The local biz niche

Clifford G. Cumber, business editor of the The Frederick News-Post,wrote a column that says he passionately believes in the declining economy, business journalism is more important than ever.
He sites a study, recently released by the Pew Research Center's Project for Excellence in Journalism, which says 34 percent of papers have cut Business coverage.
The news was depressing, but after a business journalism conference, Cumber decided that he would focus on his paper's most important niche -- business in its own backyard. And so far, the response has been positive.

Our most read stories online, judged by the number of hits they get, are business openings and closings. Between an update posted to the web and the full story online, we netted 4,442 hits.

That's a pretty respectable amount. It certainly proves there's an audience for business news. And it ties in with something else Pew found in its study. Sixty-two percent of papers had invested more space to community and local coverage. That's why I felt relieved at this year's SABEW conference, despite the doom and gloom. We've got a niche.

Ironically, it's this declining economy affecting papers so badly that allows the FNP's business desk to shine. What we're trying to do is develop resources for you to find out about the economy and weather out the storm.

To read the full column click here.