1. Set the geographic boundary before selecting stories
Farmington Hills is a municipality in Oakland County, Michigan. The 2020–2024 American Community Survey 5-year population estimate for the city is 83,515, with a margin of error of 39. That figure describes the municipality; it does not establish legal-news demand, competition, search volume, leads, cases, or revenue. A Legal News review should therefore distinguish between a story’s location, the location of affected people, and the area your firm actually serves. A Michigan-wide legal development may be relevant to a Farmington Hills practice, while an incident outside Oakland County may require a different editorial decision.
Recommended approach
Bring a written service-area map to the consultation. Decide whether Farmington Hills is the primary geographic reference, whether Oakland County is a useful secondary boundary, and when Michigan-wide developments are appropriate. Do not publish a local angle merely because a story is nearby; publish only when the legal issue and your practice fit are clear.
