While catching up on my podcast listening recently, I came across an episode of Exponent (a podcast about tech and society) where the hosts talked about the importance of local news and the challenges of the changing media landscape. It's worth a listen, using the analogy that the forest fire of change has been through and now we're looking for the new shoots.

Some key points from the podcast that are worthy of further thought:

• When facing major change, organisations will end up in a different place if they focus on "taking things out" of the old model rather than starting from scratch;
• The "taking things out" approach will tend to protect the things that used to matter, but no longer do.
• Propping up an existing model that will not last will only delay something better emerging.
• Change is painful (but not changing leads to doom).

Propping up an existing model that will not last will only delay something better emerging.

We'll pick up some of these themes later, but for now, check out Exponent #114 - The Job of Local News. Listen here.