A Charlotte news legend’s advice on journalism

Ken Koontz talks about the evolution of local news as communities come together for the inaugural Local News Day

By: Jaylen Jones

Outlets: Queens University News Service

Published: April 14, 2026

Words: 1,234

Last Updated: 1 month, 3 weeks ago


Body Text Preview

Ken Koontz can often be found talking with people of all ages inside Archive CLT or taking part in the Sarah Stevenson Tuesday Morning Forum where he always gets a seat on the front row. At the age of 77, Koontz hasn’t stopped searching for stories. In February, the legendary Charlotte reporter brought alleged predatory towing to the attention of reporters at Queen City News.

Koontz was born and raised in Texas, …

Create a free account to access this story and more

Join Plucky Wire to access full stories, collaborate with newsrooms, and discover content from networks around the world.

Register for Free Log in