Hyperlocal News Trend Benefits GeoDomainers

As startup local news organizations launch, geo domainers are well positioned.

CNN published a story yesterday titled Future of online news may be ‘hyperlocal’. The story discusses the crop of news sites popping up to fill the void not addressed by traditional media and the void left when local newspapers disappear.

Geo domain owners are well positioned to take advantage of both the fall of traditional media and “hyperlocalization”. It was one of the key themes at the 2009 GeoDomain Expo. The article mentions former newspaper writers forming online news startups such as the Seattle PostGlobe. One of PostGlobe’s writers spoke on a panel at GeoDomain Expo.

As I survey the business opportunity in the wreckage of the local newspaper, I’ve realized that trying to do what the traditional newspaper did — be everything to everyone — is not the way to go. The goal ought to be to focus on a particular niche of news, even if it’s for just within one city. In fact, I’ve been hatching a startup idea over the past few days that will do just that.

(Thanks to Domain Capital for the tip.)