Charlotte Journalism Collaborative - PANDEM!C
Charlotte Mecklenburg Library
Innovation Synopsis
Charlotte Mecklenburg Library has been a major stakeholder with the Charlotte Journalism Collaborative (CJC) since its beginning in the summer of 2018. With a global pandemic in play the CJC developed a unique health focused graphic novel attracting a new audience through visual storytelling. PANDEM!C: Stories of COVID-19, a graphic novel project.
Challenge/Opportunity
This graphic novel offers a unique perspective on the local impact of COVID-19 in Charlotte communities. A presentation of local journalism through and artistic lens, this partnership between reporters and artists, media outlets and art collectives, presents COVID-19 stories in a way that supports and showcases our local community. The questions that arose from producing a project like this include:
- Would people consume this type of journalism?
- Would this attract new audiences to local solutions-based journalism?
Key Elements of Innovation
Key elements of Innovation include:
- Leveraging the library’s Digital Branch to host the digital graphic novel online and over social media.
- Utilizing the twenty-branch library system to distribute 2000 physical graphic novels
- Showcasing the graphic novel through digital programs hosted online by Charlotte Mecklenburg Library
Achieved Outcomes
Beginning on August 23, 2021 two thousand copies were distributed for FREE via Charlotte Mecklenburg Library distributing 100 copies each at our 20 branch locations.
In addition, more copies were delivered via:
- 250 copies distributed by WFAE through their membership drive
- 131 copies distributed through CJC at various community engagement events
- 140 copies distributed by BOOM Charlotte through various community engagement events
- 81 copies distributed to journalists, artists and partners involved in the project
