Top Daily Local News Websites In The World

Australian media experts have dubbed The Australian (http://www.theaustralian. news.com.au/) the “Online Newspaper of the Year” because of a large readership and high-quality website.  The New South Wales-based news site has a section on its front page for daily local news from each province.  International readers may appreciate sections like AustralianIT, Defence, and Climate that are difficult to find on other local news websites.  The Australian also publishes blogs from national and international correspondents along with video content that sets the website apart from its competitors. 

Getting Canadian News From The Globe And Mail

The Globe and Mail (http://www.theglobeandmail.com) has gone from a nationally circulating newspaper to largely read local news website for Canadians from St John to Vancouver.  The newspaper’s six regional printing facilities and nationwide correspondence corps allow it to create a news website with a local feel.  The Globe and Mail website has local news touches like obituaries, announcements, and lives lived that allow foreign readers to get a sense of Canadian life.  Special sections like Afghanistan, Tech Gift Guide, and Green Solutions address issues that are important to readers throughout Canada.  The use of online polls and interactive puzzles creates interaction among domestic and foreign readers that is unavailable in the print edition of the Globe and Mail. 

Receiving Venezuela’s Daily Local News From Ultimas Noticias

Ultimas Noticias (http://www.ultimasnoticias.com.ve/) is Venezuela’s top circulating newspaper and has an active following through its website.  One reason why Venezuelans and international readers flock to Ultimas Noticias is its full-tilt coverage of President Hugo Chavez.  Independent sources have found Ultimas Noticias to be more lenient on Chavez’ presidency than competing newspapers.  The Ultimas Noticias website covers legislative achievements on a national level, along with local politics to add some depth to their political coverage.  While the website’s sections are limited to basic headings like El Mundo and La Vida, Ultimas Noticias remains a powerful media outlet for website users in South America and beyond. 

German News And Editorials In Süddeutsche Zeitung

Süddeutsche Zeitung (http://www.sueddeutsche.de/), translating as South German Newspaper, has evolved from the top circulating newspaper in Germany to a well traveled website among European readers.  The newspaper blends exclusive online content like captioned images in Projektor to the e-Paper section that allows reader to see Süddeutsche Zeitung in its original format.  International readers can read the SZ Magazin prior to Friday publication to learn more about region-by-region events in Germany.  The vibrant movie, theater, and book reviews of German-produced works give jet setters and news junkies an opportunity to see cultural trends develop in northern Europe.  In an effort to appeal to international readers, Süddeutsche Zeitung publishes excerpts from the New York Times on Monday in print and web form. 

Reading The Yomiuri Shimbun Online

Yomiuri Shimbun has an English-language version (http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/) and a Japanese version (http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/) available online.  This newspaper is run by the Yomiuri Group, which owns the wildly popular Yomiuri Land theme park and the Yomiuri Giants baseball team.  These tie-ins have allowed the print version of Yomiuri Shimbun in its various regional forms to exceed 14 millions subscribers.  The newspaper’s website has been developed to handle the high volumes of traffic coming from Japanese and English readers throughout the world.  The website contains special sections on cartoons, World War II history, and other areas of interest for international readers.  The Out and About section helps readers get acquainted with hot spots in Japan’s major cities, while the Commentary section digs deeper into the country’s political and economic issues. 

Learning More About Local News Websites

For readers who are interested in finding local news websites throughout the world, a good starting point is Alexa (http://www.alexa.com).  This website is run by Amazon and offers page view rankings and information on websites throughout the world.  Alexa users can sort the top-ranked websites by country, and find news sources that are read by millions of people worldwide.  For example, The Globe and Mail ranks #61 overall among Canadian websites after shopping sites like eBay, international news sites like CNN, and TV websites like CTV. 

All five websites on this list fall under government or major corporate ownership, a reality that disturbs some journalists and media observers.  An avid news reader should search through the holdings of various media companies to find local news websites that fulfill their needs.  Australia’s Star News Group (http://www.starnewsgroup.com.au/) owns local newspapers and websites for publications like Star Community Papers and the Independent.  While the consolidation of media outlets into a smaller group of owners may be troubling, it does offer an easy path to new information for readers worldwidede.