Carolina Journal is a leader in investigative journalism in North Carolina. It has exposed corruption, conflicts of interest, and misuse of public funds by public officials, including members of Congress and members of the North Carolina General Assembly. It also has exposed malfeasance on the part of economic developers and nonprofits that receive state and federal funds.

CJ is a pioneer in nonprofit journalism, having published thousands of articles on politics, education, health care, regulations, crime, taxes, and other issues since its founding in 1991. CJ, with a statewide print circulation of more than 40,000, covers state government and the General Assembly, including not only news and investigative stories but also commentary and analysis.