I am pleased to announce today that Qcitymetro.com has joined an online partnership with the Charlotte Observer and four other local Web sites.

The project is funded with a grant from J-Lab: The Institute for Interactive Journalism, which promotes the use of digital technologies for delivering news and information. The Observer and its five partners will share content and explore ways to cover stories together.

The group also includes:

DavidsonNews.net - founded by former Observer journalist David Boraks to report stories important to Davidson and nearby communities.

The Scoop Network - ballantynescoop.com, monroescoop.com, indiantrailscoop.com and westernunioncountyscoop.com - run by longtime Union County resident Steve Sherron and marketing expert Caroline Adams of Ballantyne.

TegaCayTalk.com - started by Tega Cay, S.C., resident and graphic designer Ben Ullman to keep his neighbors abreast of civic developments.

The Villa Heights Voice - newsletter of the Villa Heights Community Organization in east Charlotte. The Observer will help the group's staff take its newsletter to the Web and expand its reach.

So, what does this mean for Qcity readers?
It means that some of the stories and photos we produce will get broader circulation. In other words, expect to see our content in the Observer as well as on the above mentioned Web sites.

It also means that you will see stories and photos on Qcitymetro.com that were produced by other members of the group, but always selected with our readers in mind.

Why is this important?
It’s no secret that the news industry is evolving. Hyper-local Web sites like Qcitymetro are springing up everywhere. Most are privately owned and, sadly, underfunded. The J-Lab grant is meant to explore ways that these sites might partner with a dominant news organization, such as the Observer, to better serve readers and communities. By joining together, we hope that all involved will grow stronger.

How long will this partnership last?
The J-Lab grant covers a year. During that time, the partners also will explore potential for new revenue streams. After the year is up... well, who knows?

The Observer's Web site, charlotteobserver.com, will include links to the partner sites, and Qcitymetro.com, in return, will link to other members in the group.

The J-Lab grant is funded by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation. The Observer was one of five newspapers to receive the grant. Others include the Seattle Times, Miami Herald and Asheville Citizen-Times.

These are exciting times for Qcitymetro, so wish us luck. But more important, let us know what you think as the year progresses.