A pair of coincidentally-timed events have sparked a crazy idea in my mind: There is room in Vermont’s news marketplace for a scrappy upstart operation focused on state politics and government.

You know, kinda-sorta exactly what VTDigger used to be.

And if I were a younger man, I’d be tempted to create something that might be called The Blackfly or simply Skeeter: A news operation designed to get under the thin skins of our political class, to afflict the comfortable and comfort the afflicted. I leave the idea in a wicket basket on the doorstep, in hopes that someone will raise it as their own.

So what are these two events?

First, I’ve been reading What Works in Community News by Ellen Clegg and Dan Kennedy, two journalists and observers of the news business. The book outlines efforts to reinvigorate news in disparate locales around the country. I haven’t finished the book yet, but so far my two primary takeaways are:

• Nobody’s found the magic bullet. Everybody is struggling to some extent. And they’re determined to solve their problems and fulfill their missions.
• There is room in any market for multiple news startups with different or overlapping missions. goals.

Event number two: VTDigger’s launch of “Dirt Road News,” which sounds like an overly focus-grouped attempt at outreach — or a concept designed to meet a granting organization’s criteria. What it doesn’t sound like is a step in the right direction. It’s more like, pardon the expression, a detour on a road to nowhere.

Digger recently announced this venture in a story that seems to have vanished from its website. It involved outreach to young and/or rural Vermonters, and included an offer of payment to young people willing to serve as Digger’s eyes and ears. In the absence of that original piece, the only explanation of the venture is attached to a more recent article:

Dirt Road News is a new VTDigger community listening project focused on understanding how younger and rural Vermonters get their news, what challenges they face and what local coverage could do better… We’re also working with local community ambassadors, neighbors who are helping us listen and connect, and distributing a survey.

The offer of payment seems to be absent, but otherwise this is the same mishmash. The above explanation is attached to a story previewing Dirt Road News’ initial public foray: On Thursday, August 21, Digger promises (threatens?) to be on hand for the “legendary trivia night” at Babes Bar in Bethel with “giveaways, special prizes and a chance to chat about how local news can better serve young and rural Vermonters.”

I have to say, the presence of a bunch of people from Digger might put a damper on the usual “legendary” proceedings. After all, nothing livens up Trivia Night at a bar like an exploration of journalism’s relevance to The Youth Of Today.

I have my doubts about the value and sustainability of Dirt Road News. What’s more, it seems to be part of a broader drift in Digger’s purpose — away from its original mission of, well, digging into state politics and policy. Digger has reduced its Statehouse presence (at a time when there’s precious little coverage by anyone else) in favor of a “beat” system, a network of reporters around the state, and a healthy dose of shared content from other outlets.

In other words, Digger appears to be reinventing itself as the new Associated Press. Except with input from some cool rural youth. They hope.

Which, okay, fair enough. There’s a need for a general news service. But if Digger is going in this direction, then there’s space in the market for something like the original Digger: A small, nimble organization focused primarily on state matters.

Such a service is desperately needed. I mean, can you imagine the Digger of today spending vast amounts of time on something like the EB-5 scandal? I can’t. Can you imagine any other news organization putting in that effort? I can’t. If there was another EB-5, would we even find out about it? Aside from carefully laundered official accounts, that is?

The old Digger was in a constant state of struggle and crisis. Today’s Digger employs a lot more people — including more administrators and a staggering quantity of editors. (I’ve heard veteran journalists wonder what all those editors do all day, at a time when Digger’s output has fallen significantly and there are fewer reporters to manage.)

And, well, it’s in a state of struggle and crisis. But a different kind of crisis. It now takes a lot more money to fuel the enterprise. Which requires more managers and fundraisers and people charged with development and engagement. Which in turn requires more money. Lather, rinse, repeat.

I assume that Digger’s shift of focus is the result of audience research that shows a relative lack of interest in Statehouse and political reporting. I wouldn’t be surprised if that’s the case. As someone who’s written about state politics since 2011, I know how small my audience is.

But even if that’s true, the reporting is important. There is a crying need for thorough coverage of state government and politics. And if Digger isn’t going to do it, maybe a brand new Digger, or Blackfly or Skeeter, will take on the challenge.

The audience might be smaller, but it would be a highly engaged and appreciative audience. There should be enough revenue to float a much smaller but well-managed new entity. (The old Digger was many things, but well-managed it was not.)

Is there anyone out there with the drive, the energy, the dedication, and the financial and managerial chops to make this a reality? I’d like to think so. Good lord, do we need it.

I say all this as a monthly contributor to VTDigger. It continues to play a vital role in our terribly shrunken media ecosystem, and I continue to support it. But it can’t play every available role, and it appears to have a diminishing appetite for its original purpose.