They have adopted the “Nashville model,” thanks largely to the work of Brian Shields, which has meant lots of interaction with local bloggers, but ran into some static when they asked reporters and producers alike to start doing their own writing, shooting and editing (mostly to save money) — they could probably use some tips from vloggers like yourselves!

Remember, most of the consternation is not that the stations will die – according to the article cited, they actually experienced an 8% growth last year – but that they aren’t producing the typical 40% profit margins of old. Since newsrooms were typically loss leaders, my worry is that public interest coverage will lose out to advertorials.

As far as local stations struggling… I feel really hopeful for local stations, if they can just think differently about their importance. If Twitter is any indicator, people want instant connection. I think local stations just need to change their focus and direction to taking advantage of new technologies offered on the web. Servicing locals in a more immediate hyper-local way is a way to go.

When I lived in NY I loved NYNews on Channel 1. It gave me local news I wasn’t getting on any of the major networks… if all local networks can do that and deliver on the web and cell phones as well, then they’ll have something of great value.