With the increasing popularity of online news, the old media is looking for ways to stem falling readership levels and decreasing ad revenues. One trend which is becoming apparent is hyperlocal news, where old media operators encourage their readership to report on news in their own local area.
The trend for hyperlocal news means that old media can generate content which is unique, and both deep and wide in its scope. The readers-turned-reporters get a few minutes of fame as their payment in the deal.
An example of this is Chicago Now, an online community created by the Tribune. The paper says it is “by Chicagoans for Chicagoans.” And the Daily Mail is now piloting a UK equivalent in the south west of England called “LocalPeople”. This is a network of websites providing a forum for people to get together and discuss issues affecting them and their local communities. There will be 23 local community websites initially, designed to help people interact with each other and report on what is relevant to their local area.
New media are also embracing this trend. AOL recently reported that it is planning to invest about £30 million into its hyperlocal news site, called Patch.
