We have a local "news outlet" in our area. I was surprised. It's run by a bunch of people in the area. I found out about it when someone was doing a neighborhood party for National Night Out. They told them about it and they showed up and wrote a piece. I think it's just a Facebook page (no other website), but they will write articles and even do video coverage sometimes.
I don't know anything about them, so maybe they are former or hope-to-be reporters.
That's what made me jump into blogging and podcasting back in the day. I could talk about anything I wanted and no one could stop me. I think it's great that folks take it upon themselves to cover their local communities. With any luck I will soon be shining a spotlight on the local businesses, community gathering places, churches, and people in my neck of the woods.