Time to end the Daily Brief?
Written by Jeff on August 18th, 2008When I started writing the Daily Brief in January of 2007, I had so many news sources I could really create a compelling and useful summary of news about Santa Clarita.
Back then, we could count on the Signal and the Daily News, and sometimes even the Los Angeles Times, to write honest-to-goodness news articles about Santa Clarita if not on a daily basis, then at least a weekly basis. In fact, the Daily News’ Santa Clarita bureau consistently pumped out three or four high-quality, well-written news stories every day, and its coverage of the SCV was second only to The Signal.
That was useful for a number of reasons. Primary among them was the fact that we as readers and consumers of news could compare articles on the same subject. While the Signal could be counted on to give a pretty good summary of a given news story, the Daily News could always be relied on to bring somewhat of an outsider’s perspective to the news.
Sadly, those days are long gone. The Daily News closed its SCV branch a year ago, and its one SCV reporter writes maybe two stories a month.
Other news sources stepped into the void but the quality just isn’t the same, and therefore, they don’t make the Daily Brief cut.
It’s ironic and tragic that media coverage of our city declines even as our population increases and our news stories become more complex and difficult to understand, but them’s the breaks.
So I’m left to ponder the state of the Daily Brief as it exists now. To be honest, I do little more than rehash the Signal, which, if you read this website, you probably already read. What’s the point of summarizing a single news source when you already know where to get it?
Therefore, I’m considering dropping the Daily Brief and instead writing longer and more focused articles on various topics using the sources we’ve become familiar with. On the plus side, this might give you a more comprehensive view of important news topics.
What do you think? Vote in the poll below.
Loading ...
18
PM
Jeff, you do more than just rehash TMS’s daily offerings. You give us a forum on which to discuss the issues, and often bring to light an angle some of us fail to see otherwise. Frankly, I read the Brief before (or instead of) TMS.
I voted “Depends” because if you feel your talents would be better spent on longer, more in-depth articles, then that’s what you should do, and your readers will surely continue to benefit. If you get burned out on the short stuff, it will likely show. Just my coupla cents. Many thanks in any case.
19
PM
You are pretty much my one and only news source for local news. I am new to the area and read your blog every day. I have found it very interesting. A lot of the local politics goes over my head, but I’ve learned a lot of new things about my new home from reading your posts.
It’s true, you link to the Signal and I click over there and poke around, but to be honest the story you linked to usually the most interesting one. So, you are saving me time by drawing my attention to the good stuff.
I do agree with PamR — if you’re tired of it then I certainly understand! But, at least know your work has been appreciated.
20
PM
I am a recent reader and convert. I love the Daily Brief. I really can’t stand reading the Signal, even though I am interested in the news contained.
Please keep it coming!