"IPO Charlotte" – WFAE Radio Series (listen online) (Nashville: housing, title)
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A series called "IPO Charlotte" launched this week on WFAE-FM (90.7), a long-term look at issues of growth and change in the region.
"We're looking at the fact that in many ways Charlotte and its neighboring communities are just now going public as the region's national and international profile grows," says Mark Rumsey, news director.
Airing Thursday mornings at 6:50 and 8:50 during NPR's "Morning Edition" (and archived at wfae.org), the series will examine issues like changing economies, population growth, environment and emerging status.
In this week's opener, by assistant news director Craig Fahle, people in cities across the country were asked what they knew about Charlotte.
"We got a lot of `duh?' and a few redneck wisecracks," Rumsey said. "In cities closer to home, like Nashville, people recognized Charlotte as an up-and-coming Sun Belt city. It's a good reality check to open with."
First off, thanks for listening to our first installment of “IPO Charlotte.” I hope you enjoy the somewhat lighthearted look at Charlotte from those outside the area.
That said, you might be a bit puzzled at the title we have chosen for this ongoing series. “IPO Charlotte…what does THAT mean?” Well, it wasn’t easy coming up with a title. We bounced a number of ideas around…things like “Growing Pains,” “Raising Charlotte,” “Charlotte Rising,” and too many more to list. None of them captured exactly what we are trying to accomplish. Then it hit…Charlotte is emerging as a major player in the U.S. Just like a business, the city has to build a solid foundation before it can take the big stage. Charlotte has done just that. Business is booming. Growth is solid and looks sustainable. The rest of the world has noticed the strong performance, and they want in on a good thing. That’s when the time is right for a company to launch and Initial Public Offering, or IPO. We feel Charlotte is at that same point. Ready to take our shot against the biggest and best of the world. Just like the market, there will be ups and downs as we grapple with the huge challenges rapid growth brings. The need for housing, infrastructure, health care, quality education, cultural and social offerings…it all needs to be addressed if the city wants to grow in a smart and sensible way.
We plan to look at all of these issues over the course of the next several weeks. We also hope to illustrate how our city’s personality is changing as the population swells. We hope you join us, and we certainly hope to get your input on how things are shaping up. Please leave your comments, start a conversation, whatever you like on our IPO Charlotte message board. We really do hope to get a true dialogue going. It can provide us all with a better understanding of Charlotte; and who knows, perhaps generate ideas for future stories about our community.
From the entire news staff at WFAE, thanks again, and it truly is a pleasure to have you with us.
Craig Fahle
Executive Producer - “IPO Charlotte”
Link to WFAE series (includes audio replays): http://www.durablelogic.com/wfaeipo/ (broken link)
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