Many studies have said that newspapers need to cover more local news. But which local?
It’s becoming a truism these days that “local†is the core value proposition for newspapers.
The reasoning goes like this: With tons of national and international news and other non-local content available free online, “local†is the one thing a local newspaper can do better than anyone else.
Which is true – but newspaper circulation keeps dropping, so apparently we’re not doing it well enough. Either we aren’t doing enough “local†or we’re not doing the right “local,†because more and more people are getting along fine without it.
So the multi-billion-dollar question for the newspaper industry seems to be, “What’s the right local content?â€
Jonathan,
You describe a very interesting phenomonon. Perhaps there are several variables at play here.
Here are a few I though of:
1. People are utilizing the internet to gather information rather than turning to the traditional printed newspaper. While many local newspapers are starting to offer online content,I suspect that some local newspapers are either not there yet or just getting started. Also, if a town’s newspaper is published once or twice a week, the news gets stale pretty fast. They may want a medium that is updated frequently and often.
2. The loss of community connectiveness. As many towns are becoming more culturally diverse,
perhaps people are turning to local and non local affinity groups where more direct common ground can be found. (hobbies, sports, churches, civic groups.)Perhaps the local community newspaper is too general for those people involved in their own affinity groups.
3. National franchises and chains are becoming more common in communities while distinctly unique businesses are becoming harder to find. A local business that is based in a town gives the town a distint feel and flavor to it. A town that has a Walmart and a Starbucks is like lots of other towns. See #2.
4. Fear of Litigation and Political Correctness.
Local residents may feel apprehensive about writing a letter to the editor or offering a quote out of fear that they might offend someone or perhaps be held libel for what is printed. Furthermore, schools seem less willing to allow their students to be photographed either to protect the students from possible predators or out of privacy concerns. Local journalist may be enountering more roadblocks from schools as they attempt to report on school related news.
5. Apathy about local govenment.
Many communities experience low voter turnout at local elections. Some are just busy and don’t make the effort. While I sure there are local government issue that concern them, some people may think that their vote doesn’t matter or be resigned to the “you can’t fight city hall” mentality.
These are just speculations.