Rob Curley leaves The Post and the topic of hyperlocal is revived again.

Many would say that the approach Rob and his team did in Lawrence is very hard to duplicate and point at Naples and the Post as examples. In our industry people tend to look at Lawrence as an example for everything since Rob’s departure- college sports, local political coverage and now marketplace (launched well after he left). Lawrence may have been the first to get a handle on convergence which helped them move quickly into doing more cutting edge things with video, photos and UGC but in 2008 it is now the standard.

So, whether Rob is a genius that created the hyperlocal movement or someone who was in the right place at the right time, he definitely painted a picture that we all try to copy or improve upon.

Peter Krasilovsky did a very nice interview with Rob which covered his time at The Post and his move to Las Vegas.

I also read a very nice piece on HyperLocal by Laurence Hooper at Think Locally. He challenged the work that Rob and his team did at The Post and basically said… It isn’t local or at least didn’t feel local to him. His company Loladex is based in Loudoun County, Va which is where The Post launched their first hyperlocal section.

Here is an excerpt from his post-

Here’s my own definition: It’s the things we wonder about as we walk (or drive) the streets of our community. Today, for instance, I was thinking —

• What’s with that used-book store? The sign in its window seems to say its business is failing.

• What’s the asking price for that house? What does it look like inside? Why are they selling, anyway?

• Have any of my friends been to that new restaurant? Could I take the kids?

You were thinking completely different things, I’m sure. And that’s the point: Hyperlocal should be relevant to you. It should be about your day-to-day concerns in your local community. Those definitions are personal, so hyperlocal must be personal, too.

His point about it being personal is good but can any site really reach the tastes, needs and desires of everyone?

I think it is possible…. but not initially.

The first approach should be to hit the common interests of the community and then use the voice of the people to help move the site into a true hyperlocal direction.

Related Posts

Derek Anderson- Loudonextra.com- Can it get local, local.

The Wall Street Journal- Big Daily’s ‘HyperLocal’ Flop