Provide a sense of discovery, new things, and unknown things. Provide a local filter for everything and lots of links to local resources. Provide a local website directory, a search engine for your local news. Be more inclusive by bringing on a variety of content partners, not all of them paid. Be absolutely current.
Old news is worth more than breaking news, which has become a commodity.
Save users time and effort. The site must work the first time and every time. There are no second chances with content and technology. Be the Yahoo of your local news market. Some of the larger news websites, realizing that the No. 1 key to success is local news and information, are beginning to zone, providing separate sites for counties, cities, and towns within their circulation, viewing, or listening areas.