Washington writer, John McQuaid discusses the cutbacks and what they mean for political coverage in the US.  "Just from the standpoint of brute journalistic force, multiple layoffs mean fewer knowledgeable eyes on the day-to-day business of Congress and the federal government, so more political and bureaucratic shenanigans will go unnoticed -- a win for opacity."

He went on to state, "Washington journalism was sorely in need of reinvention, and still is. Newspapers are a key mediator between Washington and the rest of the nation, translating the often-impenetrable doings of the U.S. government into plain English."

McQuaid goes on the stress the importance of Washington coverage, "Without coverage of individual members and local issues, the federal government seems -- is -- more distant and abstract. And when nobody's watching, members of Congress and bureaucrats get away with more questionable stuff."

He highlights the importance of staying in touch with reader's interests and maintaining a check on politics and inside happenings.  The Internet provides a wealth of information, but what it lacks is the simple, basic human-to-human contact that is sometimes needed to cover certain angles of politics that cannot be found through a Google search.

Source: Media Bistro, The American Prospect