About Us
Our Staff
Carlton Carl, CEO and Executive Publisher
Carlton Carl became the CEO and Executive Publisher of The Texas Observer in January, 2008. Carlton oversees both the editorial content and the business side of our venerable magazine. A native of Houston and longtime resident of Austin who recently returned to Texas after 25 years in Washington, D.C., Carlton is a graduate of Columbia College and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism. He has done reporting for the Houston Chronicle and the New York Times, as well as freelance writing for other publications. His wealth of experience in Texas Democratic electoral politics and state and federal governments includes stints as a Texas gubernatorial press secretary, chief of staff to a Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives, director of tax information for the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts, press secretary to a Texas Member of Congress, campaign manager and/or media consultant in numerous Texas local, state, and federal campaigns. Most recently he worked in non-profit advocacy as vice president of media affairs and vice president of policy and strategy for the American Association for Justice (formerly the Association of Trial Lawyers of America).
Jake Bernstein, Executive Editor
Jake Bernstein joined the Observer in 2002 as Associate Editor, becoming executive editor in 2004. Jake worked previously as a staff writer at the Miami New Times covering politics, immigration, media, and the environment; a daily reporter in Pasadena, Texas; and as a freelance journalist in Guatemala and El Salvador, writing for a variety of publications including the Dallas Morning News and the San Francisco Examiner. Jake’s work has been recognized by the Florida Press Association, the Florida Press Club, the Livingston Awards, the Green Eyeshade Excellence in Journalism Awards, the Association of State Capitol Reporters and Editors, the Association of Alternative Newsweeklies, and others.
Brad Tyer, Managing Editor
Managing editor Brad Tyer returned to the Observer fold in January 2008, fresh from a five-year stint as editor of the Missoula Independent, an award-winning alt-weekly in western Montana. Tyer previously contributed to the Observer as an interim co-editor (summer 2002), freelancer (on and off under four editors), and admirer/subscriber from afar. A seventh-generation Texan, Houston native, and graduate of Rice University, Tyer has covered music, books, poker, politics and things to do with rivers for a variety of publications including the Houston Press, No Depression, Billboard, Texas Monthly, the Houston Chronicle, the Village Voice Literary Supplement, and the New York Times Book Review. He's been awarded a Dallas Press Club Katy Award for his profile of beleaguered Texas poet Vassar Miller, and a whole bunch of lesser accolades for his features and reviews. He keeps the company of two dogs, Pancho and Ladybird, who are better behaved than most people's children.
Dave Mann, Associate Editor
Dave Mann joined the Observer in 2003 as session reporter, becoming associate editor in 2004. Before joining the Observer, Dave was a freelance journalist based in Austin. His work has appeared in the Austin Chronicle, Austin American-Statesman, The Washington Post, and Salon among others. Prior to arriving in Austin, Dave worked as a staff writer for Fort Worth Weekly, contributing writer for Washington City Paper, and sports writer for The Winchester Star in Winchester, Va. He holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree from George Washington University.
Melissa del Bosque, Investigative Reporter
Melissa del Bosque is the investigative reporter for the Observer. Prior to working at the Observer, she spent five years in the Texas Senate as a policy analyst and communications director. She has a Master’Äôs in Journalism from the University of Texas at Austin and a Master’Äôs in Public Health from Texas A&M School of Rural Public Health. Prior to the Texas Senate, she covered the environment and health beat along the Texas-Mexico border for the Monitor newspaper in McAllen, Texas, and worked as a freelance journalist. Her work has been published in Time magazine, the Dallas Morning News, the Austin Chronicle and the Utne Reader.
Forrest Wilder, Staff Writer
Forrest Wilder joined the Observer as staff writer in April 2005 after working as an intern. Forrest graduated from the University of Texas at Austin in December 2003 with a major in Anthropology. While a student, he wrote music reviews, op-eds, and news stories for the Daily Texan and co-founded a student watchdog group. He has worked in the non-profit sector and has published in the Austin Chronicle, Santa Barbara News-Press, ZNet, and the NACLA Report on the Americas.
Charlotte McCann, Publisher
Charlotte McCann first joined the staff of the Observer in 1999 for two years, and returned as development director in 2002. She became publisher in 2004. Ms. McCann directs development, planning, and the business office; provides support for the editorial office; and is liaison with the Texas Democracy Foundation, the Observer’s nonprofit publisher. Before coming to the Observer she was Executive Director of the Human Rights Documentation Exchange (1996-1999), and Refugee Legal Support Service Coordinator and Librarian (1986-1996). She received a Master of Library and Information Science degree from The University of Texas at Austin and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Bryn Mawr College.
Julia Austin, Associate Publisher
Julia Austin first joined the Observer as Art Director in 1999 and returned in 2005 as Associate Publisher. She coordinates circulation, marketing, advertising, and the business office, and works with the publisher on the budget and development. Previously, she worked as a marketing manager and independent graphics consultant and contractor. Prior to that, she worked for the University of Texas at Austin as Designer and Production artist for the College of Natural Sciences and Publications Coordinator for the Office of Admissions. She received a Bachelor of Liberal Arts in the Plan II Honors Program from the University of Texas at Austin.
Sandra Beckmeier, Office Manager/Circulation Manager
Sandra Beckmeier joined the Observer as Circulation and Office Manager in February 2008. Originally from Houston, Texas Sandra worked in Arts Administration for many local non-profits including DiverseArts Culture Works, the Austin Circle of Theaters, and KOOP 91.7FM. She was a theater reviewer for the Texas Triangle and wrote features for the Austin American Statesman. She was part of a small team who developed DiverseArts' multi-cultural monthly Austin Downtown Arts magazine.
Robby Brown, Marketing & Circulation Assistant
Robby Brown joined the Observer as Marketing & Circulation Assistant in August 2007. Prior to this, he completed internships at the Austin Film Society and the Texas Film Commission. He received a Master of Arts degree in Advertising from The University of Texas at Austin and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism from Stephen F. Austin State University.
Leah Ball, Art Director
Leah Ball joined the Observer in June 2007 as art director. She has previous design experience at Zocalo Design and David Ball Design in Austin, TX, as well as freelance work. She graduated from The University of Texas at Austin with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Design.
Shane Pearson, Webmaster
Shane joined the Observer in April 2008 as webmaster. He is a senior at the University of Texas at Austin majoring in Computer Science. He has previous web experience doing freelance work and as webmaster of the Longhorn Hellraisers, a student group at UT.
