I wrote to Michael Fabricant MP about train times data and the new national address book
Here’s a letter I’ve just sent to my MP, Michael Fabricant about train times data and the new national address book. Dear Michael Fabricant, I’m writing to ask for your help with raising two issues around public data within Government. The first is about the new national address book (background at http://www.communities.gov.uk/news/newsroom/1786564). It makes perfect [...]
Read MoreThe first step towards sustainable hyperlocal. Here’s your entrepreneurial journalism.
Alright so there’s not really any journalism involved in creating a hyperlocal t-shirt shop, but it might help make hyperlocal journalism sustainable. It’s a proud day for me because out of The Lichfield Blog we have launched Viva LichVegas. It’s a t-shirt brand that takes a light-hearted look at our ‘patch’ to create something that hopefully [...]
Read MoreThe choice is clear for out-of-work journalists: pay £2,750 or… less than £100
As a freelance WordPress consultant by day I am horrified that a company can justify charging £2,750 for a WordPress site built using a pre-built theme costing £55 . The example they give on their hideously long sales page is unremarkable at best. Let’s do a quick comparison; euvue.co.uk for £2,750 thelichfieldblog.co.uk for less than £100 [...]
Read MoreIs the Catholic Church a force for good in the world?
I’ve watched this debate recently and just had to share it. Before you watch, ask yourself if you think the Catholic Church is a force for good in the world. Yes, no or undecided? Then ask yourself again at the end. There’s a poll before and after the debate, too so you can see how you [...]
Read MoreNational advertisers and hyperlocals could fit very well together but only if they both up their game
It may not be the most obvious fit but if national advertisers get smart they could potentially benefit from over 300 hundred highly targeted advertising environments, and if they want to become sustainable hyperlocals need to look to the likes of Sainsbury’s to help them achieve that. This is not new ground for me, if [...]
Read MoreWordPress plugin: Show blogroll links in a post or page with ease!
I’ve decided to start blogging when I find or use a really good plugin that I think people should know about, this being the first! WP Render Blogroll Links allows you to add a simple shortcode to a blog post or page to display a list of links. You can see an example of it [...]
Read MoreThis is not a transaction.
I blogged the other week about The Lichfield Blog’s print debut in the Birmingham Mail with an article I wrote about Fuse Festival. It sparked a nice few comments and I thought they warranted a second blog post to clear one thing up. The printing of that article was not one side of a transaction, nor [...]
Read MoreI asked the Prime Minister about accountability within the ‘Big Society’
I have mixed feelings about the Big Society. I’m all for devolution and more decision making power for communities, but I worry that the coalition’s plans will see local accountability suffer as more and more public services are provided by charities, private companies and social enterprises who are not subject to transparency legislation such as [...]
Read MoreThe day my hyperlocal blog post was published in a major regional newspaper
Plenty of people will be skeptical about this bit of news but boy am I excited. I’d love to hear if this has happened before or not, but so far it’s the first time that I’m aware of, and I’m chuffed it’s me. If you pick up a copy of the Birmingham Mail today you [...]
Read MoreTwo men spent 24 hours taking over 2,000 photos and 4.5 hours of video, sending 79 tweets and 25 twitpics. That's hyperlocal event reporting.
Every year in Lichfield there is an event in Beacon Park called Fuse Festival. It’s an arts festival, with three tents hosting a various mix of music, performance and workshops. 2010 was it’s 10th year in Beacon Park and just like we did last year, Nick and I went down to cover it for The [...]
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