CHARLIE DRAPE

I’m Charlie Drape and I am a reporter from Kansas City, Missouri. 

Currently, I’m the Jackson beat reporter for the Clarion Ledger, where I’ve covered the city since 2023. My work has put me at the center of major stories in Jackson and across Mississippi — from the city’s alleged bribery scandal and water crisis to statewide fights over education funding, infrastructure and political power.

I cover Jackson City Hall and the constant push-and-pull that defines how the city runs. My reporting has followed Jackson through water crises, trash fights and other challenges that test public trust. I use public records and on-the-ground reporting to hold leaders accountable, but I also make time for features that show the city’s character and resilience.

I take pride in being able to report on just about anything — adapting to the story, the subject, and the moment it demands. My recent work for the Clarion Ledger can be found here.

Prior to moving to Jackson, I worked for the Salisbury Post in Salisbury, North Carolina – about 45 minutes way from Charlotte. I covered Rowan County, as well as other general assignment work.

I graduated from the Missouri School of Journalism at the University of Missouri – Columbia, where I received a Bachelor of Journalism with an emphasis in print and digital reporting.

At the Mizzou J-School, I worked as a reporter for the town newspaper the Columbia Missourian, where I covered local government, the city council beat and wrote community feature stories covering a variety of topics like environmentalism and agriculture.