New Your Place Northumberland community websites launched

Nov 3 2008 by Kim Carmichael, The Journal

SIX more community websites have been launched this week as part of The Journals project to bring more local news to the people of Northumberland.

People living in the areas around Amble, Choppington, Haltwhistle, Newbiggin, Rothbury and Wooler are now able to access a host of local information at the click of a mouse. As well as news from our existing district reporters in Hexham, Alnwick and Bedlington, a new team of specialised writers work on the websites, bringing readers the news that matters to them.

Kevin Roberts, 53, was one of the first to check out Rothburys new website.

The trainee firefighter said: The site looks excellent. There is a lot of information on it and it is very easy to navigate.

I think there is a need for a local site like this and it will help the community. People here are quite canny about using the internet and so I think that it will be a big hit.

It is great the way it brings all of the information together in one place.

The sites, which are updated several times a day, contain sections based around news, local sports teams and other useful features.

Users can also access important contact numbers, event listings and weather information.

Journal editor Brian Aitken said: The project is about providing an even better service to the people of Northumberland.

The response has been fantastic, with increasing numbers of people using the sites to find out whats going on in the areas in which they live.

With the addition of the latest six sites, we are now one step closer to having a comprehensive network of microsites to serve the entire county.

The project also provides an opportunity for people to get involved in community journalism, giving residents the ability to act as press officer for their club, school or church, or be a community correspondent for their town or village.

If you are interested in becoming a correspondent for your community or want to supply news for your club or society, church or school, contact Northumberland editor Graeme Whitfield on (0191) 201 6262 or email northumberland@ncjmedia.co.uk.

The latest microsite websites are www.journallive.co.uk/amble, www.journallive.co.uk/choppington, www.journallive.co.uk/haltwhistle, www.journallive.co.uk/newbiggin, www.journallive.co.uk/rothbury, and www.journallive.co.uk/wooler.