Two rando-ideas to save journalism?

In class, we were asked to write about 10 ways to save the journalism industry -- because it obviously needs some innovators, educators, and entrepreneurs to get thinkin' on that. Though I'm sure there's already some headway in there somewhere.

So I don't have 10 brilliant ideas, or even one, that could make a difference in journalism.

But I do have... (drum roll anyone? No? Okay.) TWO IDEAS!

That's a start, right?

So each town knows itself well. Each section of each town knows the general happenings. Small towns -- heck, everyone knows everyone in those -- know what's going on. So what if certain sections of towns each reported on a specific niche or beat, if you will?

There would be crime reporters in the local police stations. 

There would be sports reporters hanging out with soccer moms and MLB players.

There would be reporters hanging out in offices and areas of each thing a town cares about. The town could even vote on where the reporters should go, and then hire specific reporters to go out and get active, rather than sit in a newsroom to plan out interviews, phone calls, events....

And THEN the beat reporters could compile their works in a office or something (where editors would be, etc) and throw together a publication with specific stories about the things people care about!!! 

Ground-breaking? No, obviously it sounds just like what people do now, right? (...So then what is this chick talkin' about?)

I mean to say that beat reporters stick to and with their beats. They have extensive knowledge on the history of the area they are in and their beat is more like their passion than their job. 

Okay, maybe it sounds totally dumb.

But then what about considering the news organization to be a non-profit? I'm sure that's been thought of, too. But if ads don't want to pay for their business to be seen and people don't want to pay for news, how do journalists make money? 

I'm just trying to fit every one's needs, here. 

Could it work? Maybe. I'm not out in the "real world" yet. I don't fully understand non-profits or businesses. But at least I've got two ideas down on this blog and it's one step closer to class credit and maybe saving the world! 

lololololololol.