news-record.com

I admit that ever since April when we combined our two news sections and pushed local to the front of the first section, I've been watching the other big papers in North Carolina closer than usual. Would any of them follow our lead? More specifically, would any of them kick national and world stories inside and go all local? (Coincidentally, the latest Pew survey on the news media said today that people rely on their newspapers for local news, not national news.)

I also admit that I was disappointed that none did. It was getting lonely out here.

Until today.

Our neighbor to the west, the Winston-Salem Journal, debuted its redesigned paper today. Three sections, with local taking up the first several pages in the front section. No standalone "local" section. The Journal's executive editor explained in a column last week. The managing editor wrote about it today.

Our experience is that newspaper readers didn't mind the changes, and some applauded them. We got only a smattering of negative comments, primarily from couples who both wanted the news section in the morning. On our end, it saved us money and allowed us to focus on a robust local report.

I wish the Journal luck.