1. How traditional media can work with
local websites for mutual benefit
Two practical examples
BBC CoJo 24 May 2012
http://www.bbc.co.uk/journalism/blog/2012/05/bbcscc12---connecting-communit-
1.shtml
William Perrin
@willperrin
http://talkaboutlocal.org

2. Example One
TfL and Corporate Manslaughter

3. 3 October 2011
Young woman killed at
Junction of York Way and
Grays’ Inn road outside
Kings Cross station
(Urban75)
http://www.urban75.net/forums/threads/cyclist-killed-at-kings-cross-lighthouse.281966/

4. ‘Casualties are inevitable’ says TfL
report
3 years prior to accident
27 October 2008 – because report was archived on my
blog I could dig it up in seconds. I had originally forced
publication through FOI
http://www.urban75.net/forums/threads/cyclist-killed-at-kings-cross-lighthouse.281966/

5. 14 October 2011
http://kingscrossenvironment.com/2011/10/14/kings-cross-cyclist-deaths-and-injuries-tfl-corporate-manslaughter/

6. 18 October 2011
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-15355659

7. http://www.camdennewjournal.com/news/2011/oct/call-tfl-face-%E2%80%98corporate-
20 October 2011 manslaughter%E2%80%99-charge-over-delayed-safety-work-junction

8. 17 October 2012
Kings Cross team
draws on superb
specialist cycling
blogs to build case
for action
Blog trackbacks
vital
http://drawingrings.blogspot.co.uk/2011/10/cycling-trends-at-kings-cross.html

9. 13 December 2011
http://aseasyasridingabike.wordpress.com/2011/12/13/how-smoothing-traffic-flow-is-needlessly-causing-death-and-serious-injury/

10. We continued
to build and
deepen the
issue on the
Kings Cross
website over
the months
For instance I went out and measured the road, to cross check with
TfL ‘cycling design standards’ another blog had alerted me to
http://kingscrossenvironment.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/graysinnnroadwidth.jpg

11. 7 January 2012
http://kingscrossenvironment.com/2012/01/07/why-did-tfls-killer-junction-not-measure-up-to-tfls-own-london-cycle-design-
standards/

12. 16 January 2012
Also local
councillor had
come out in
favour of
investigation http://kingscrossenvironment.com/2012/01/16/tflcorporatemanslaughter/

13. ‘Most cyclists are very web savvy and
these bloggers use social media like
Twitter and their blogs to unite the
message.’
‘What it means is the stories often get
into the mainstream media, for
example here at BBC London, the
Evening Standard and at The Guardian’
3 February 2012
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-16874726

14. 1 March 2012
http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/public/cyclesafety/article3336152.ece

15. 30 April 2012
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-17902307

16. Example Two
Talk About Local
works with
Trinity Mirror on
Birmingham Mail Communities

17. Approached by David Higgerson of Trinity Mirror in late 2009,
then at Bham Mail group
‘I'm working on a project which hopefully will demonstrate
that, just as not all bloggers are Sid Nutters (I believe I got
that phrase from you?) not all journalists are just out to
downplay the work of hyperlocal journalists or just steal
their content.’
http://www.birminghammail.net/your-communities/

18. http://www.trinitymirror.com/2010/08/birmingham-mail-launches-hyperlocal-communities-initiative-in-
partnership-with-local-bloggers.html

19. Tips for media organisations looking to work systematically with volunteer-run local
web sites.
Local bloggers often skilled volunteers, deeply rooted in their community who are
motivated by different things and face different pressures to paid staff. Normal
management and commercial techniques unlikely to be effective.
Be nice, show humility especially if their coverage is better than yours
Time is a volunteers most precious resource respect that above all else
– keep processes light and simple
Recognition, respect, acknowledgement important to any volunteer
-Byline and attribute properly - link, link, link, link
-Treat their content with respect on your site
Add value to the local blogger where they need it or they are curious
-time – help to follow up stories using your 9-5 capacity and brand
-in kind – say, access to photo archive
-ask them how you can help
Recognise altruistic motivation of the volunteer - offer to make contribution to local civic
good cause – eg childrens charity

20. Talk About Local provides consulting, training and business services to help
people understand local grass roots media – please contact us
This work funds our public service mission to help people in isolated or
deprived communities find a voice online
Check out our new projects on Augmented Reality and helping the
unemployed use a better online profile to seek work at
http://talkaboutlocal.org
hello@talkaboutlocal.org
@willperrin