The Rebooting Show Greater Long Island's scrappy approach to local
14 snips
Aug 26, 2025 Mike White, the founder of Greater Long Island, has transformed a one-man blog into a vital regional news platform. He discusses the significance of community engagement in local journalism, emphasizing a scrappy, service-oriented approach while navigating industry challenges. They explore innovative funding strategies, such as avoiding paywalls to keep news accessible, and the unique advantages smaller media companies have in advertising. Additionally, Mike shares how organized events can boost local engagement and the potential role of AI in enhancing community news coverage.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
One Reporter, Five Stories A Day
- Mike started Greater Patchogue as a one-person operation, walking Main Street, publishing five to six stories a day and selling ads directly.
- That daily hustle turned the site into a local sensation and launched expansion across Long Island.
Audience Beats Process
- Audience behavior data showed routine civic meeting coverage drew little interest compared to service journalism.
- Mike concluded newsrooms must be audience-focused, not process-focused, to retain readers.
Prioritize Shareable Local Service Stories
- Focus on service journalism: restaurant openings, festivals, and stories neighbors share on Facebook.
- Prioritize content that people both like and circulate rather than chasing every political beat.