The executive editor of a network of hyper-local websites being operated by STV has issued a call for more local stories in the knowledge that some may merit coverage on STV's main news programmes.
David Milne – a former group digital editor at the Herald & Times Group – was speaking to the website, NewModelJournalism, which reports: “STV Local is among the UK’s most ambitious attempts yet to create a network of local, internet-based news services. The independent television franchise holder for Scotland aims to create up to 120 community-based news sites.
“Six pilots have been running since September and the company intends to launch six-to-nine new sites a month, and promises a footprint covering a fifth of Scotland’s population by Christmas.
“The pilots are based in the North Lanarkshire towns of Aidrie, Bellshill, Coatbridge, Cumbernauld, Motherwell and Wishaw. In each, a community editor is responsible for news gathering, writing and co-ordinates input from voluntary contributors. Larger towns, including those in the pilot, will be served by a full-time editor.”
And the website quotes Milne, saying: “We hope that the sites will become part of their communities they serve. But as well as being STV Local, it is also STV Anywhere. We don’t care where you are when you view the sites.
“Until now, lots of people with great stories did not come to STV because they thought that we would not be interested. Now we are saying, if you are interested, we are interested. And when stories are really good, there is no reason why they should not be used elsewhere in our news provision – all the way up to the national news.”
