“Many are talking about ‘hyperlocal’ websites as the future of local news. But we’re not the future of local news. We’re the present.”
David Boraks
Some of you, as Chris Morrill did, will remember David Boraks, a Courant alum (and before that, the Middletown Press) from the era of major local expansion more than a decade ago. He wrote the phrase above, along with this entire article.
In it, he reports that he has begun a small (I hate this term) “hyperlocal” community website as a start-up. Check it out. It would appear to be a terrific model for folks in this area trying to fill the big sucking noise the Courant made when it all but abandoned local coverage. (iTowns excluded, because the site has elements in common with iTowns.)
Anyway, there apparently is a lot to learn from David’s site, which, I hasten to point out, has advertisers.
(Also, sorry, David, I lifted your photo off your site, which is perhaps a no-no, but think of the major plug you’re getting here. And as a bonus, I’ll list you on our membership roster.)
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So nice to see – and hear about and from – David Boraks. He was the ABC in Middletown back in the summer of 1988 when I begged my way in the door as a correspondent, and he was always so nice & encouraging to new reporters – as well as veterans. Nice to see his sense of hope and industry at work – the best to you, David, from a grateful reporter who you were very good to many moons ago! I’m up in VT now, still plugging away at a tiny daily…funky times, for sure. email me at vegnixon@aol.com or anixon@caledonian-record.com. Best to you – always! amy
The “hyper” local sites I’ve seen are fascinating and useful (though the term “hyper local” sounds like a hick on speed – can’t someone come with a less condescending name for these innovative projects?)
Personally, I like to know about the important things going on in my town. I like the information to be reliable. And I REALLY like thoughtful analysis of the local news.
On the other hand – I DON’T need to know anything about 95% of what goes on in my town (West Hartford, in this case). Generally, there just isn’t that much of interest to justify super-heavy coverage. A couple of stories every few days. The rest (in any news format)tends to be events and fluff and filler. Don’t want it in print. Don’t need it online.
Frankly, I REALLY value quality over quantity. I can, say, pick up a three-day-old New York Times and read a wonderfully-written story about corruption in a small town in upstate NY and be fascinated, drawn in. AND I learn things about how town governments can operate that I would never learn from daily, blah reports about West Hartford school board meetings – or from three DIFFERENT blah accounts of the SAME board meeting.
Local news that is less “blah” would mean things like asking uncomfortable questions of local elected officials. Getting opinions from the people who are working too hard to be able to attend the meetings. A little investigative journalism thrown in.
There’s definitely a place for local-heavy news. But it’s just a start.