Josh Mather I found this tagline on google.

I can’t stop thinking about the new hyperlocal movement.  For those that haven’t heard of it here is a good starting point.  On top of that the Wall Street Journal reports that the Knight Foundation has just awarded a total of $5 million to a number of local journalism projects in the U.S.

My thoughts began to grow on this when I heard NPR was laying off workers and and began talking a bit about the end of the newspaper (it is the rage now).  Not only that but many newspapers around my area have been put up for sale with no buyers in sight.  I live in a smaller town than Seattle…Bellingham with approximately 70,000 locals, we have one major newspaper the Bellingham Herald.  I think in towns like mine and of ones of similar to size it may be the best time ever to start a hyperlocal startup.

If you are one of the unfortunate(fortunate) few that may lose their day jobs at a place like the herald, you might consider this your best chance ever.  For some, you may balk at this, and for some it may not be right.  I think with about 2 full time computer geeks, 2-3 full time “hyperlocal” journalists and a couple of people to run the operations (This could be started much smaller btw), you could easily replace a lot of what the larger local paper passes for news (now newspress necessary).  I know you would get my readership and you with a bit of extra effort you could probably attract some of the capital that is being thrown around by people like the knight foundation.

In some ways this has been beaten to death in the media already, but I don’t think it has quite hit home yet for some of these small to medium sized towns.