You don’t need to be always walking the beat to find local stories.
Here are five useful tools for any journalist looking to find news from the comfort of a phone or laptop.
1. ‘Next Door’
‘Next Door’ is the online equivalent of a community noticeboard – only better.
People don’t just advertise things on ‘Next Door’, they post about things they see in their local area that they love and, more importantly, loath.
It’s a great way to find story ideas by interacting with the community through ‘liking’ and commenting on posts. You can also privately message people who might have your next scoop.
2. Online council resources
There are numerous sites online which provide up-to-date information on localities.
Police in the UK provide crime statistics online which are updated monthly. You can specify specific boroughs and localities to get information specific to your area.
Local council websites also provide information on recent planning permission applications, local amenities and initiatives. Find yours here.
3. Searching via location on Instagram
On Instagram, you can type any location into the ‘search bar’. If you select ‘Places‘, you can find posts that have been linked to specific areas.
Through this, you can see the ‘Top‘ posts in your local area, as well as the most recent. You never know what posts might inspire your next story.
4. Twitter Lists
Keep track of all local Twitter accounts using Twitter Lists.
Any accounts added to your list will appear in a separate timeline so you don’t miss a post!
5. Facebook Online Communities
Facebook groups can be host to a huge number of locals. Not just neighbourhood groups, but buying & selling, residents and local faith groups, can all be opportunities to investigate your locality.
Interactive Journalism MA at City, University of London.
Dublin-born, London-living.
Interested in sport, film/tv & social media's role in modern journalism.