Are We receiving "All the News That's Fit to Print"

Jason's announcement of the arrival of the Fitchburg Pride provided consideration to the following:

Near every daily newspaper and news outlet (TV, Radio) across the nation has experienced significant drop in circulation, viewers/listeners over the past few years. Locally, the Globe and Herald have experienced a significant decline in circulation estimated at 7% (Globe weekday edition) and 13% (Herald weekday edition) and, implausibly, a near 20% decline for the Sunday Globe. Several industry analysts, however, indicate a bright future and excellent financial propects for local publications geared to covering local events.

Similarly, TV and radio news has undergone substantial change in an attempt to retain viewers.

To a certain extent Fitchburg continues to rely on The Sentinel and The Telegram, along with WEIM for regular coverage of local news and FATV broadcast of meetings of the City Council and School Committee. Yet, unless the current news situation is seriously misunderstood, newspaper and radio news coverage of local issues leaves much to be desired-and that does not bode well as we enter a municipal election year.

Now, I am not addressing editorial content or opinion. Simply news coverage. Evaluating objectively, does either the news coverage and reportorial style provided by The Sentinel-or WEIM-meet your expectations? What's missing? If you were the Editor-or Assignment Editor-at The Sentinel what would you do differently to improve, or enhance, news coverage? If you were the Manager of WEIM what programming niche would you develop to improve, or enhance, news coverage? Is there a need or interest in occasional Investigative Reporting? Is there a need to rely less on press releases and expect more in depth reporting? Is the "revolving door" among reporters a matter of concern?

Finally, is there any expectation FATV would become a "player" in the local news area? Offense intended, but it's highly presumptuous that "Barbara and You" assumes "me" within the "You." And, those never ending NASA broadcasts of some satellite orbiting the globe are hardly mezmerizing unless some illegal hallucinogen has been ingested. The point, obviously, is that air-time is available

Admittedly, I neither subscribe to, or regularly read, The Sentinel other than the truncated on-line edition. Similarly, WEIM's signal begins to fade at K-Mart, then magically return near the intersection of 2 & 495, only to quickly fade. The Globe, other than Sports and Business, offers little. Consequently, I rely on USA Today, WSJ and the NY Daily News-as time permits-for print news coverage-and various radio stations with up-to-the-minute traffic reports for news. What say you? Is The Sentinel of any value other than kindling, mopping up the occasional spilled liquid or allowing your cat to make an "on-line" deposit? Does WEIM news content meet your needs and expectations? Or, are they an integral part of the problem?