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* The Illinois Times has an excellent article this week about the declining numbers in the Statehouse press room…

But GateHouse’s shrinking Statehouse press corps is just one example of a statewide trend, which mirrors a national trend. Since the exit of UPI, the remaining wire service the Associated Press and the Chicago Tribune have each cut one Statehouse position, and Lee Enterprises, which owns the Decatur Herald and Review and the Bloomington Pantagraph, has cut two full-time Statehouse reporting positions, bringing the total number of such print positions lost in the last decade to 11. That leaves only 11 daily newspaper reporting positions still in the Capitol today, assuming the Daily Herald and SJ-R do indeed fill their recently vacated positions. Nationwide, the number of newspaper reporters covering state Capitol action full time dropped from 524 to 355, more than 30 percent, between 2003 and 2009, according to a survey by the American Journalism Review.

My quote was a bit on the harsh side…

“For them [traditional news outlets] to be cutting coverage is not only shortsighted but greed-based and moronic,” Miller says, pointing to the state’s budget deficit, imprisoned Gov. George Ryan and impeached Gov. Rod Blagojevich. “On a citizen level and a journalistic level, I’m just appalled by it.”

Ray Long of the Tribune had a brighter outlook…

Long remains optimistic. “I think that we’re just probably hitting the nadir and are about to climb back up,” he says. “I believe that journalism is in the recovery mode and that will translate into more Statehouse reporters. … Every news organization understands that there has to be keen observance of a major legislative body like the Illinois General Assembly.”

There was one “up note” in the piece. The Daily Herald claims it will replace its former Statehouse bureau chief in the coming months.

* The Question: Do you see this situation improving or degrading further? And does it matter? Explain.

posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Aug 5, 10 @ 12:33 pm

Comments

The situation will continue to get worse because
“news from the capitol” doesn’t really cause anyone to buy a paper, except when Blago was busted or something equally major happens.

It probably does matter but most people are
apathetic about government news unless it effects
their pocketbook. No one is going to have a protest march over the number of reporters covering state government decreasing.

Comment by Esteban Thursday, Aug 5, 10 @ 12:39 pm
It definitely matters. The work done in Springfield affects us all, whether we realize it or not, so careful reporting and analysis is required for an informed citizenry. There is a lot at stake.

I hope the situation improves, and I think it will, in part because of the success Rich has had. Good reporting will always have a market, and even though most traditional media outlets are shrinking, new ones are sprouting to fill the void. It’s simple supply and demand. If there is demand, someone will provide the supply to meet it.

Rich, do you know how the recent contractions have affected Charile Wheeler’s program at UIS? Have they offered fewer fellowships because they have fewer media partners?

Comment by 47th Ward Thursday, Aug 5, 10 @ 12:39 pm
I believe it will get better. The key here is that the news media is learning how to use the internet and how to make money off of the readership on the web. Once those business models start to take hold, then the industry will really start to grow and will need more quality reporters to provide a better product that the next publication.

Comment by A.B. Thursday, Aug 5, 10 @ 12:41 pm
It does matter and I think things will improve, at least in this state. I think the failures of our last two governors and the resulting ridicule of Illinois voters will result in a demand for more reporting from our state capitol.

Comment by Wensicia Thursday, Aug 5, 10 @ 1:04 pm
I’m optimistic that it will improve, but the improvement won’t just come from more reporters but better reporting. Two basic legislative reporting improvements that I would like to see are 1) when writing about a bill’s movement through the GA list the bill number so that the people who are interested in knowing more can actually look it up, and 2) properly report the context of the legislative process so when a go-nowhere bill passes out of some committee to go die on the floor the story shouldn’t talk about the legislation as though it’s about to be law.

Comment by The Captain Thursday, Aug 5, 10 @ 1:08 pm
I believe it will get worse.

Right now, newspapers are undergoing a reconfiguration to align themselves with the increase in alternate media. Newspapers are profit driven, just like any other business, and as such will continue to trim staff, recurring and non-recurring costs or they will go out of business, Many other papers have over the last few years have done just this.

Say what you want about Fox news, but Rupert Murdoch is leading the pack as he tries to align NewsCorp with the changing realities of news reporting. He appears to be winning this battle in all of the markets in which he competes.

Until some other visionaries perform a similar miracle at the state an local level, I think the handwriting is on the wall for “traditional” media. Rich seems to have found a business model that works (an assumption, maybe Rich is independently wealthy and runs CapitolFax from his petty cash account), but even Rich could probably expand his advertiser base a bit.

I don’t know if this whole situation is good or bad. The jury is still out. As long as we don’t go down the slippery slope of government bailouts of the MSM industry (there is a proposal in Congress considering just such a step), the creative juices of the market system and its entrepreneurs will eventually find a model that works for its consumers and its investors. Insert sausage metaphor here, it’s going to be ugly for awhile.

Comment by Cincinnatus Thursday, Aug 5, 10 @ 1:18 pm
I work for one of the three organizations that provide Capitol coverage for radio stations in Illinois. The three TV stations in the Springfield market are here to one extent or another.

The IT story mentioned GateHouse has two reporters here. Is she counting Bernie as one of the two?

To build on the Captain’s comment at 1:08, all you have to do is look at some of the locally-reported stuff in the lawmakers’ hometowns to see how the perspective there differs from here.

Comment by Dave Dahl Thursday, Aug 5, 10 @ 1:21 pm
Degrading further. Matters. Matters most in terms of local papers no longer covering the actions of their own local rep/senator; without that kind of scrutiny, we can’t expect less corruption.

Comment by Robert Thursday, Aug 5, 10 @ 1:25 pm
Why do most governors’ press conferences take place in Chicago? Because the Chicago reporters are far more ignorant of state government affairs than Springfield based reporters. Tough questions don’t get asked.

We the public need a quality, quantity Springfield press corps.

Comment by Capitol View Thursday, Aug 5, 10 @ 1:42 pm
I am not sure if it will get better or worse, but I think in time it will change again. I think the situation is heading towards more publications like this (once the FIRST IN PRINT fad runs its course). I favor that. As a person who really doesnt mind getting all my news online, via Kindle, or via BB, I am good with this direction. As internet reporting continues to evolve, it seems print is becoming more tabloid…that being said, I dont want anyone to think for one minute that I am suggesting that Ray Long, Bernie, & CO. are not quality journalists…

Comment by Downstate GOP Faithless Thursday, Aug 5, 10 @ 1:42 pm
Degrading — as in fewer bodies?
The answer is probably no. The Illinois Statehouse News brings fresh head count even it ILCA has their eyes closed. Most expect to see the Chicago News Cooperative try to find Springfield.

What is the differnce between the not for profit at ISN and the Illinois Issues and WSIU/NPR by the way. Or the difference between the NFPs and the bankrupts (that is sort of unintended not for profit too)

Degrading as in quality of coverage?

Yes as long editors want to see the future of journalism as putting celebrity mope news above the fold and trying to find some huge politcal angle to every legislative story or running the audio of some blowhard who shoots off his or her mouth.

In the meantime Capt Fax will inform and the wing nuts on both sides will have blogs to fill their fantasy

The reports from the Daily Herald is a complete reversal of recent internal reports and a welcome change if true. As long some experienced hand get the beat.

BTW I think Lee owns the Post who has a SPI reporter, but it is a little murky on the synergy in that organization

Comment by Reddbyrd Thursday, Aug 5, 10 @ 1:58 pm
It does matter and it will continue to get worse. It’s cheaper for corporate owned newspapers to cut these positions. Using AP coverage isn’t a bad thing, but they’ve cut their bureau and there’s only so much they can cover. Then the window may open for “non-profits” that have ties to right wing groups that are funded by corporations. I hope some of these legitimate bureaus get staffing back, but that doesn’t seem to be the trend.

Comment by DC Thursday, Aug 5, 10 @ 1:59 pm
I believe we’re in a transition for “print” media. The shift froma hard copy newspaper to on-line publications is under way and what we’re seeking in the decling number of statehouse reporters is the shakeout. The numbers may well go back up once on-line models become more defined and more players decide to get in the game. Then it will be up to the consumer to decide what is credible and what is not. Today’s bloggers may well exist in their own little corner of the ‘net. Objective outlets will survive. Of course the lines between blogger and the objective media will blue. Cap Fax is kind of a good model to go by. Video will need to become more professional, and more and more of the vid will need to edited, a la television, if blogs like this one are to become more widely consumed. Who wants to watch 30 minutes of some politician yaking away in the Capitol Rotunda? Well, some might, but more will want TV style packages that hold viewer interest.

I also think that some day soon, we’ll all just have one screen in our homes. On this screen we’ll see TV, movies, the Internet and radio. We may not call those different media by those names but they will eventually morph to the same box (screen).

Rant off

Comment by Deep South Thursday, Aug 5, 10 @ 2:05 pm
Dave Dahl, the story says … “That leaves only 11 daily newspaper reporting positions still in the Capitol today, assuming the Daily Herald and SJ-R do indeed fill their recently vacated positions.”

So I think it’s safe to say the two for Gatehouse would include the current denizen and someone to replace Ryan Keith.

Comment by Michelle Flaherty Thursday, Aug 5, 10 @ 2:08 pm
Q1. Do you see this situation improving or degrading further?
A1. It will continue to get worse because traditional news outlets seem unable to monetize coverage of the Statehouse. Two day-old celebrity gossip from TMZ or the Gawker? They think they can make money on that. Thoughtful pieces about the budget, the inevitable painful choices that will affect everyone in the state and the people who will make those choices? Who in the world could convince the people of Illinois to pay money for something like that?

Q2. And does it matter?
A2. Yes. When the cats are away, the mice will play. And too many of the cats are abandoning Springfield to the mice.

– MrJM

Comment by MrJM Thursday, Aug 5, 10 @ 2:44 pm
I think it will get worse. It’s hard to get anyone interested in state government until the federales make an arrest.

Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Aug 5, 10 @ 2:44 pm
I’m curious to learn what the trends have been like for the California media covering Sacramento, the New York media covering Albany, and the Pennsylvania media covering Harrisburg. Have the press rooms in those capitols increased their elbow room to the same extent?

My guess would be yes, but I don’t know the numbers. State government isn’t a sexy topic, but a citizenry uninformed about the doings of state government is poorer (in a literal sense, given budget shortfalls across the nation).

Comment by Boone Logan Square Thursday, Aug 5, 10 @ 2:48 pm
Sadly, Boone Logan Square, the answer is, “Yes.” Statehouse press corps around the country are being decimated. It’s not pretty. This is a good article for background: http://www.governing.com/topics/mgmt/Death-and-Life-in.html

Comment by Dan Vock Thursday, Aug 5, 10 @ 3:14 pm
Probably degrading further. If it ain’t a ‘profit center’; its gone these days.

But….

Folks need to know; how else in the world do we find out the facts?

Unfortunately, the record in IL from having access to the ‘facts’ is not encouraging.

Comment by sal-says Thursday, Aug 5, 10 @ 3:55 pm