Harehills ❤️ Love

Back in the 2022 Advent Calendar I highlighted the commencement of a project to bring a hyperlocal news service to the people of East Leeds, inspired by South Leeds Life and West Leeds Dispatch. The prospective name was East Side Story. On the 1st of February the news service launched at eastsidestory.uk

Full disclosure, I am proud to be a part of East Side Story as an editor and writer. Working alongside Janine Griffiths, a skilled reporter, and Natalie Tharraleos, who has an unwavering dedication to the local community and came up with the brilliant idea of covering Harehills and East Leeds.

This year, we were fortunate to welcome Clarrie Ramsden, whose expertise in environmental matters strengthens our team, and Danny Wilkinson, who brings an abundance of passion, knowledge, and connections in Seacroft and Chapel FM. Additionally, we have a wonderful group of contributors who share their stories and offer their support as East Side Story continues to thrive and expand.

You can find out more about the team here.

What’s the point of having hyper local journalism in East Leeds?

Community-driven hyperlocal journalism can have several benefits in socially and economically deprived such as several that are found in East Leeds. Here are some of them:

• Increased social capital – we are trying to give a voice to the people of East Leeds
• Strengthened community cohesion – a place where people from all walks of life can come together and learn what’s going in other areas of East Leeds
• Increased community spirit and well-being – across the different communities of East Leeds, we can promote events, join up issues to give them a louder voice

Here are five reasons why a you, a reader and member of the community, might benefit from getting involved in community journalism:

1. Increased sense of community – be part of something that’s a net good for the community, meet people with a passion for world and people around them
2. Opportunity to make a difference – whether it’s reporting on something you’d like to see change, attracting people to an event that benefits the community, or just sharing someone’s story that the rest of the world might have overlooked
3. Improved media literacy – learn to interview people to unlock their stories, to research to get to the facts, learn to impress and convince
4. Increased exposure – all credit is given, stories are shared on social media, people will see what you’ve written
5. Professional development – you’ll be writing and gaining experience, improving with every story, it’s a vital skill for many jobs, it shows dedication, communication skills, and a myriad of other important job skills

East Side Story – A Success Story

Not even a year old yet, it has had it’s premier print run, turning it from an online only to an actual physical entity.

Many lessons are being learnt, and there will be many more to go – but the array of articles 129 at the time of writing has covered everything from, (follow the links to see example stories):

• Charities and social enterprises
• Environmental
• Arts and Culture
• Events

And so many more – as I mentioned, I’m biased, but I am immensely proud of East Side Story and what it’s achieved so far.

I love numbers, so let’s look at some stats for the website:

• There have been 129 articles posted.
• These articles have received a total of 7,923 page views.
• They were visited by 3,233 unique people.
• There have been 89 likes and 3 comments.
• And we currently have 21 subscribers.

We love likes and comments, so if you see anything you particularly enjoy, or have something to say we welcome the interaction.

What East Side Story Can Offer You

We encourage individuals to participate in our community by becoming regular contributors. There are various ways to get involved, such as joining our group chat, writing articles, conducting interviews, and offering editorial assistance. Your contributions don’t have to be restricted to journalism; we also welcome poetry, recipes, and individuals sharing their knowledge and experiences. Additionally, we appreciate individuals who can support us with social media and spreading the word. Our news service belongs to everyone in East Leeds.

Whether you write for us or submit a story, all our pieces are edited by experienced and learning editors. Editors aim to enhance your words and ensure your story or point is easily understandable by readers. We’re here to help, working with you every step of the way, providing constructive feedback without being dismissive.

Come Join Us!

East Side Story is exclusively dedicated to the East Leeds community, created by the passionate individuals who reside there. They warmly welcome story submissions and actively encourage greater community participation. The year 2024 holds numerous exciting opportunities for everyone to engage in. However, there is no need to wait for a specific event. If you would like to contribute or have a compelling story to share, reach out to us at editor@eastsidestory.uk. Your involvement is greatly appreciated!