Doug Thompson, who blogs from Floyd in words and pictures at http://blueridgemuse.com, is featured in the Knight Citizen News Network's collection of tools and tips for citizen journalists.
"I'm flattered that they chose to feature Blue Ridge Muse as part of
their 'learning modules,'" he says, "but I'm not sure how a 61-year-old ink-stained
newspaperman ended up as an example of the 'new media.'"
You can find him at http://www.kcnn.org, under the heading "Tips for finding compelling community stories,"
and in two video clips in that page's right column telling how he uses more than his blog to stay in touch with Floyd County goings-on. His advice is absolutely true, including the quote KCNN chose to box in larger type: "The first rule is to listen, to always listen. There probably is something in there."
Back at Blue Ridge Muse, Doug used a reference to the KCNN site to discuss both his work and the shaky foundations of local journalism at chain-owned newspapers, including some that are about to be shuttered by a newspaper chain back in my old neck of the woods in Connecticut. I hadn't followed the growth of that company over the past dozen years, or its recent decision to sell or close 13 of the papers it owns. Even the politicians are trying to keep that from happening, while avoiding the word 'bailout'.
Coincidentally, Doug's site is one of my two favorite examples of solid local news reporting online by former newspaper reporters with strong ties to their communities... and the other is NewHavenIndependent.com. As I recall, the proprietor, Paul Bass, used to work for the chain that's talking about closing its small community weeklies. His site's "about" page has this to say, as true in New Haven as it is in Floyd:
"We believe that democracy starts at home, with smart, thorough,
in-depth local news reporting and broad citizen debate about local
issues. Thanks to the Internet, journalists and
news-deprived citizens need no longer be hostages to out-of-state media
conglomerates. We can reclaim our communities. Power of the press now
belongs not to those who own one, but to those who own a modem. We own a modem."
Bass supports the site with donations, sponsorships and grants
from foundations, modelled (he says) in part after National Public Radio. I hope his local focus and roots can hold on better than the ones that were sustaining NPR's horticulture expert.
2:14:56 AM 
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