Myles, thanks for your comment.   My mood on whether the new local models can work changes by the week.  There are many interesting experiments but precious few are making enough money to pay for even a few staff.

On the public policy side, the report offered a few concrete steps that the FCC itself could do -- mostly by making government and media more transparent. For instance, local TV stations could put online their files logging political ads. Could be a hugely helpful.

http://www.cjr.org/campaign_desk/local_tv_news_meet_the_internet.php

There's a deadline of Jan 17 for comment -- and so far not a single journalist or journalism professional group has weighed in.

Another topic where real progress could be made is on "pay for play" -- local TV stations that allow advertisers dictate content. Again, the broadcasters are weighing in with the FCC to resist the reform.

http://www.cjr.org/behind_the_news/this_news_story_is_brought_to.php