‘Hyperlocal’ Web Sites Deliver News Without Newspapers

[groovedaddy]

If your local newspaper shuts down, what will take the place of its coverage? Perhaps a package of information about your neighborhood, or even your block, assembled by a computer.

A number of Web start-up companies are creating so-called hyperlocal news sites that let people zoom in on what is happening closest to them, often without involving traditional journalists.

The sites, like EveryBlock, Outside.in, Placeblogger and Patch, collect links to articles and blogs and often supplement them with data from local governments and other sources. They might let a visitor know about an arrest a block away, the sale of a home down the street and reviews of nearby restaurants.

Internet companies have been trying to develop such sites for more than a decade, in part as a way to lure local advertisers to the Web. But the notion of customized news has taken on greater urgency as some newspapers, like The Rocky Mountain News and The Seattle Post-Intelligencer, have stopped printing.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/13/technology/start-ups/13hyperlocal.html?_r=1&th&emc=th

[phantom power]

1. That's pretty interesting....

One thing this may not address is the "local investigative reporting" niche.

[lxlxlxl]

3. not even just 'investigative' journalism...how about ?s about basic governance

local broadcast and print does a terrible job doing its main job -- How does the city work/run? Who does what? How much money does it take? How does that compare to other cities.

How many of our local papers actually do any of that type of reporting? It says something about erosion of local politics and the convenient focus on washington in all matters.

[teenagebambam]

2. I've had hyperlocaal news for years

only I call it "gossipy neighbors"