Clay Shirky, Seth Godin, and others have spotlighted this approach as a means of breathing life into regional media. But I’ve very quickly identified a flaw in the model of using bloggers to contribute to local media properties.

In local communities bloggers can’t be outspoken and risk causing offence. I’m sitting on at least two cracking stories that as a journalist I wouldn’t hesitate to run, but as a blogger living in the community I’m staying well clear of through fear of pissing off my neighbours.

What’s the answer?