Publisher's Synopsis
What is the current state of journalism in America? Better yet, what is the current state of small-town print journalism? Maybe this doesn't seem like a relevant question, but it might be the most important question there is when it comes to the future of the business. The reason is the backbone of American journalism takes place in small cities and towns across America, not what most people see in big newsrooms with flashy graphics. The heart and soul of American journalism is done by gum-shoe reporters who attend local meetings and events as well as uncover shenanigans of local government.
Many may think the end is near for journalism in small towns. But in this book, find out why the author believes there can be a resurgence of local journalism - as long as the beancounters stay out of the picture. There is hope, he reasons, but it is going to take a revolution of sorts, so that small newsrooms get back into the hands of local ownership. Corporate America has made a mockery of local journalism and now is the time to strike back.
Greg Little has been a journalist since his first efforts at that small newspaper in junior high school. His award-winning career has spanned five decades and has taken him from life-changing issues on an Indian reservation in Montana to helping stop illegal dumping of sewage sludge in Tennessee. He taught journalism for a brief time in Montana and has always loved the art of writing. His hero is journalist Ernie Pyle, who helped lift the spirit of a nation. He has four children, Lara, Lindsay, Christopher and Price. He currently lives in Mariposa, California, with his wife Nicole and his son, Price. They are the owners of the Mariposa Gazette, the oldest continually published weekly newspaper in the state of California.
