Fitzrovia News

Fitzrovia News

Fitzrovia News front page from March 2014
Type Quarterly newspaper
Format Freesheet
Editor Mike Pentelow
Language English
ISSN 0967-1404
Website http://news.fitzrovia.org.uk

The Fitzrovia News is a free community newspaper produced by volunteers living and working in Fitzrovia, London, United Kingdom. It is an example of what has been called hyperlocal media or community journalism.[1] It is notable because it is "one of the country's oldest community newspapers".[2]

It is published by the central London charity the Fitzrovia Neighbourhood Association, which produces the news site and quarterly newspaper as part of its charitable activities.[3]

The Fitzrovia News was originally called The Tower and was started by a group of community activists in April 1973 in response to threats to their neighbourhood from building developers and the loss of housing. The name Tower was a reference to the Post Office Tower now the BT Tower which stands near the geographic heart of the neighbourhood. The Tower was produced from the flat of Judith Thomas, a local resident. The paper was renamed Fitzrovia News in 1980 when it was produced by the Fitzrovia Community Newspaper Group from the recently established Fitzrovia Neighbourhood Centre.[4]

The paper is printed in a tabloid format four times a year and distributed by volunteers to all residents in the London neighbourhood of Fitzrovia. Like many hyperlocal media, the Fitzrovia News makes extensive use of freely available digital media: blog software WordPress and social media Twitter, Facebook; location-based social-networking Foursquare; and visual media Flickr and YouTube.[5]

Fitzrovia News has taken a critical stance on many issues affecting Fitzrovia and the people who live and work there. In February 2011 it carried two articles supporting the occupation by the Really Free School of a house in Fitzroy Square owned by film-maker Guy Richie and criticised the mainstream media for inaccurate reporting of the neighbourhood.[6][7]

The newspaper is led by editor Mike Pentelow, an author and former trade union journalist;[8][9] and has featured illustrations by the cartoonist Kipper Williams[10] and the woodcuts of Clifford Harper.[11]

Fitzrovia News is a non-profit paper supported by the Fitzrovia Neighbourhood Association (registered charity no. 1111649[12])[13][14][15] and by advertising from local businesses and services,[16][17] and by public donations.[18]

References

  1. ↑ Sagar, Reuben. "Hyperlocal Content, Who Writes It?". Huffington Post. Retrieved 9 July 2015.
  2. ↑ Williams, Rhys, "Making fun - and a name: Politically divided but united cartographically, Fitzrovia is much in fashion. Rhys Williams takes a tour", The Independent, London, 5 July 1994.
  3. ↑ "Charitable status for journalism proceeds by one case at a time", by Sam Burne James. Third Sector 31 July 2014 accessed 5 July 2015
  4. ↑ Pentelow, Mike & Rowe, Marsha, Characters of Fitzrovia, Felix Dennis, 2001, p. 29
  5. ↑ About Fitzrovia News accessed 6 September 2010
  6. ↑ Fitzrovia, Guy Ritchie, The Really Free School, and contempt for the media. By Linus Rees, Fitzrovia News, 17 February 2011 accessed 21 February 2011
  7. ↑ Trainee journo screws up Guy Ritchie and squatters story. By Angela Lovely, Fitzrovia News, 20 February 2011. Accessed 21 February 2011
  8. ↑ Fitzrovia News Editors accessed 21 February 2011
  9. ↑ Mavericks, misfits, murderers and manslaughterers. By DJ Taylor, The Independent, 7 January 2002, accessed 21 February 2011
  10. ↑ Drama student, chorus girl, call girl and novelist, By Mike Pentelow, Fitzrovia News 22 July 2010, accessed 21 February 2011
  11. ↑ Short story: Hearts in Paris. By Sunita Soliar, Fitzrovia News 25 December 2011, accessed 22 February 2011
  12. ↑ Charity Commission, accessed 3 January 2011
  13. ↑ About Fitzrovia News accessed 6 September 2010
  14. ↑ Fitzrovia Neighbourhood Association accessed 6 September 2010
  15. ↑ City of Westminster organisation details accessed 6 September 2010
  16. ↑ Fitzrovia News, Advertise with us, accessed 3 January 2011
  17. ↑ Advertising and marketing in Fitzrovia Fitzrovia Neighbourhood Association, accessed 3 January 2011
  18. ↑ Donate Fitzrovia News, accessed 3 January 2011

External links

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