CLT Association of Black Journalists Responds to Departure of Rana Cash from The Charlotte Observer

The CLT Association of Black Journalists (CAABJ) acknowledges with deep disappointment the displacement of Rana L. Cash as Executive Editor of The Charlotte Observer — a loss that reverberates not only within our organization, but across the Charlotte community and the broader journalism landscape. Rana joined the Observer in October 2021 as its first Black Executive Editor in the paper’s nearly 140-year history, a milestone that carried both symbolic and substantive weight. Under her leadership, the Observer earned recognition as a 2025 Pulitzer Prize finalist and a winner of the National Headliners Award — achievements that speak to the standard of journalism she demanded of herself and her team.

Rana’s impact extended well beyond the newsroom walls. A graduate of Florida A&M University and a recipient of that institution’s Distinguished Alumni Award, she brought to Charlotte a career shaped by some of the most respected outlets in the industry — The Miami Herald, the Dallas Morning News, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the Minneapolis Star Tribune, and the Louisville Courier Journal, among others. At every stop, she left the journalism stronger, the communities better served, and the doors more open for the journalists who followed her. At the Savannah Morning News, her community-sourcing model produced more than a 100 percent increase in digital subscriptions, including 35 percent growth within Savannah’s majority Black communities — a model she brought with her to Charlotte.

“Rana Cash is exactly the kind of leader our industry and our city needed, and her presence here has made Charlotte journalism better,” said Tonya Rivens, President of CAABJ. “She led with integrity, she championed diversity in the newsroom, and she never stopped believing in the power of local journalism to transform communities. We are proud to call her a board member, a colleague, and a friend.”

As a CAABJ board member serving as Vice President of Print, and as a proud member of the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ), Rana has invested in the professional development, advocacy, and visibility of Black journalists with sincerity and consistency. Her departure from the Observer continues a troubling pattern of diverse talent — particularly Black women in leadership — being displaced from Charlotte’s media institutions at a time when their presence is most needed. CAABJ calls attention to this trend with urgency and calls upon media organizations in this region to do better in retaining the exceptional talent they are fortunate enough to attract.

“We stand firmly behind Rana as she steps into her next chapter,” said Rivens. “Her record of excellence is undeniable, her relationships across this industry are deep, and there is no doubt that the organization wise enough to bring her on board will be extraordinarily well-served.” CAABJ extends its full support to Rana Cash and encourages the broader journalism community, media leaders, and institutions who value transformative leadership to take notice. Charlotte’s loss is an opportunity for the right organization to gain one of the most accomplished and mission-driven editors in the country.
 

—Tonya Rivens, President CLT Association of Black Journalists (CAABJ) | caabj.org