Innovation

"A group of community newspapers covering southern DallasDallas suburbs is printing its final editions.

The publisher said Today Newspapers is shutting down Friday because of a loss of advertising revenue."

From a job posting:

"Reporting to Sun Media's East Region Pagination Co-ordinator(s), these layout editors will design broadsheet and tabloid pages including news, entertainment and sports. Graphics work will also be required. Experience in the publishing industry an asset. This position involves working afternoons and evenings, as well as some weekends. The location will be in Brockville, Ontario. Applicants should be prepared to start their first shift in August 5, 2009."

While this may appear to be a cost-savings to the corporation, the loss of these jobs in the communities served by the newspapers demonstrates a reduction in local news content. More and more content from outside the community is being provided (and in some cases, demanded) as content while the local reporter's holes are shrinking.

Sadly, the trend is growing. What should be happening is the growth of local content. Resident of these communities need high quality content that is unique, not the same stuff that can be found everywhere else. If interest in local newspapers is dropping, it is due to the fluff and nonsense being printed. The lack of comprehensive, in-depth coverage of local issues takes newsroom resources, something Sun Media refuses to invest in. As Phil Meyer demonstrates in his book, The Vanishing Newspaper, he demonstrates  how an increase in quality increases revenues. It is not a rhetorical argument, but a statistical fact. The question is: When are the MBA hot shots at head office going to get the message?

"As Gannett (NYSE: GCI) continues to be roiled with huge debt problems, an absent CEO, and hundreds more layoffs across its community newspapers, its digital division appears to be a sea of calm."

A group of former Sun Media employees have started a new independent weekly in Hinton, Alberta, called the Hinton Voice.

This is positive news for the hard-hit weekly newspaper industry, where local newspapers owned by large chains have suffered.

Sun Media recently cut back at the Pincher Creek Echo and the Crowsnest Pass Promoter. There are rumours flying around that smaller Ontario papers in the chain may suffer more reductions only months after a major series of layoffs occurred in the winter and spring.

The Hinton Voice is a great example of what needs to take place. Hyper-local publications serving very specific geographic areas or communities of interest are the solution the big corporations are missing. While these chains promote more centralized production away from the communities they serve and more common content across the board, local audiences are turning away in disgust.

The Voice is responding with a commitment to local coverage and content that is focused on the community it serves. It is worthy of watching.