park High, and her family goes back generations in west Mecklenburg. We’re raising our two boys here. And one of my greatest joys is to simply walk around the city and talk to people who understand this place.
I’ve been in the media business for 25 years, as a newspaper reporter, magazine editor, freelance writer, nonfiction author, essayist, and senior manager of one of the most successful digital platforms in the U.S.
Most recently I was the Southern bureau chief for Axios, overseeing seven teams from Richmond to New Orleans. Before that, I was the editor-in-chief of Charlotte Agenda, which Axios purchased in 2020.
Before that I was a self-employed writer working for outlets all over the world, from POLITICO to ESPN to Garden & Gun to the Guardian. That came on the heels of four years as the editor of Charlotte magazine, during which the publication won numerous awards including a nomination as the best city magazine in the U.S.
Before that, I was the senior editor of Our State magazine, and before that, I was a newspaper reporter in North Carolina and Virginia.
And way before that, I delivered pizzas for Domino’s and worked as first mate on my father’s charter fishing boat on the Chesapeake. My journalism career began then, too, as editor of Lackey High School’s newspaper, back when I was dreaming of becoming a sports writer who covered the Baltimore Orioles.