I am not a journalist or a person long schooled in newspaper production, so take this for what it is worth. But I do feel that the small community online newspaper is going to have to morph into something more personal in order to be compelling to the local readers.

This article, recently published in Norfolk.VA.MyCityTalk.com, one of our NewsPortalSites, is an example of what I am talking about. Sure it is a very good video production, technically, and it is well researched and written. But the nature of the article goes into the personal thoughts, beliefs, and feelings of this community leader. That is what allows it to compete on the world stage.

World stage? Yes, whenever a member of your market area boots up their computer they have all the world's news to choose from. And, not just news either, but all the world's INFORMATION.

To compete, a small local production has to use its geographical advantage. To do that, the nature of the local story has to touch the reader/viewer. The local news by itself will not compete with the size, uniqueness, and production quality of global event coverage. The stories have to delve deeper into the subjects that the viewers are facing in their real lives and touch them. They need to be able to identify with the subject of the story in a personal way or they will move on to something more exciting.

This story is important, compelling and exclusive. That gives it its value and it has enough value to pay for - either through viewing advertising or ultimately, in my opinion, by subscribing as a paid member to the Web site.

We are all trying to figure out where this whole journalism business is going. Lots of folks are falling by the wayside. MyCityTalk out in Norfolk, is bucking the trend and rapidly accumulating viewers with this kind of reporting.