PROMOTING LOCAL-NESS

The recent FCC decision on media ownership focused attention not just on the future of broadcasting, but on what's already happened to broadcast news. Local news on the radio has almost vanished (see: A Vast Wasteland). Local television stations are airing newscasts that aren't really local (see: Local News from Far Away). What's to be done? Bill Skeel, an attorney and NewsLab reader, has an idea:

Why is it that the few remaining 'independent' (as in, locally owned, not chain) competitors in the radio market don't trumpet their localness, and the lack of same in their competition? As in an ad in the local newspaper or arts weekly on behalf of W### saying:

"W*** broadcasts its [music, sports, weather, whatever] from Hunt Valley, MD. Their DJs all live in the DC area [or heck, inside the beltway if we want to be cute]. W### broadcasts its [music, sports, weather, whatever] from a station in downtown Buffalo [for example]. Our weatherman drives here every day from his home in South Buffalo, rain, shine or lake effect, while our morning DJ actually walks to work, and our sports guy goes to Bills games at Rich Stadium on the weekend. Who do you want to listen to, a guy who doesn't know who [name a Bills player here] is, and wouldn't know a real chicken wing from a cold Jenny [if you gotta ask ...], and thinks a 'beef on weck' is a cow hit by a car, badly spelled [if you gotta ask ...], and thinks 'whiteout' is something you correct typing with? Or a guy who lives here, who speaks to Buffalo? ..."

a) most people don't know, and
b) seems to me it would appeal.

I mean reallly. Why not stick it in their face for competitive reasons?

Care to respond? Have another idea to share? Let us know!