A global city without global news?

Tribune Co. announced that foreign coverage for all its papers will be consolidated in L.A., in much the same way it reorganized its DC bureaus.

From their business perspective I understand this move. Personally, I get news about from all sorts of sources - FP Passport, New York Times, Christian Science Monitor, etc. - not a lot from Chicago Tribune. Many other heavy news consumers are the same way, and I'm sure Tribune sees this and figures, why not just get the AP copy and whatever a smaller and consolidated foreign desk can get for all its papers?

I am worried about what this means for Chicago and the Midwest, though. Why after the jump.


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I worry about who will explain how world events affect Chicago and the Midwest in these tough times for the region. Even more importantly, who will be our public voice as we become a more globalized world?

A commenter on Michael Miner's post on the subject said:

I mean, here we are in the Midwest, the "rust bucket," the section of the country most devastated by globalization, outsourcing and offshoring. We're really hurting here, and we could use a powerful voice speaking on our behalf. The Trib is the top newspaper in the region, and once had a creditable national and foreign staff.

It's a fair point. What does all this mean for a Chicago trying desperately to be considered a global city?

(photo via The Portage Park Blog)