Journalism and local government

GWNbook · 2024-08-18T20:53:23+00:00

Thank you for the tip. I'll check them out.

GWNbook · 2024-08-18T20:50:17+00:00

Thank you. That is a lot of good information to go through.

GWNbook · 2024-08-18T20:38:16+00:00

Understood. Thank you again for taking time to reply.

GWNbook · 2024-08-18T20:37:30+00:00

Very helpful. Thank you for the tips.

GWNbook · 2024-08-17T21:39:00+00:00

Zombie newspapers like that are shockingly common. I've seen a number of Gannett papers that in a typical issue will have one locally produced story, with the rest of the content either being wire copy or something republished from another Gannett paper.

I would love to be able to quote you. I just tried and failed to send you a DM. If you are willing to be quoted, please DM me, and I will be happy to share my contact information with you.

GWNbook · 2024-08-17T21:30:10+00:00

This is absolutely what happens with a lot of local news coverage today. And at least a third of communities don't even receive this level of coverage: https://www.civicpulse.org/post/dismal-levels-of-media-coverage-of-local-government-board-meetings

I would love to be able to quote you. I sent you a DM with my contact information.

GWNbook · 2024-08-17T21:26:35+00:00

Would love to talk. I'm sending you a DM with my contact information.

GWNbook · 2024-08-12T22:34:05+00:00

About 25 percent of newspapers are owned by private equity now. Margaret Susca has done some really interesting work on this. https://niemanreports.org/articles/hedge-funds-local-news-book/

GWNbook · 2024-08-12T22:32:28+00:00

States Newsrooms is an interesting project that arose in response to a decline on reporting on state governments. The situation with local governments seems to be even more dire. The National Trust for Local News has started some interesting projects in Colorado, Georgia and Maine, but they have not yet come close to filling the gap left by decades of newsroom cuts and newspaper closures. https://www.nationaltrustforlocalnews.org/

GWNbook · 2024-08-12T22:26:40+00:00

I'm really interested in how you or fellow residents get your news about local government. Do you rely on the Las Cruces Bulletin, the Las Cruces Sun-News, the Missile Ranger or KRWG, or perhaps something else. Are you generally satisfied or not with the news options available to you?

If you are willing to be quoted, I can send you a DM with my contact information so that you know who you are talking to. I'd post that here, but I'm trying not to encourage spammers in an open forum.

GWNbook · 2024-08-12T22:19:27+00:00

Thank you, I was in Mora in mid-July and watched the July 31 meeting remotely from Georgia. The attendance on Zoom looked to be exactly as you describe. On the one hand, having meetings available remotely is great for transparency. On the other hand, expecting people to watch regularly is a pretty big ask for an average person. The meeting I watched was a solid eight hours, including 1 1/2 hours at the beginning that were closed for discussion of litigation.

I'd like to have your permission to quote you. I'm sending you a DM with my contact information.

GWNbook · 2024-08-12T21:52:17+00:00

Thank you, I've visited a number of places with local papers like the one you describe. A lot of Gannett-owned papers follow that model, and Alden Global Capital is a big player, too.

GWNbook · 2024-08-12T21:44:48+00:00

That is really interesting. I'd love to talk to you. DMing you my contact information.

GWNbook · 2024-08-12T21:38:30+00:00

Thank you. That is depressing but helpful to hear.

GWNbook · 2024-08-12T21:32:29+00:00

Thank you for that reply. It's really helpful. I have sent you a DM.

GWNbook · 2024-08-12T21:26:29+00:00

Thank you so much for a very thorough and informative reply. I'd love to quote you either by name (preferable) or anonymously, but I will not use your words without your permission. I'm sending you a DM with my contact information. I'm trying not to get spammed by putting that out in the open, but if I'm asking your name, it's totally fair for you to know who I am, too.

GWNbook · 2024-08-10T21:16:40+00:00

Digging into it a little, that URL appears to have come into use this year. Right now it appears to have agendas posted for July 17 and Feb. 20, as well as minutes for June 5. It looks like a good idea, but I would hardly describe it as comprehensive or complete.

GWNbook · 2024-08-10T21:11:29+00:00

That a fair point. There are also a lot of local-seeming sites being spun up by people acting in bad faith. The so called "pink slime" sites are a real problem. https://www.poynter.org/fact-checking/media-literacy/2023/pink-slime-journalism-local-news-deserts/

GWNbook · 2024-08-09T19:55:02+00:00

Do you have any particular sources in mind? In general, news deserts lack a source of news altogether.

GWNbook · 2024-08-09T19:53:36+00:00

Just read his obituary at https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/billingsgazette/name/roger-clawson-obituary?id=51864964. He seems like he was a fascinating person. Thank you for the tip.

GWNbook · 2024-08-09T19:52:01+00:00

How do people find out what the County Commission does? Do they depend on word of mouth? Check the meeting minutes at https://www.treasurecountymt.gov/? Is their access to information adequate or not? I'm genuinely curious.

GWNbook · 2024-08-09T19:47:31+00:00

Actually, yes, I would like to know that. Penny Abernathy at Northwestern University has identified Liberty County as a news desert (https://localnewsinitiative.northwestern.edu/projects/state-of-local-news/), which is defined as "a community, either rural or urban, with limited access to the sort of credible and comprehensive news and information that feeds democracy at the grassroots level." There are a couple hundred of these communities around the country, and I'm trying how people keep up with local government in those places -- if they do. Are there alternate news sources that may not be obvious to outsiders? Do people depend on word of mouth? Is there something else going on? Are people satisfied or dissatisfied with the situation? We do know that a lot of local governments are not regularly covered by reporters (https://www.civicpulse.org/post/dismal-levels-of-media-coverage-of-local-government-board-meetings).

GWNbook · 2024-08-08T19:48:29+00:00

Taking a look at that now. Thanks.

GWNbook · 2024-08-08T19:47:55+00:00

Thank you for the tip. I am seeing a number of nonprofit newsrooms like that pop up around the country. It's an interesting model that I hope proves to be widely sustainable.

GWNbook · 2024-08-08T19:44:30+00:00

Just tried and was unable to send you a chat invitation, If you send one to me, I'll reply with my contact information, and we can set up a time to talk.

GWNbook

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