A public discussion on alternative media in Leeds will take place next Wednesday.
The discussion - at Old Broadcasting House, Woodhouse Lane, on May 25 (6.30pm) - has been organised by Leeds resident and former journalist Megan Waugh.
She said that the 'huge response' to the closure of the Guardian Leeds blog on Twitter and on other blogs 'shows what an appetite there is for alternative news provision in Leeds'. Waugh said:
"Is there a future for a similar form of community blog pulling together range of issues, giving a voice to and representing communities, produced by people with a real investment in the city?
"Could Leeds produce and sustain a cooperatively owned and run newspaper and blog? Would it be possible to set up an alternative media source which could generate an income, pay staff and offer quality training and newswriting experience to the journalists of the future?
"This is a time when the role of local media is crucial – scrutinising those who make decisions which affect our lives, putting the spotlight on those in charge of public services.
"I think that this is the moment to be asking what the people of Leeds want and what we can do to ensure that there is a real alternative to news production and reporting. I think that we should be asking ourselves whether we can invest that interest, ability and support in producing something ground breaking and alternative in terms of news media."
The meeting will take the form of an informal discussion/debate. For more information, email leedsaltnews@gmail.com.
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