William Perrin@willperrin

http://talkaboutlocal.org

How traditional media can work with local websites for mutual benefit

Two practical examples

BBC CoJo 24 May 2012http://www.bbc.co.uk/journalism/blog/2012/05/bbcscc12---connecting-communit-1.shtml

Example One

TfL and Corporate Manslaughter

3 October 2011Young woman killed at Junction of York Way and Grays’ Inn road outside Kings Cross station(Urban75)

http://www.urban75.net/forums/threads/cyclist-killed-at-kings-cross-lighthouse.281966/

3 years prior to accident27 October 2008 – because report was archived on my blog I could dig it up in seconds. I had originally forced publication through FOI

‘Casualties are inevitable’ says TfL report

http://www.urban75.net/forums/threads/cyclist-killed-at-kings-cross-lighthouse.281966/

14 October 2011http://kingscrossenvironment.com/2011/10/14/kings-cross-cyclist-deaths-and-injuries-tfl-corporate-manslaughter/

18 October 2011http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-15355659

20 October 2011http://www.camdennewjournal.com/news/2011/oct/call-tfl-face-%E2%80%98corporate-manslaughter%E2%80%99-charge-over-delayed-safety-work-junction

17 October 2012Kings Cross team draws on superb specialist cycling blogs to build case for actionBlog trackbacks vital

http://drawingrings.blogspot.co.uk/2011/10/cycling-trends-at-kings-cross.html

13 December 2011

http://aseasyasridingabike.wordpress.com/2011/12/13/how-smoothing-traffic-flow-is-needlessly-causing-death-and-serious-injury/

For instance I went out and measured the road, to cross check with TfL ‘cycling design standards’ another blog had alerted me to

http://kingscrossenvironment.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/graysinnnroadwidth.jpg

We continued to build and deepen the issue on the Kings Cross website over the months

7 January 2012

http://kingscrossenvironment.com/2012/01/07/why-did-tfls-killer-junction-not-measure-up-to-tfls-own-london-cycle-design-standards/

16 January 2012Also local councillor had come out in favour of investigation http://kingscrossenvironment.com/2012/01/16/tflcorporatemanslaughter/

3 February 2012

‘Most cyclists are very web savvy and these bloggers use social media like Twitter and their blogs to unite the

message.’‘What it means is the stories often get

into the mainstream media, for example here at BBC London, the

Evening Standard and at The Guardian’

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-16874726

1 March 2012

http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/public/cyclesafety/article3336152.ece

30 April 2012

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-17902307

Example Two

Talk About Local

works with

Trinity Mirror on

Birmingham Mail Communities

Approached by David Higgerson of Trinity Mirror in late 2009, then at Bham Mail group

‘I'm working on a project which hopefully will demonstrate that, just as not all bloggers are Sid Nutters (I believe I got that phrase from you?) not all journalists are just out to downplay the work of hyperlocal journalists or just steal their content.’

http://www.birminghammail.net/your-communities/

http://www.trinitymirror.com/2010/08/birmingham-mail-launches-hyperlocal-communities-initiative-in-partnership-with-local-bloggers.html

Tips for media organisations looking to work systematically with volunteer-run local web sites.

Local bloggers often skilled volunteers, deeply rooted in their community who are motivated by different things and face different pressures to paid staff. Normal management and commercial techniques unlikely to be effective.

Be nice, show humility especially if their coverage is better than yours

Time is a volunteers most precious resource respect that above all else– keep processes light and simple

Recognition, respect, acknowledgement important to any volunteer- Byline and attribute properly - link, link, link, link- Treat their content with respect on your site

Add value to the local blogger where they need it or they are curious- time – help to follow up stories using your 9-5 capacity and brand- in kind – say, access to photo archive- ask them how you can help

Recognise altruistic motivation of the volunteer - offer to make contribution to local civic good cause – eg childrens charity

Talk About Local provides consulting, training and business services to help people understand local grass roots media – please contact us

This work funds our public service mission to help people in isolated or deprived communities find a voice online

Check out our new projects on Augmented Reality and helping the unemployed use a better online profile to seek work at

http://talkaboutlocal.org

hello@talkaboutlocal.org

@willperrin