Glasgow website and magazine picks up communities prize at Regional Press Awards

A news website and magazine which serves a district of Glasgow has been honoured at the Regional Press Awards.

Greater Govanhill picked up the Reporting Communities Award at the ceremony held in London.

Since 2020, Greater Govanhill has been cover its corner of south east Glasgow, which is one of the most culturally diverse neighbourhoods in Scotland but has long suffered from negative perceptions, often fuelled by external media coverage which fails to properly engage local residents.

In response, it is aiming to enable the community to tell its own stories through journalism,providing a platform to marginalised groups and those typically under-represented in the media.

Twelve issues of the magazine have now been produced, 4,000 copies of which are distributed for free.

Greater Govanhill works with local community organisations to ensure the most isolated are reached and articles are published in several languages — the editorial strategy focuses on those in the Roma, Muslim, LGBT+, socially disadvantaged, refugees and asylum seeker communities.

Judges noted that with a news website, online noticeboard, radio show and ‘Community Newsroom’ which helps local people develop journalism skills through free workshops and training programmes, Greater Govanhill has become a powerful example of how local, community-led journalism can bring about real change.

“It had a mission and spoke for the community it served, was vibrant and produced great stories,” the judges said. “The community of Govanhill is well served by the publication.”

Also shortlisted for the award were the Ipswich Star, LeicestershireLive, the Herald in Glasgow and the Inverness Courier.