Local Is Now National: The Athletic As A Model For Online Local News

Through the lens of disruptive innovation, the present study explores a potential model for local journalism — one that has proven particularly successful for sports journalism in The Athletic. The present study reports on in-depth interviews with Athletic employees across all facets of the organization (n = 49), and argues that the key to The Athletic’s success is reflected in its emphasis on implementing a national infrastructure for local reporting, and employing journalists already embedded in local communities. The article concludes with a rudimentary rendering of how this model could be implemented for local news.<p></p>