The Charlotte Observer is ramping up its coverage for the 2026 season and beyond, offering fans exclusive ways to stay connected to the team. Led by beat writer Mike Kaye and sports enterprise writer Alex Zietlow, the team provides deep-dive analysis through both digital and audio platforms. By DIAMOND VENCES
The Charlotte Observer’s Carolina Panthers podcast, Processing Blue, was recognized among the nation’s best in the 2025 Associated Press Sports Editors (APSE) contest.
The weekly show, which includes Observer sports writers Scott Fowler, Mike Kaye and Alex Zietlow, earned a Top 10 award. Audience editor Zach Dennis produces Processing Blue.
The Observer’s show was recognized alongside productions from Alabama Media Group, Houston Chronicle, Kansas City Star, Las Vegas Review-Journal, San Antonio Express-News, Minnesota Star Tribune, Philadelphia Inquirer, Salt Lake Tribune and Yahoo! Sports.
In July 2025, The Charlotte Observer debuted “Super Men,” a full-length documentary about the 2015 Carolina Panthers season. Through exclusive interviews with dozens of people essential to that team, including linebacker Luke Kuechly, head coach Ron Rivera, tight end Greg Olsen, linebacker Thomas Davis and running back Jonathan Stewart, the inside story of that Super Bowl team is told in a way it never has been before. The Charlotte Observer / McClatchy media
In judging completed in late February in Las Vegas, The Observer earned Top 10 awards in projects, event coverage, breaking news, high school beat reporting and sports action photography. The Observer also was honored for excellence in video.
Super Men, the inside story of the 2015 Carolina Panthers, earned national recognition in the projects category and was commended for excellence in video.
Honored by APSE for their work on the four-part series and hour-long documentary: Fowler and reporter Theoden Janes, visual journalists Jeff Siner and Diamond Vences, and executive sports editor Lydia Craver.
The Observer’s event coverage award was for the outlet’s expansive coverage of the plane crash that killed NASCAR driver Greg Biffle and six others at Statesville Regional Airport. Reporting by Fowler, Chase Jordan, Mark Price and Zietlow anchored the contest entry.
Melissa-Melvin Rodriguez earned a Top 10 honor as well, for her action photo from the MLK boys’ basketball tournament at West Charlotte High School.
Vences’ video essay on Garinger High School football also was part of The Observer’s recognition for excellence in video.
Langston Wertz Jr. was honored for high school beat reporting. His portfolio included a breaking news story on the season ending early for top-ranked Lake Norman boys’ basketball and a feature story on Myers Park boys’ basketball player AJ Jamison and his father, Antawn.
Zietlow was recognized for his breaking news story on the sale of Rockingham Speedway after its successful return to NASCAR.