Thursday 16 April 2009

Newsquest launches hyperlocal web sites

Newsquest’s Midlands arm is unveiling a network of hyperlocal website sections for its seven local media titles.
The first local modules are 24 linked through the Kidderminster Shuttle and will be followed by six other titles in the Stourbridge News, Halesowen News, Dudley News, Bromsgrove Advertiser, Redditch Advertiser, and Droitwich Advertiser, in the coming months.
The Shuttle has recently launched a drive to recruit unpaid ‘citizen’ correspondents based in the villages and towns covered by the hyperlocal sections.
They will upload news and content from schools, churches, clubs and societies in their areas which will feature alongside news stories created by Shuttle journalists. Video and audio reports could be added in the future.
The Shuttle recently struck a deal with Midlands-based Chamber TV which involves the television channel providing video for the title’s website in exchange for news stories.
In February, the seven titles notched up a combined record total of more than 110,000 monthly unique users and one million page views. The figures show a 50 per cent increase in traffic across the network since July.
www.kidderminstershuttle.co.uk/news/local/your_community/
Story via The Newspaper Society

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