Former Daily Express editor and Financial Times executive Richard Addis is one among news executives who believes hyper-localism, micro-papers, could be the solution.

“In the old model, free papers had to have circulations of about 400,000 to work,' he says. 'City AM has shown that it can be done with about 100,000. The question is whether you can do it with 25,000,” he said.

Hyper-local coverage can also interest advertisers, provided the extra reach they give towards specific communities.

Addis doesn’t think the Web would be the most efficient medium, as print is still more practical – especially when home-delivered. Of course the long-term aim would be oriented towards online.

“You could have a couple of local columnists and lots of content from pressure groups or local people who have got something to say. You get your customers working for you. They are your journalists and you have a couple of people editing it,” said Addis.

In the US, local news websites have flourished, but the UK’s broadband services aren’t as entrenched yet.

Is the hyper-local news model the solution for future news organizations? Many news organizations and executives, alongside Addis, believe so. Johnston Press launched about 50 community newsletters last year; publishing group Archant’s regional papers have launched even smaller papers.

“There is definitely a trend towards localisation, and publishers will follow the market,” said John Fry, chief executive of Archant.

Source: The Observer