Talk to gathering in Staffford about hyperlocal websites on 27 July 2010

1. Connecting Stafford 27 July 2010 William Perrin william@talkaboutlocal.org info@talkaboutlocal.org Talk About Local (West Midlands) Ltd http://talkaboutlocal.org/faq William Perrin TAL

3. Abandoned cars and weekly arson Bingfield Park, Rufford Street 2002 Gas cylinders often in cars for extra ooomph Pics – Mark Bailey

4. Stolen moped Grand Prixs c2002 Bingfield Park Kings Cross Most Saturdays when Arsenal at home End with traditional moped bonfire Pics – Mark Bailey

5. The ‘Crackavan’ Rufford Street c2002 Pics – Mark Bailey

6. Got stuck in to these local exercises over several years........ Kings Cross Development Forum Caledonian Ward Safer Neighbourhood Panel West Area Planning Committee Sparkplug Management Committee Gifford, Rufford and Randells Residents Association North King Cross Environmental Taskforce ‘Strategic plans’ - many West Area Committee CYP Management committee ....but found huge information burden mostly from council and local public services We used the web to streamline all this Team Cally Planning Applications (dozens)

7. www.kingscrossenvironment.com over 950 articles Four volunteer writers – aged 40-65 Small number of authors Campaigns, information, wildlife, events etc Important part of wider regeneration – crime down, streets cleaner, public services more responsive http://talkaboutlocal.org/faq/

8. http://talkaboutlocal.org/faq/

9. £1 million for community under S106 Web-led campaign drove people into traditional comms channels required for statutory processes Out-manoeuvred Network Rail http://talkaboutlocal.org/faq/

10. Translate council planning documents into locally relevant language It’s an information game http://talkaboutlocal.org/faq/

11. Alcohol and entertainment licensing Another information game we tend to win using the web locally Strong engagement from Cllr

12. Simple community action on broken things ‘Broken window’ works for us, enhances service levels

13. Residents involved in website also on Safer Neighbourhoods Panel Action at own initiative to drive people to meetings through info on website

15. www.sheffieldforum.co.uk discussion forum 4.3 million posts 100,000 registered users Population Sheffield 450,000

16. Stoke-on-Trent www.pitsnpots.co.uk Campaigning, challenging style Reflects local frustration at political scene 3 writers, 30,000 comments on local politics £25 a month

17. www.digbeth.org Digbeth gritty industrial area of South B’ham Arts, events, positive stories Digbeth is Good redefined image of Digbeth on line Costs - £10/month Wordpress blog http://talkaboutlocal.org/faq/

18. Team of 5 people 400 pv a day Thousands of articles Village population 500 Wordpress.com C£10/month

19. www.harringayonline.com 3,000 members Harringay Town and Green Lanes Chatty informal feel Wide range of local issues £15 month

20. http://Kingtonblackboard.org UK online centre – Marches Access Point Rural town life and news Wordpress site

21. http://W14london.ning.com Deprived area of West London Started August 2009 – with TAL and local NDC Local discussion and information Nearly 450 members

22. First catch your local site... http://openlylocal.com/hyperlocal_sites

23. Society Guardian June 2010

24. BBC 25 February 2010 Talk about local site W14london.ning.com making the news

25. ‘Local websites of all shapes and sizes are providing community news and information to hundreds of thousands of people.....grass roots media can provide an accurate, reliable, popular sources of news and information without regulation or subsidy. Their news values and thresholds are new, reflecting grass roots interests and priorities.’ Digital Britain report

26. Traditional media leaders are coming around to the vision of local sites improving neighbourhoods and holding politicians to account: Alan Rusbridger, Cudlipp Lecture: ‘Depending on your point of view, you may find that vision of new ways of connecting and informing communities inspiring or terrifying. I think it is both – but it is a useful starting point to thinking about the value of journalism, in every sense of the word 'value'. And it is good to be forced to think at an even more basic level – about what journalism is and who can do it.’

27. 72,000 posts 4,700 topics 880 registered users Excellent town forum

29. We’d love to help you create a website for your community Just drop us a line info@talkaboutlocal.org william@talkaboutlocal.org @willperrin Talk About Local (West Midlands) Ltd http://talkaboutlocal.org/faq