Community Reporters
The primary aim of the Community Reporters’ programme is to give participants a voice and increase their confidence. Everyone has something to say and stories to tell about their local area and their lives. PVM's Community Reporters’ programme allows people to express themselves and tell these stories online, using PVM's network of 12 community websites to distribute the content. Reporters may use social media tools such as blogs, podcasts and wikis to produce content using mobiles, home video cameras and webcams as well as produce local community newspapers.
Currently a PVM Community Reporter can:
Gain a Community Reporters badge
Have access to equipment and resources
Receive support from PVM staff
Attend visits to BBC Manchester to receive training and support from senior BBC staff
Access advanced specialist training from MANCAT, Salford University and Salford College
Distribute content via our community web sites
- Receive peer support from other reporters
- Attend a number of social activities
- Be commissioned to produce content
- Join the Community reporters LETS style programme
What do Community Reporters do?
The potential for topics that Community Reporters can cover is endless and varied. These are just a few examples:
Someone writing a story about a local event or activity, doing a video or audio match report on their mobile about a local amateur football team, or posting old pictures of their local area on one of the community websites.
Someone producing an online video diary, blog or podcast talking about their experience of a diet, an attempt to get themselves fitter or quitting smoking. These real-life experiences could help other people going through similar situations.
Reporters have produced videos of themselves preparing their favourite recipes which could be used in healthy eating programmes.
A diary (blog) recording the experiences of a family highlighting how they are attempting to reduce their carbon footprint by reducing their energy use, recycling more and making lifestyle changes.
Community Reporters also facilitate networks in order to engage in media conversations between different agencies
A project to be launched in Salford involves a group of breast feeding mums who will use blogs to record their experiences. As well as allowing people to post their own thoughts, this will create an online community as others will be able to provide their comments, offering a space for discussion and engagement. As mums become more confident that they have something valuable to say, and an audience that wants to listen, they will be part of a live online television programme where they discuss the issues with GPs and other health professionals. This could run alongside a discussion forum so that viewers could be actively engaged in the programme.
Community Reporting does not necessarily need to be about serious issues.
These are some examples of other creative output: A group of writers in Manchester have, with the support of MCIN, set up a blog where they can post their stories and poetry, and critique each others work online, creating a virtual writers workshop, ideal when people cannot always get to meet each other face to face.
A project in East Manchester is creating an online novel, to be written by a number of local residents working together, with readers able to contribute to the development of the story line.
In Trafford a group of deaf people produced a series of videos telling jokes in BSL. A local singer/ songwriter from East Manchester is using his blog to showcase the videos he's created to promote his music. Another person is writing a light hearted blog from the perspective of their deaf and blind dog!
What's great is that it is now easier than ever for people to share their views online in whatever way best suits them, and most people have internet access at home, at work, at college or through their local library or community centre. But it's not just about computers. People are increasingly accessing the internet through different platforms such as mobile phones and handheld devices, iPods and games consoles.
The Community Reporters’ programme is an excellent way for people to gain confidence by having their say and letting others know what they think. The Community Reporters’ programme can engage people into learning and also provide networks for agencies to engage with potential service users
Examples of community reporters content also take a look at other community reporters sites
PVM and MCIN are community partners of the BBC
