2. 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
3. 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
5. 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
7. 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
9. 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
26. 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