The White House press secretary who navigated President Bill Clinton through the shoals of his impeachment voyage has some sagacious media advice for President-elect Barack Obama when he takes office Jan. 20.

“Don’t try to use the press,” says Joe Lockhart. “Understand the value of the press to informing the public.”

In other words, don’t manipulate, mislead and misguide the press -- or live to regret the consequences of suspicious, even hostile journalism that can destroy the good will new presidents enjoy with the American public.

A primary responsibility of local newspapers is to hold accountable local government and other institutions of power, money and influence.

Len Downie, the retired editor of the Washington Post, recently spoke on this subject at the Poynter Institute, and he had some steller advice for community newspapers committed to watchdog journalism:

-- Local first. Serve your community with your investigations, just as with all of your coverage. Leave broad, national projects to the major news organizations.

Tom Rosenstiel, director of the Pew Research Center's Project for Excellence in Journalism, outlined the study's findings for editors at APME's conference in Las Vegas this week.