What local journalism can take from how PlymouthLive covered a local tragedy
Hello,
The shooting of five people by a man who then took his own life has been described as one of Plymouth’s darkest days. Such multiple shootings are rare in this country, a fact which makes the details of events in Devon last Thursday night all the more disturbing.
Naturally, it’s a national news story, but it’s also an important example of the challenges such stories pose local journalists who live and work in their community 365 days a year.
PlymouthLive’s response to events is perhaps a blueprint for other newsrooms in the future. Formal confirmation of what had happened took several hours to arrive due to the nature of events, during which time social media was busy with speculation and conjecture. The team in Plymouth made it very clear they would only report facts — something which may seem obvious to us as journalists, but given the number of people asking the team what was going on, a point which was very much worth making.
They also rallied readers around a fundraiser to help a local bereavement charity which works with young people — an organisation whose work is sadly more needed now than ever. So far, around 1,500 people have contributed a total of almost £30,000.
On Sunday, as the police cordons were lifted, PlymouthLive took the call not to doorknock people who may have witnessed what had happened — a move which has been widely praised within the local community.
A powerful reminder of the unique role local journalism plays at a time of tragedy in a community.
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This week’s First Person article comes from Ryan Evans, of the Basingstoke Gazette. Ryan successfully won a court battle to identify a teenage knifeman. It’s a great example of how the public’s right to know is constantly at risk — and the need for journalists to be ready to stand up and challenge the legal system when needed.
As Ryan says: “This is not about naming or shaming. This is about open justice, about telling the public what has happened. It is so important that communities get the closure after a serious crime like this, and that can only be piecemeal unless a person’s name is included.”
Also on Behind Local News this week:
New city websites launch with promise to champion — and scruntise — local life
News websites in three cities launched this week with a promise to champion local life — and scrutinise the things which need to improve too.
JPIMedia has launched its ‘World’ brand in Manchester, Liverpool and Glasgow. Further launches are expected in locations including Bristol. Newcastle, London, Birmingham and Wales in the weeks ahead.
The company says more than 40 people will work across eight new sites, with support from city-based local TV services which share a chairman in David Montgomery with JPIMedia.
Archant celebrates record number of entries for staff awards
Archant’s annual colleague awards ceremony returns next month with staff submitting a record breaking number of entries.
More than 500 submissions have been judged with 98 shortlisted in 14 categories ahead of the ceremony which will be held in Norwich on September 23rd.
Wigan Post goes weekly with promise to keep proud traditions alive
The Wigan Post relaunched as the Wigan Post Weekly on Friday — with a commitment to continue the title’s proud tradition of keeping readers informed.
The paper announced its switch from daily to weekly via a cover wrap on Tuesday’s edition, with the first weekly edition landing in newsagents on Friday.
The daily had been 90p for around 32 pages, while the new weekly launched with 88 pages for £1.30.
The role print is playing as Reach gets to know new football readers better
Regional publisher Reach has attracted tens of thousands of new customers after publishing pre-season specials for 41 clubs — including for several it’s never covered in print before.
The pre-season guides cover everything from takeover talk to transfer speculation, and include exclusive news, interviews, opinion and analysis of regional local club news ahead of the new season.
Writers from across Reach have contributed to the guide, while print production was overseen by Neil Hodgkinson, marketplace publisher for the North East and Yorkshire.
Thanks for reading!
