Hyperlocal vs. the United States of Generica

Another day, another smooth-talking dotcom entrepreneur with big ambitions runs aground trying to build a national hyperlocal site, or network, or something. Jeff Jarvis has studied the matter and concludes:

There’s something that ties the survivors together:
1. They are small.
2. They are the products of a great deal of hard work by very dedicated journalists/publishers.
3. They are very much a part of their communities (which makes it difficult to parachute in any kid just out of J-school, I’m afraid).

Part of their communities! What if it's as simple as this: Hyperlocal is, you know, actually hyperlocal? I know that some people actually like to eat at franchise fast-food joints, but I live in a real place, not the United States of Generica.