1. Define what “local” means before evaluating coverage
Deerfield sits in Cook County and Lake County, so a firm should not treat every Illinois story as a Deerfield story. The relevant editorial boundary may be narrower or broader than the municipality: a practice might serve Deerfield residents, matters connected to either county, or clients throughout Illinois. Those are different choices. Bosseo’s public Legal News page says its service matches stories to a firm’s practice areas and state, while its examples describe local and national sources monitored for a state. That supports a conversation about scope; it does not establish that every Deerfield, Cook County, or Lake County event will be identified or suitable for publication.
Recommended approach
Bring a written geographic brief to the consultation. Separate Deerfield from Cook County, Lake County, the Chicago metropolitan area, and statewide Illinois coverage. Ask how the proposed editorial scope would distinguish a story that is useful to your clients from one that is merely geographically nearby. Population should inform the boundary discussion only, not a forecast of demand.
