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Hyperlocal

What happens if the people writing the news are part of the same community as those making it…

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What happens if the people writing the news are part of the same community as those making it...

In more detail

Hyperlocal refers to information, exchange or business that is focused on a (small) well-defined community and that is directed to meeting the needs of that community.  For example:

  • hyperlocal media - is the means for exchanging news and information within a neighbourhood which is about the neighbourhood
  • hyperlocal marketing - is placing goods and services for sale in a neighbourhood which are of the neighbourhood and tailored to it.

Hyperlocal Websites

Hyperlocal websites are neighbourhood websites.  Which is to say that they are websites which are written by people in a neighbourhood about what happens in that neighbourhood for people who also live in the neighbourhood.  The news is written by people who are also, in a sense, part of making the news.  Which can make hyperlocal sites very absorbing: as well as reporting on news, they lead to more happening in the neighbourhood.

Secondary audiences

Although the primary audience for a hyperlocal site is the people who live in the place it relates to, there are important secondary audiences.  They include: people who serve the neighbourhood from outside it; investors and potential investors in the neighbourhood; people who live in neighbouring places and people who might want to live in the neighbourhood.  In all cases, a successful hyperlocal website can attract people and investment to the area.

Spread of hyperlocal sites

A Cardiff University survey listed about 400 hyperlocal sites. The main content covered is community activities, public services and the local council.  A surprising 1 in 10 of internet users use hyperlocal sites at least once a week.  About 1 in 8 sites generate more than £500 a week (mainly through advertising), but most are self-funded.  Other surveys have found very many more sites with particular concentrations in London, Birmingham and Leeds.  Some hyperlocal sites are well established, but all depend on the enthusiasm of local volunteers and some can be short-lived.

 

 

 

Key Facts:

Hyperlocal means focused on a community and being of the same community.  A hyperlocal website is written by the community about the community.  It can increase the level of community activity and improve the local community network.  Hyperlocal sites can also attract interest and investement in the neighbourhood from outside.

Page Links from here

In this toolkit see

Social Media

Setting up a Website

 


OR you can use the navigation menu above right to look at other parts of the toolkit.

BIRMINGHAM COMMUNITY PLANNING TOOLKIT DEFINITION SHEET This sheet may be reproduced in paper or electromic or any other form but please mention it was made by Chamberlain Forum Limited for Birmingham City Council supported by Department for Communities and Local Government.

created: 2016-07-16 13:04:03 by: admin status: f published

Related

Community Planning

This online toolkit aims to help communities - particularly in towns and cities in England - to make a success of local planning. It is made up of materials and links we hope will make it easier to do Neighbourhood Planning so that it links up with wider community community planning.

The toolkit has been produced by Chamberlain Forum, Birmingham City Council and representatives of communities and community groups in parts of Birmingham involved in community-led planning.

For information or a chat about it, contact Paul Slatter at Chamberlain Forum; use the contact form or tweet @paulgslatter

Thanks and Acknowledgement

Neil Vyse and Karen Cheney of Birmingham City Council; Councillors Tony Kennedy and Claire Spencer of Birmingham City Council; Abdullah Rehman and Dr Dick Atkinson of Balsall Heath Forum; Joe Holyoak of Joe Holyoak Associates; Tony Thapar and Fiona Adams of Moseley CDT; Meena Bharadwa of Locality; Peter Helly of Moseley Ashram Housing; Nicola Fleet-Milne and Matthew Bott of the Jewellery Quarter Neighbourhood Planning Forum, all gave up their time to assist in the production of the toolkit.

The work was supported by Department for Communities and Local Government and written and edited by Paul Slatter of Chamberlain Forum.

Useful Information

Other websites and organisations that are good sources of information and support:

Town & Country Planning Association (TCPA)

The Prince's Foundation for Community Building

Locality

Living Streets

Community Matters

Civic Voice

Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI)

Planning Aid

My Community

Community How To

The Planning Portal

National Planning Policy

CPRE Planning Help

Community Planning Network

Forum for Neighbourhood Planning

Government Guidance: What is Neighbourhood Planning

Find your way around

To find your way around the toolkit you can: look at some Starting Points; search for a keyword below; look up a section summary; or search for a topic (below the videos).

SEARCH

Sections

The toolkit is divided into sections dealing with

  • Community Planning
  • Local Business
  • Public Services
  • Council Powers
  • Local Planning System
  • Neighbourhood Planning
  • Sources of Advice
  • Tools and Techniques

Have a look around the toolkit using these section headings, topics (below) or the search box (above).

Heads Up

Abdullah Rehman of Balsall Heath Forum on community-led planning.

Neil Vyse of Birmingham City Council on the importance of wider community planning.

Dr Dick Atkinson of Balsall Heath Forum reflects on community-led planning in Balsall Heath and how its development enabled successful neighbourhood planning.

Peter Helly from Moseley Ashram Housing talks about Planning for Real and its use in neighbourhood planning.

Joe Holyoak on community-led planning - the background to neighbourhood planning.

topics

alcohol Antisocial behaviour asset value register BIDs Build a Local Website civil society communication Community community assets community groups community networks community planning cooperative council developer contributions developers dogs health service heritage housing infrastructure local business meetings neighbourhood neighbourhood forum Neighbourhood Plan parish council pART planning permission planning system police projects public services rats research rubbish schools social social enterprise social media social value strategy surveys transport travellers
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