Comments on: Thornton: Newspapers are killing themselves http://www.collegemediainnovation.org/blog/2008/05/19/thornton-newspapers-are-killing-themselves/ a group discussion about the future of student media Wed, 19 Nov 2008 22:57:09 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.1 By: Bryan http://www.collegemediainnovation.org/blog/2008/05/19/thornton-newspapers-are-killing-themselves/#comment-257745 Bryan Mon, 19 May 2008 18:09:45 +0000 http://www.collegemediainnovation.org/blog/2008/05/19/thornton-newspapers-are-killing-themselves/#comment-257745 No argument there. The key is finding local journalists who "get it" who can really localize those beats, not just parrot the national news. I thought the S-J Mercury-News had a good idea about collapsing their sections into fewer sections before the administrators trashed the reinvention project. No argument there. The key is finding local journalists who “get it” who can really localize those beats, not just parrot the national news. I thought the S-J Mercury-News had a good idea about collapsing their sections into fewer sections before the administrators trashed the reinvention project.

]]> By: Pat Thornton http://www.collegemediainnovation.org/blog/2008/05/19/thornton-newspapers-are-killing-themselves/#comment-257741 Pat Thornton Mon, 19 May 2008 17:55:59 +0000 http://www.collegemediainnovation.org/blog/2008/05/19/thornton-newspapers-are-killing-themselves/#comment-257741 I agree that all those sections can be made local. I would suggest, however, that newspapers may not need separate sections for all of them. Local business news could be rolled into the A or metro section (depending the size of the paper). Local tech news might deserve the same treatment. Or maybe a combined business and tech section. Either way, keep it local. My local newspaper is not going to out Wall Street Journal The Wall Street Journal. Local is where newspapers can win. Far too often I find even small newspapers writing about national tech topics. "Which cell phone is right for you!" CNET.com has that covered a million times over. They have authority on that topic. My local newspaper does not. What they have authority over is their local sphere of influence. I do think, however, some beats or areas may need to be discontinued. I'd rather see less beats covered more thoroughly than more beats covered shallowly. I agree that all those sections can be made local. I would suggest, however, that newspapers may not need separate sections for all of them. Local business news could be rolled into the A or metro section (depending the size of the paper). Local tech news might deserve the same treatment.

Or maybe a combined business and tech section. Either way, keep it local. My local newspaper is not going to out Wall Street Journal The Wall Street Journal.

Local is where newspapers can win. Far too often I find even small newspapers writing about national tech topics. “Which cell phone is right for you!” CNET.com has that covered a million times over. They have authority on that topic. My local newspaper does not.

What they have authority over is their local sphere of influence. I do think, however, some beats or areas may need to be discontinued. I’d rather see less beats covered more thoroughly than more beats covered shallowly.

]]>