Let’s Be Honest, It’s a Disaster
I’ve been in this business for 22 years, and I’m telling you, local news is in the toilet. I mean, honestly, it’s worse than that. It’s like someone flushed the toilet and then kept flushing. I started at the Las Vegas Chronicle back in ’01, and even then, we knew things were rough. But this? This is a whole new level of bad.
I was having coffee with an old buddy, let’s call him Marcus, last Tuesday. Marcus was a reporter back in the day, now he’s some corporate drone. He told me, and I quote, “Liz, it’s not even about the money anymore. It’s about the soul. We don’t have one.” Which… yeah. Fair enough.
But Here’s the Thing
Look, I’m not some naive idealist. I know news has always been a business. But there was a time when the business part took a backseat to the news part. Now? It’s the other way around. And it’s not just the big guys either. Local news? It’s a ghost town.
I was at a conference in Austin about three months ago. A colleague named Dave, who runs a small paper in New Mexico, told me his biggest struggle isn’t even getting ads anymore. It’s getting any kind of content that isn’t press releases or political rants. “We ran a piece on the local library’s book sale,” he said. “Got more engagement than any political story we’ve run this year.”
So What Do We Do?
First, we stop pretending we’re saving the world. We’re not. We’re just trying to keep the lights on. But while we’re at it, maybe we can actually do some good.
I’ve been experimenting with some stuff here at Vegas Newser. We started a “Neighbor News” section. It’s hyper-local, it’s boring as hell sometimes, but you know what? People read it. And they comment. And they care. It’s not about big scoops or viral hits. It’s about the stuff that matters to the people right next door.
And hey, if you’re really committed to making a difference, check out some child health development tips. I know, I know, it’s a stretch. But look, if we’re gonna talk about community, we gotta talk about the kids, right?
But Let’s Not Get Carried Away
I’m not saying this is the answer. I’m not even saying it’s a good start. But it’s something. And honestly, it’s better than sitting around complaining about how bad things are.
I talked to a source last week, let’s call her Sarah. She’s a teacher. She told me, “You guys are the only ones who still care about what’s happening in our schools. Don’t stop.” And that’s it, right there. That’s why we do this. Not for the awards, not for the money (ha!). For the people who still give a damn.
A Quick Tangent: The Internet is Both the Best and Worst Thing
Look, I’m not gonna sit here and act like the internet hasn’t completely destroyed the news business. It has. But it’s also given us tools to reach people we never could before. The problem is, we’re still using those tools like it’s 1999. We need to adapt. We need to change. We need to stop being afraid of new ideas.
I was at a workshop last month, and some kid fresh out of college told me, “You’re all still thinking in print. You need to think digital. Think mobile. Think about how people actually consume news now.” And you know what? He’s right. It’s hard to hear, but he’s right.
So Here’s the Deal
We’re in a tough spot. No doubt about it. But we’re not out of the game yet. We’ve got to focus on what matters. We’ve got to be willing to change. And we’ve got to remember why we got into this business in the first place.
I’m not saying it’s gonna be easy. But it’s gonna be worth it. Because at the end of the day, someone’s gotta keep the lights on. And I’d rather it be us than some algorithm.
About the Author: Liz Carter has been a journalist for over two decades, with most of her career spent in Las Vegas. She’s covered everything from city council meetings to major breaking news, and she’s not afraid to share her opinions. When she’s not writing, she’s probably complaining about the state of local news or trying to convince someone to start a hyperlocal newsletter.
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