It is a project of the Chicago Tribune to add to its suburban coverage. Through a combination of work by Tribune reporters and citizen journalists, it often provides what nearly every person wants to read in their newspaper: a story about themselves.
The LOCAL in the logo at the top of its home page overwhelms the much smaller "Trib." Right at the top it asks visitors to send along photos and stories and to feel free to "publicize" their events.
Triblocal started its first eight sites in April 2007. Now people in 21 communities can log on to Triblocal.com to read about who got the fastest time in the high school swim meet or what shows are opening at the community theater. By the end of the year, Triblocal will cover 35 suburbs, according to a statement.
The Web sites are supplemented by a print publication provided to readers as an insert in the Chicago Tribune. These stories are picked from those at the site, including the ones regular citizens wrote. Currently there are two papers in print, but the Trib hopes to publish eight by the end of the year, reaching a circulation of 120,000.
The beauty of Triblocal is its practical and emotional relevance. While residents may care about the bigger issues, like the presidential primaries and the war in Iraq, stories about who made AP Honor Roll at the high school and the car crash that killed the neighbor?s dog are what may appeal to them more directly. And it lets people write about, and therefore decide, what?s most important to them.
Citizen journalism often gets a lot of flack. It?s not trustworthy. It?s inaccurate. It lacks credibility. But Triblocal maintains a high level of professionalism. By involving Tribune reporters, it gives the sites credibility and raises the level of writing and reporting for citizens being featured alongside professionals. The Tribune requires their citizen journalists to provide phone numbers so they can verify print articles, creating an atmosphere of quality journalism.
In a city where some are worried the newspaper landscape is shrinking, it?s nice to see new outlets for local coverage that not only provide news, but engage their readers in the process.