Join a small media revolution
South Norwich News has evolved as an antidote to some of the problems affecting the modern media world. We are a hyperlocal online news service. It’s small scale journalism, done on a budget, but we seek to address some of the fundamental issues which plague today’s news outlets.
In the last decade, with the spread of 24 hours news,the media world has changed beyond recognition. We now live in a digital age, where news is available on your computer, laptop or mobile phone. Tweets and RSS feeds bring you breaking news. Walking to the newsagents, or having your paper delivered start to belong to a different generation.
Providing 24 hour news has taken its toll. It wasn’t that long ago that reporters used to get their stories from talking face-to-face with contacts. Pressure to fill the ever hungry new-vacuum has forced reporters to retreat behind their desks, chained to a computer and a phone. And if a well-written press release lands in their in-box, it’s highly likely to be cut and pasted to help fill a newspaper or the next bulletin. Deadlines mean press releases are all too often not even checked or verified. One press officer told me, that ten years ago journalists would call him up to grill him on the content of his release. Now he often just sees his copy appear word for word in the next edition. And the same stories appear across all outlets, as the news agenda is set by those press officers most canny at their jobs. Award-winning journalist, Nick Davies coined the word ”churnalism“ in his book, Flat Earth News, a controversial expose of the truth about our news media..
At the same time, a decline in advertising revenue has meant many newsrooms – newspaper, TV and radio – have been forced to cutback on staff. The Guardian details all the media job losses in 2009: reporters, sub-editors, cameramen, researchers, photographers.
If you’re a desk-bound reporter, it’s very difficult to uncover the many real stories that happen every day. Most reporters would love the flexibility to get out and about. In many cases, that’s what attracted them to the job. But they are tied to contracts within the established media hierarchy, and those who have jobs, feel they should be grateful they survived the last round of cuts.
But there is another way. An experiment is happening across the US and is starting in the UK. It’s called hyperlocal news. It means covering a small patch. And because its small, it allows a return to old-fashioned reporting. Hyperlocal news is about offering an alternative to the established media, finding ways to bring people the stories that affect them and their neighbours. Most reporters don’t want to churn out press releases. Hyperlocal news might just be a way of giving reporters a way of earning a crust outside the established media. And in turn, they may be able to cover the stories happening on your doorstep. That’s what we hope to do here at South Norwich News.
Comments to “Join a small media revolution”
Hi Claire, great idea and useful too. Already used your news to make sure I got my bins out last week!!
The site looks good and is easy to navigate. I like the small snatches of story that can be skimmed easily or read in greater depth if desired. Well done!
Very true indeed – a press officer at my work who was a reporter at the local paper says he gets more copy in now from his press releases than he did as a reporter. I generally feel more connected to the news in Libya than that in my local area as I just don’t receive news in the ‘traditional’ way.
All the best xx
Comment
Great site. Easy to use and pretty to look at!