US: Orlando Sentinel focuses on local, cuts NASCAR coverage and award-winning reporter

Posted by Jean Yves Chainon on January 3, 2008 at 4:11 PM

The Orlando Sentinel is cutting its national NASCAR coverage to increase its focus on local coverage. Ed Hinton, perhaps the US’ best and most popular NASCAR writer, will be leaving the company.

The Sentinel’s decision is highly symbolic: NASCAR is one of the most watched sports in the US and regularly tops charts in terms of viewership. Hinton was, as described by the memo, the nation’s best NASCAR writer.

And yet, following a joint decision by the Sentinel, Chicago Tribune and the Sun-Sentinel, the papers won’t be covering as many NASCAR races to focus more on local sports.

“With the increasing demand to produce local news, we've decided to eliminate our national NASCAR coverage and focus more on local sports coverage. Following a joint decision by the Sentinel, Chicago Tribune and the Sun-Sentinel, we won't be covering as many NASCAR races and will spend more of our budget on local news,” read the memo issued to the Orlando Sentinel sports staff on Wednesday morning.

“He is the best NASCAR writer in the nation, winning more awards than anyone, and will be missed dearly,” said the memo.

Source: Poynter Romenesko