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Restoration: Is All News Local?by Darris McNeelyLately I have been reading a lot about the trend in newspapers toward mostly local coverage. Many of the large metro newspapers have cut their foreign news operations. I read a few days ago that the Boston Globe had done this. A recent PBS Frontline series on the "news wars" focused on the ongoing woes of the Los Angeles Times. Viewing the shrunken profits and newsroom staff, one analyst was arguing that this venerable old paper should focus its efforts on local news and forget trying to be a national paper with an international focus. I have watched this trend in my local newspaper, The Indianapolis Star, for several months now. To keep readership and circulation figures up, their focus has been on issues of local and state interest. A recent Sunday edition offers an example. The front page had three articles. Above the fold, one dealt with financial aid available for adoptive families and another covered the governor's attempt to increase the cigarette tax. At the bottom an article covered the appointment of a new university president. To find the first article on international news, you had to go to page 9 for analysis of President Bush's upcoming trip to Latin America. The only other international news item was on page 16, and it dealt with the war in Afghanistan. That's it--two articles. Page 2 was devoted to promoting the Web version of the paper, which contains blogs, recipes, local sports and more local news coverage. Now all of this is very helpful, especially if I want information on a concert or to catch the latest local scores. And it echoes the trend of most American newspapers. Many newsrooms are equipping reporters with laptops and wireless modems. They are expected to spend the day in the field gathering news, writing on local issues and updating their news site several times a day. Many newspaper executives feel this is the best way to do the job, while maintaining the attention of a younger, wired audience. And they are right. It is the future of newspapers and content delivery. Whether we will see the demise of newsprint is debatable. But we are definitely witnessing a sea change in the way news is delivered, viewed and understood. More news is available to us than ever before. I can sit at my computer and gather information, including photos and video, from news sources throughout the planet. Most of it is free. We are awash in information. Information by itself is not enough. We have to understand what it means. And we cannot fully understand today's world events without an understanding of Bible prophecy. A balanced, thorough knowledge of this unique source makes history come alive and helps us understand the complex, rapidly changing events of today's world. If people's tastes are more to local news, they will not be keeping up with major international events that will shape our world beyond today. Local news can be helpful. But it will be events in the Middle East, China, India, Europe and South America that will determine much of our quality of life over the next two decades. As America discovered on 9/11, we cannot take a holiday from history. Events and people can come knocking on our door with devastating consequences. In Revelation 16:12-14 we see described a gathering of armies from the east and other parts of the world in a "place called Armageddon" (verse 16), in modern Israel. There will also be a time of great spiritual deception worked by Satan. Christ pronounces a blessing on those who will watch and discern those times, thereby avoiding involvement with that satanic power. "Behold, I am coming as a thief. Blessed is he who watches, and keeps his garments, lest he walk naked and they see his shame" (verse 15). So, go ahead and keep up with the scores. I do. But keep your eyes on the international horizon. There is a lot going on there that you need to be aware of. We will do our part to keep you informed. WNP |
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