The Charleston City Paper remains committed to solid local and state news coverage buttressed by an opinion section that provides leadership, advice and criticism about how the community is dealing with vital issues.
A look back at 2025’s publications illustrates the newspaper’s dedication to socially responsible news and opinion coverage. A few examples:
Senior editor Herb Frazier wrote several stories on a controversial College of Charleston project that proposed a new dorm for Coming Street. The problem? Under a paved parking lot, the land may be home to thousands of graves of enslaved Africans, Native Americans and others.
Also in news, Statehouse bureau chief Jack O’Toole and news editor Skyler Baldwin outlined the potentially dangerous world of kratom, which some say is natural pain relief and others call “gas station heroin.” O’Toole’s ongoing reports from the Statehouse provided the most insightful coverage in the state from a weekly newspaper. Baldwin’s attention to development, health care and governance yielded huge benefits for readers.
Meanwhile, arts editor Maura Hogan brought a new depth to coverage of cultural issues through reviews and stories that give readers better insights into music, art, theater and more. Similarly, former food editor Connelly Hardaway and new food editor Becky Lacey helped readers better understand the ever-changing world of food — the number one subject for engaged readers — in the tourist-popular Lowcountry. And we’re all thankful for Vincent Harris’ weekly music coverage.
The City Paper’s election coverage in news and editorials also highlighted the city of Charleston’s ongoing challenges with transparency in government, including but not limited to refusing to answer routine questions that the public has a right to know. Let’s hope things get better in 2026 with three new council members dedicated to more openness in government.
Tips of the hat to cartoonists Robert Ariail and Steve Stegelin for keeping their pens sharp and wit sharper in weekly offerings that keep public officials on their toes. (Note: The City Paper is believed to be the only weekly newspaper in the country with two original ’toons published every week.)
Other City Paper employees continue to be hard at work to connect readers with what’s happening. Associate publisher Cris Temple leads a skilled team of advertising professionals — Ashley Smith, Kristin Byers and Kate Robbins — to help local businesses grow through creative advertising campaigns. Art director Scott Suchy with his team of Christina Bailey and Ashleigh Keiser use graphics and web outreach to make what we do more relevant and exciting. Just think about the non-bikini bikini issue from a couple of weeks ago! Finally, our team of drivers delivers thousands of print issues across three counties every Friday. We’re thankful for their help.
For area leaders, our Charleston Checklist of Community Objectives should be yours, too. Here’s what we’ll be covering:
- Deal with the water.
- Fix roads and traffic.
- Be smarter about education.
- Conduct public business in public.
- Invest in quality of life.
- Engage in real racial reconciliation.
- Develop fewer hotels and more affordable housing.
- Develop Union Pier at scale.
- Build and follow a 50-year plan.
- Pay people more.
Here’s to a happy and prosperous 2026.
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