Simon Owens on how bloggers are filling a gap

Over at Media Shift,Simon Owens takes a look at how bloggers are filling the gaps that are left in the media as local newspaper coverage recedes.

As city daily papers continue to strain under the pressure of massive reporter lay-offs, hundreds of knowledgeable and independent local bloggers are rising up and finding themselves with small, niche audiences that sometimes provide massive political sway. And as these local bloggers continue to carve out their beats, local politicians and reporters are increasingly courting them in attempts to steer media coverage.

It was a point I made on Friday when looking at the writings of Jon Slattery after he left the Press Gazette.

It is surely part of the trend that is going to continue as more and more journalists work independently of media organisations.The question though is who will pay for this journalism?