If that's true; if everything that happens in the political arena can be distilled into the wants and needs of the guy down the street, then, probably all news is local as well.
I had an editor who had me localize story after story every week. It was good training. I wasn't sure at the time if readers really wanted to read it, but now, years later, I realize they probably did. They probably wanted to know how county and state and national news affected them personally. Especially in the wallet.
The New Jersey Professional Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists held a panel in mid-May asking "What is local news?" Not sure we got an answer, but we got a lot of interest.
Naturally, we attracted a number of journalists. Many had worked at papers no longer published or shrunken beyond recognition. And they all worried. Not about their jobs. Not about their income. They worried about the people in their communities not getting the news they need.
Sure, some of the communities are covered by citizen blogs. But, as I've said many times before, there is a difference between someone with an agenda, or even a well-meaning amateur, and a professional who is willing and able to look into every problem he or she sees. A professional who can read between the lines. A professional who knows when an official has a reason to lie or to leave out bits of the truth.
Of course, even pros have a learning curve. And municipal beat reporters, those who cover local news, tend to be young and inexperienced. But, they have the support of older and wiser reporters and editors. The support was better when there was competition. Nothing hones your skills like another reporter breathing down your neck. Especially a good reporter.
So, the gist of the panel on local news was: whatever local news is, it's necessary for living as a citizen and should not be controlled by bean counters.
No, we didn't come up with any solutions, but we agreed we want to continue the discussion.
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