hyperlocal oct2011
DESCRIPTION
An introduction to hyperlocal aimed at journalism students at University Campus Oldham and the University of Huddersfield.TRANSCRIPT
Hyperlocal mediaOctober 2011
About me
Richard Jones University of Leeds Broadcast
Journalism 1999-2002 Sky News 2002-2008 Freelance until 2009 Stay-at-home dad since 2009 Founded hyperlocal site Saddleworth
News in 2010
In this lecture I will cover
What hyperlocal is Why hyperlocal exists Why it’s important that you know
about hyperlocal Examples of hyperlocal websites Some pros and cons of hyperlocal What the future might hold for
hyperlocal The government’s plans for local TV
What hyperlocal is
What hyperlocal is
Nobody can really agree on this. But in general it is...
Online About a specific local area or topic Content that is either not covered
by the traditional media, or not covered in much depth
Largely produced by one individual
Why hyperlocal exists
Why hyperlocal exists
DECLINE – sharp circulation falls at local newspapers, increased use of “hubs” in newspapers, radio and TV
TECHNOLOGY – it’s easy to set up your own website
INFORMATION – you no longer have to be a journalist to have access to information, social media helps information move faster
Why it’s important that you know about hyperlocal
Why it’s important that you know about hyperlocal
Cuts in traditional media mean many of the old ways of getting into journalism are disappearing
Hyperlocal requires both new and traditional skills, which can give you an advantage over existing journalists and other students
Setting up on your own as a freelance or in a small media business IS a career option
Examples of hyperlocal websites
Examples of hyperlocal websites Sites focusing on news from one area
Examples of hyperlocal websites Sites which are based around discussion
forums
Examples of hyperlocal websites Sites focusing on a particular topic
Sites for the benefit of local businesses
Examples of hyperlocal websites Sites established by mainstream media
companies
Some pros and cons of hyperlocal
Some pros and cons of hyperlocal
The Pros• Independent sources of local news
and information• Highlight things that wouldn’t
normally be considered ‘news’ by established media
• Can help scrutinise those in power• Can offer more context and depth on
issues• Immediate and personal relationship
between publisher and public
Some pros and cons of hyperlocal
The Cons• Who’s paying for all this?• Not comprehensive• Uneven quality• Difficult for one person to have a
wide enough range of skills• It can be hard work, so many sites
fail
What the future might hold for hyperlocal
What the future might hold for hyperlocal
More mainstream media experiments
A handful of independent sites thrive financially, but many keep going on community goodwill. A lot continue to fail.
Different models emerge. Not just advertiser- funded, but sites that are co-operatives or linked with universities.
Technology moves on but the appetite for local content remains
The government’s plans for local TV
The government’s plans for local TV
The quick guide!• Traditional regional news is
expensive• Government wants to set up new
local TV services broadcasting on Freeview
• The first are scheduled to begin in 2013
• IPTV technology offers opportunities for hyperlocal TV in the medium-term
• Lots of industry scepticism, but Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt is very keen
Further reading
Directory of hyperlocal sites (find your local one!) http://openlylocal.com/hyperlocal_sites
Talk About Local (helps communities establish sites) http://talkaboutlocal.org.uk/
My journalism blog has lots of links to online journalism resources https://richardjonesjournalist.wordpress.com
Get in touch
Richard Jones Email:
[email protected] Website:
www.richardjonesjournalist.wordpress.com
Twitter: @rlwjones
That’s it. Thanks for listening.