Change in North Carolina newspapers

One of the results of the McClatchy purchase of Knight Ridder has a significant effect on North Carolina, and I've been wondering how it would play out. Here's the News & Observer's Public Editor, Ted Varden, on how the N&O and the Charlotte Observer, the state's biggest newspapers, are joining forces to share coverage and stories. Interesting to see two former rivals trying to work out a new way of doing things. Also interesting: the tentative reaction from the N&O about getting access to coverage from the former KR Washington Bureau, which has taken a strong look at the Iraq war and foreign policy:

That kind of coverage will be controversial with some N&O readers, but Drescher says the stories are backed up by the reporting. "I think their reporting really stands the test of time," he said.