Idea Hall Blog Online National Media Goes Local

11/02/09
A downsized print media has left a void in local news coverage that is being filled by several enterprising online outlets.

Politico.com is a leading national news source that is expanding into local news in Washington, D.C. and its suburbs. The online media provider plans a 50-person newsroom to compete head to head with the Washington Post for readership.

Local and regional sports coverage is also getting a big boost from a national player.

ESPN dominates national sports media, and it is now targeting local audiences with the unveiling of ESPN.com websites in Chicago, Boston and Dallas. New York and LA will soon follow. The regional sites feature editorial coverage, blogs, multimedia tools and mobile content geared toward local high schools, colleges and professional teams.

These pioneering media companies bring a more sophisticated approach to local news coverage. 

As local coverage goes online with podcasts, blogs and RSS feeds, so does the opportunity to publicize your organization. And, as online media redefines how we receive news and entertainment, the changes require that public relations strategies adapt as well.