No Paywall, No Problem 📜☕
Charlotte is drowning in gated links. We refuse to join the barricade. Every original article on The Charlotte Mercury now carries a Creative Commons BY-ND 4.0 badge, turning readers into couriers and our newsroom into an open archive.
What the License Lets You Do
- Copy & repost in full, print, blog, newsletter, doesn't matter.
- Run ads alongside it if you like; we don't mind.
- Credit us and link back.
- Don't change a comma without permission. Accuracy stays intact.
Think of BY-ND as a standing "yes" slip. No emails. No invoices. Quick civic glucose. See the official explainer at Creative Commons.
Why Open Beats Locked
Reach Over Restriction
ProPublica's open-license model triples a story's audience on average, according to its reuse logs. We want that multiplier.
Trust Without Turnstiles
"Paywall" is not in our vocabulary. Privacy-first means zero trackers; Creative Commons means zero tollbooths.
Sponsors Prefer Eyeballs, Not Log-ins
Our revenue comes from community backers who like big, public impact. More readers, happier sponsors.
The Fine Print We Actually Like
CC BY-ND 4.0 grants the world the right to distribute and monetize our unaltered text. Edits, translations, and photo reuse still need a note to the editor. That balance keeps misinformation out while syndication flows.
How to Republish a Mercury Story
- Copy the entire piece.
- Paste this line on top: "Originally published by The Charlotte Mercury."
- Link to the source.
- Go live.
Questions? Ping the newsroom through our contact form.
FAQ
Can a for-profit site run our article? Yes.
Can I tweak the headline? Please don't, context matters. Add a local slug above it instead.
What about images? Staff photos are separate; ask first.
About the Author
Jack Beckett files copy fueled by a large Colombian from Einstein Bros on South Boulevard, thanks, Phillip, for the steady drip. ☕ You'll find Jack debating zoning minutiae in the comments or on Twix: @queencityexp.
Creative Commons License
© 2025 Strolling Ballantyne / The Charlotte Mercury
This article, "Why Charlotte Mercury Publishes Under Creative Commons BY-ND 4.0," by Jack Beckett is licensed under CC BY-ND 4.0.
"Why Charlotte Mercury Publishes Under Creative Commons BY-ND 4.0"
by Jack Beckett, The Charlotte Mercury (CC BY-ND 4.0)
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