In the survey, people were asked to base their answers on the local paper they read most often. Relatively few respondents chose the most extreme or negative answers. In interviews, survey participants often expressed a fondness for what they repeatedly referred to as their paper. Even the critics often worded their complaints in an understanding way. They just have to find different ways of getting the story right, because folks want to know the whole story.
Many people seem to be noticing efforts by papers to expand local coverage.
It's not just the city news, but it's news from the smaller places as well. I think papers are for the most part constantly evolving. If they don't, they won't stay in business very long. Skeptics point to inconsistencies and inaccuracies in coverage. In other cases it's just mistakes.