As advertising revenue trickles away, a revenue model for newspapers online is elusive.  Rupert Murdoch has apparently suggested that his prime properties move towards a pay model. “That it is possible to charge for content on the web is obvious from the Wall Street Journal’s experience,” he said. Asked whether he envisaged fees at his [...]

We now have a signed contract with 4IP with funding from Screen West Midlands and Advantage West Midlands – thanks to Daniel Heaf,  Melanie Hayes and Jason Hall in particular. The pre-publicity is out there in the Guardian today, thanks to Jemima Kiss. Money is starting to come through and we can now get the [...]

Sites run by community activists, people campaigning to change things in their community have a strong interest not to be full of internet nutters. If activists sites are perceived to be bonkers then people don’t take the campaigns seriously. Troll abuse is not an issue that local web publishers raise with me – either they don’t attract at as in my case, or they manage it fine.

There are many urban villages in London, some old, some newer like West Ealing, where there is a good community site run by local residents.  West Ealing Neighbours is run by a residents association who aim to stick up for their patch.  So like a traditional RA there is a constitution of sorts.  As well [...]