The Big Picture

Here’s what I’d like the local press to do next time a big story happens on the state level: Gather your reporters together from all your different beats — schools, business, city governments, environment, crime, etc. — and have them search out people on each beat affected by the state’s action or inaction.

Or perhaps we have to take a completely different approach to state politics. After all, people are interested in the national sports stats not because they play sports, but more likely because they play fantasy sports. Perhaps we need to set up a fantasy league for lawmakers, with wins and losses measured by voting stats or the success or failure to pass bills and bring home pork. But wouldn’t it be sad if the only way to generate more interest in state legislation was to give it a Second Life?

Marcy Burstiner is an assistant professor of journalism and mass communication at Humboldt State University. She can be reached at mib3@humboldt.edu.

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Today

44th Annual Kinetic Grand Championship Race

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