Please give a brief summary of your role in the EastLondonLines publication, and how you feel being part of a hyperlocal.

As a reporter for EastLondonLines, it is my role to find and cover news stories, features and interviews within one of the particular boroughs which ELL covers (Hackney, Lewisham, Tower Hamlets and Croydon)

Do you feel personally connected to the stories you write for the paper?

Due to focusing on one particular area, I get to know the area well and the people within it. Covering stories such as new businesses opening up, closing down, charity events etc. means that I can meet the people living and working within the borough.

What are your thoughts about hyperlocal journalism? Do you think it is future-proof?

I believe that hyperlocal journalism is becoming less common with major news companies such as the BBC putting their attention on global, groundbreaking news. Of course, this is important for the reader to know about global affairs, however, this causes a lack for the reader in knowing what is happening in their closer surroundings.

What makes EastLondonLines hyperlocal?

ELL is hyperlocal for the four boroughs which it covers, and sometimes covers wider spread stories which affect all of the boroughs.

Why do you think hyperlocal journalism is relevant?

Hyperlocal journalism is relevant for people who want to connect more with their area and stay in the know of what is happening around them. It also provides coverage for small stories which may not be brought to people's attention due to the news not being relevant on a national or global scale.

How effective do you think it is as a publication? How do your viewers engage with it?

Many viewers and subscribers engage with the content throughout commenting to the publications and contacting the team directly. The website is continually growing with more local people becoming regular readers.

How do you decide which topics and stories to use?

We run the site similarly to any other news site, being that there is a News Editor who decides which content should be published, where it should be published etc.
 

How much public input do you have in curating stories and gathering content? Do you use citizen journalists (and what do you think of the term)?

Public input is one of the main sources for most of the news stories. Citizen journalists bring to light any issues/events that are happening in a specific area which helps us with finding news stories. Personally, I think the term 'citizen journalists' is quite accurate, whereby anyone can consider themselves a journalist but not everyone has the skills and know-how to be a journalist.
 

How representative of the community is the publication?

ELL covers a wide range of stories and interviews which I believe represents the community in conflicting ways like any other paper might. This is because we cover the stories which relate to crime, murder, housing issues etc. however, we also cover stories which show people making a positive difference in the community.
 

How helpful has social media been in expanding your readership and generating discourse/discussion around your publication and the content you produce?

Social media has boosted readership by expanding the audience and making our publication more widely known. For example, Twitter allows us to find businesses and people who are in one of the boroughs that we are covering, allowing us to cater to people who are directly affected by the stories which we cover. 

 

What are the demographics of your main viewers?

This is not something I have much knowledge on, however I believe that we have a wide demographic as the publication is not targeting a specific demographic, rather it is targeting people geographically.