The Joplin Globe plans to increase the amount of local news in its pages (and online), according to Editor Andy Ostmeyer.
The change has already begun, Ostmeyer said in a column in today's edition.
It is our plan to continue to prioritize more local news — our franchise — while trusting readers to get their national and international news from the best sources they can find.
Ostmeyer noted that the Globe has been eliminating many of its syndicated features, undoubtedly as part of the parent company's ongoing project to cut costs.
One of the syndicated features that was eliminated, Ostmeyer said, was a medical advice column. That will be replaced by locally written medical columns.
Ostmeyer didn't come right out and say it, but it's apparent that the Globe is no longer using Associated Press articles, undoubtedly due to budget cuts.
The local emphasis appears to be on display in today's editione, but mainly in the form of columns. By my count, the edition includes nine locally produced columns and a local editorial demanding the resignation of Secretary of State Denny Hoskins.
The local columns are a mixed bag. The only columns that are news-oriented are Wally Kennedy's business column, always a highlight, and Ostmeyer's.
The opinion page includes a column by Globe Managing Editor Jerry Willis. I probably should know who that is, but I've never heard of him. (Actually, I believe he has been a designer for the paper, so this could be a promotion.)
What the Globe lacks is local news stories. The Saturday paper is supposed to be the Globe's showcase paper of the week, what used to be the now extinct Sunday edition.
Today's edition has three page one local stories, two by John Hacker and one by Debby Woodin. I didn't see any others, except for two sports stories.
I'll be interested in seeing what the weekday editions will look like.
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