Live and research locally instead of phoning and surfing online

Section ID Primary
E010 Textblock-Element

BACK TO LOCAL MEDIA

 

 

“The exchange with the audience takes place when you are there. When you’re outside, at an event, at an aperitif, talking to people, then, naturally, the exchange is there. I spend a lot of time on the road, I like doing that too. […] You then also notice a relativization of the negative trend that is sometimes reflected in the figures. Then you will be told that you are important, and that people wouldn’t want to be without you. And that’s very inspiring.”
  • Editor of Zürcher Oberland Medien AG, translated from German
“When you engage in local journalism, you are forced to know the local well. You have to experience everyday life alongside the politicians and local personalities. You are almost forced to live locally. P1*, she lives in the middle of Nyon, in a very centrally located apartment, she meets people all day long, people who are involved in local life. She hears things every day when she drinks her coffee or goes shopping. People stop her to talk to her and confide in her. P2* feels the same way. You see, all these things are connected, you have to be in touch with people here. Local journalism is not the work of people who spend 12 hours a day researching at their desk and then write news stories based on excerpts from their browsing on the internet. They must go on the ground and experience the country. However, there is a lot of journalism today that is done remotely, sitting behind a computer. A bit like drone pilots who are very far away from their field of work.”
  • Nyon Région Télévision responsible, *names of journalists P1 and P2 anonymized, translated from French

 

Anyone who works for a local medium should know the local population and local stakeholders personally. Local journalism is not just a desk job – it is important to show your face and network during interviews, research, but also at social events. The best way to do this is to live in the area yourself. Those who live and work locally have contacts that go beyond mere work and office relationships. This is why developments, especially in the USA, where “local reporters” publish “local” news for media products nationwide, are extremely worrying.

 


Share recommendation

Facebook
X
LinkedIn