Comments on: Newspapers As Local Blog Networks http://www.psfk.com/2007/07/newspapers-as-local-blog-networks.html Ideas & Trends Tue, 24 Nov 2009 03:23:35 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Henry Scott http://www.psfk.com/2007/07/newspapers-as-local-blog-networks.html/comment-page-1#comment-6227 Henry Scott Tue, 24 Jul 2007 23:00:33 +0000 http://www.psfk.com/2007/07/newspapers-as-local-blog-networks.html#comment-6227 Other than the NYT and USA Today and WSJ, US newspapers really are local. Pick up the Charlotte Observer, the St. Pete Times, the Denver Post, and you'll see that local stories dominate the front page. Most big and medium-sized US newspapers are using their news staff to report and post news on their web sites. Many also have regular freelancers, but they must have some training and must abide by the newspaper's standards. And I think that's as it should be. Who has the time to read the observations of stay-at-home Moms or retirees or citizens who just happen to stumble on an event that turns out to be newsworthy? Not me. I want my information mediated by someone who knows what's news. I wouldn't call journalism a profession, but it is a skill, and not everyone has it. Other than the NYT and USA Today and WSJ, US newspapers really are local. Pick up the Charlotte Observer, the St. Pete Times, the Denver Post, and you’ll see that local stories dominate the front page.

Most big and medium-sized US newspapers are using their news staff to report and post news on their web sites. Many also have regular freelancers, but they must have some training and must abide by the newspaper’s standards.

And I think that’s as it should be. Who has the time to read the observations of stay-at-home Moms or retirees or citizens who just happen to stumble on an event that turns out to be newsworthy? Not me. I want my information mediated by someone who knows what’s news. I wouldn’t call journalism a profession, but it is a skill, and not everyone has it.

]]> By: John Voelcker http://www.psfk.com/2007/07/newspapers-as-local-blog-networks.html/comment-page-1#comment-6211 John Voelcker Tue, 24 Jul 2007 11:20:36 +0000 http://www.psfk.com/2007/07/newspapers-as-local-blog-networks.html#comment-6211 I tend to believe that newspapers have got to go local; aside from the NYT, WSJ and USA Today, their only USP is true local understanding. But media commentators sometimes forget that the "news" part of the paper is often an afterthought for consumers, who pay 25 cents to a dollar for a package of advertising with economic value to them (coupons, cars for sale, etc.) I've yet to be convinced that a network of local blogs can provide the footprint and brand that'll allow that. And if local supermarkets & auto dealers figure out how to use Craigslist effectively then all local papers are sunk. I tend to believe that newspapers have got to go local; aside from the NYT, WSJ and USA Today, their only USP is true local understanding.

But media commentators sometimes forget that the “news” part of the paper is often an afterthought for consumers, who pay 25 cents to a dollar for a package of advertising with economic value to them (coupons, cars for sale, etc.)

I’ve yet to be convinced that a network of local blogs can provide the footprint and brand that’ll allow that. And if local supermarkets & auto dealers figure out how to use Craigslist effectively then all local papers are sunk.

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