Ultra-local websites to go live

By jmccready

THE Kent and Sussex Courier has launched an exciting new project to get even closer to the heart of the community.

We're in the process of setting up a series of community websites, the first raft of which are going live this week.

Our mission is to enable the various communities across our circulation area to have their own ultra-local website linked to www.thisiskent.co.uk or www.thisissus sex.co.uk

And we're offering people the chance to become Community Media Partners and, as such, take control of the content of these mini-sites as they are rolled out across the region.

The websites will be rather like our Community Life section only bigger and more detailed because they will not face the inevitable space restrictions imposed by print publishing.

We will still publish a synopsis of the online reports each week in the Community Life section to give our readers their traditional overview of what's going on in their community.

However, for those who want more, our online pages can have additional content, such as full minutes of meetings, background information, images and supporting documentation.

Our Community Media Partners will also have the opportunity to update their sites on a regular basis, rather than just once a week.

Community Media Partners will be able to generate their own income through selling community advertisements rather like those found in parish or village magazines.

Anyone interested in becoming a Community Media Partner should contact Jane Davies by email on jane.davies@ courier.co.uk by telephone on 01892 681009 or by writing to her at the Courier Media Group, Longfield Road, Tunbridge Wells, TN2 3HL.

Our Community Media Partners are using Google Blogger technology to upload their material onto our mini sites.

We will provide full training and support.

Members of our project team behind this initiative are available to visit anyone interested in taking on this new role.

Log on to www.thisiskent.co.uk/com munitynews.html or www.thisissus sex.co.uk/comunitynews.html to take a look at our first ultra-local websites and watch this space for updates and more information on additional sites as they come on line.