Rana Cash named executive editor of The Charlotte Observer

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McClatchy today announced the appointment of Rana Cash as executive editor of The Charlotte Observer in North Carolina. Cash will lead editorial and digital strategy and manage the Observer’s talented team of journalists. She also will be part of McClatchy’s News Leadership Team. She will begin her new role on Oct. 1.

Cash joins The Observer from The Savannah Morning News, where she served as executive editor and director for Georgia’s Gannett markets. Under her leadership, the Morning News moved from institutional sourcing to community sourcing, created new positions for investigative journalism and reorganized both news and opinion to emphasize local reporting. These initiatives drove a greater than 100% increase in digital subscriptions, with 35% growth within majority Black communities of Savannah. 

Cash is returning to Charlotte, where she spent six years as a Charlotte-based editor for Sporting News before moving to sports editor roles with the Minneapolis Star-Tribune and the Louisville Courier Journal. Earlier in her career, she held writing and editing positions with The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, The Dallas Morning News and The Miami Herald. 

In addition to her exceptional background as both journalist and digital strategist, Cash’s deep advocacy for diversity in newsrooms aligns with McClatchy’s own commitment to building more inclusive teams. Cash’s appointment marks an important milestone in McClatchy’s diversity journey: she is the first Black person to be executive editor of The Observer. 

“Rana is a consummate news professional and a true newsroom leader,” said Senior Vice President of News Kristin Roberts. “Throughout her career, she has served as a mentor who inspires journalists to do their best possible work. Rana has a truly impressive track record of building diverse, inclusive newsrooms that deliver the kind of quality journalism that serves our communities, and we are thrilled to have her join the McClatchy team.”