Go local or keep the international desk? The evolving role of local reporting in international coverage

Abstract

The question of who should report on local news stories in international locations is one that weighs heavily in a world of diminishing resources for newspapers in the West. Should Canadian newspapers employ local reporters in countries where the action is, or should they fly in a Canadian working at an international bureau? Using the philosophy of perspectivism as a guide, the author explores whether it is possible for a non-local reporter to become familiar with the cultural, social and economic context quickly enough to provide accurate and representative reporting to the audience in the home country of the newspaper. These questions are examined through interviews with prominent Canadian journalists and editors who provide candid and often surprising opinions on the question.