LIVE BLOG FROM THE CHURCH AND MEDIA CONFERENCE
We've just heard from the controller of BBC English Regions- lots of stats, not much illumination. Gavin Sheppard from the always encouraging Media Trust is speaking a bit more thoughtfully about local media. The 24 hour news agenda is only a reality for those repsonsible for filling schedules- most people don't consume news that way but in small chunks. In terms of how local people consume media there are other things beyond travel, weather and sport that interest them. Often the church newsletter is now the only way villages and small towns get their hyper-local news. There probably is a local website, but the church newslatter arrives, you don't have to search it out.
The Media Trust is just about to publish research from Goldsmiths about what local people think about their local news and it seems people are getting less trusting of their local press. Surprisingly, people seem to trust news online more than they trust papers- especially the increasingly common papers run by local councils. Sheppard is concerned that as more and more power is decentralised to local councils there will be no one to hold them to account if they councils themselves are producing the news.
The Media Trust thinks the media has the power to transform lives, to let people know they have the chance to control their destinies locally, and a strong local media is key for this.
Duncan Williams, a 'newspaper entrepreneur' echoes Sheppard, saying that this is an incredibly exciting time. He believes change comes from the bottom up, that local newspapers if they take a positive editorial line and are serious about supporting the local economy can succeed.
What is the funding model for the future? Williams thinks that connecting to mobile companies who will provide contracts for ipads etc is the way forward. It has to be self-sustaining, partly through advertising.
Gavin Sheppard believes that we need not to get carried away with hyper-local and digital citizen journalism. He quoted some research that shows that nearly 100% of stories linked to by bloggers and tweeters originated in traditional media.
Russ Bravo pointed out that we have thousands of young people in training for a media landscape that no longer exists- there are two many trained journalists for the number of jobs that now exists. Williams thinks that young people coming in will need to be incredibly entrepreneurial and keep hold of their moral compass.
p.s. not sure i've got the hang of this liveblogging thing yet- keep getting distracted....
Comments (2)
Posted by johnnylaird 9 Jun 2010 at 13:49
"quoted some research that shows that nearly 100% of stories linked to by bloggers and tweeters originated in traditional media."
...be interested to know more about the research.
J
Posted by Duncan Williams 15 Jun 2010 at 11:14
Local publishing adds real character to your community. With streets fast becoming clones of each other with uniform outlets of Tescos, Starbucks, Asda, Interflora... Do we really want all our news served up in the same identifit corporate manner? Local identity is best protected and expressed by local journalists. Local newspapers and magazines, I love 'em! ...