As rural populations shrink, school districts often consolidate. That s not just an education story, it s a story of social change, affecting the entire community. Ride a rural school bus route and see how many kids get picked up, compared to a few years ago, and how far they have to ride. Compare that to a city route the two areas may have more in common than viewers suspect. You could tell multiple stories with different angles throughout the school year by focusing on the next graduating class.
Rural areas lag behind urban areas when it comes to access to the Internet and technology.
Look for programs designed to narrow the gap. Compare and Contrast Connect rural stories to city viewers by comparing two situations, rather than doing rural stories in isolation. The more alike they are in every other way, the better. Look to outlying areas of your ADI for stories that tie in with national trends. If you are doing a story on poverty, look outside the city for examples.