It is 15 years this week since Blog Preston first published a story about the city.
Since that chilly day in January 2009 (not much changes weather wise eh?) you’ve helped us become a part of the city we seek to report on.
And to mark our 15th year we have a number of exciting developments planned.
We want to ensure 2024 is a memorable year for playing our part in Preston.
Here’s how we’re going to be marking 15 years – we hope you can get involved in some shape or form.
Returning to reporting and editing action is Blog Preston’s founder Ed Walker. Alongside him will be Luke Beardsworth, who served as co-editor of the site from 2013-2018.
Both Ed and Luke left Reach PLC last summer to co-found an audience development consultancy Alma and have decided to re-establish their work with Blog Preston alongside this. They will both be co-editors joining Kate Rosindale who has run the site and social channels day-to-day since 2019.
Ed said: “It’s been a long road since back in 2009 and I’m proud of the place that Blog Preston has carved out.
“Thank you to everyone who has contributed over the years in ensuring there is an independent voice for the city, from tip-offs on stories, to reading and sharing them.
“The next 12 months will be a pivotal year for Blog Preston and we hope you’re able to support us in progressing a number of exciting developments in how we bring community news and information to the city.”
Luke said: “What’s been achieved in 15 years with Blog Preston is wild when you take a step back to think about it. It’s been powered by so many incredible, passionate journalists, writers and editors who all believe in this city – and lots of support and goodwill from readers.
“I love it when people ask me about ‘The Blog’ and speak about it in such positive terms. That’s rare in journalism. Hopefully we can keep earning and building that trust with you. It’s good to be home.”
One thing we hear time and again from readers is ‘I didn’t know this was happening’ when we feature an event or something that’s happened in the city. That needs to change.
In 2024 we’re going to expand our what’s on offering with Kate taking the lead on coverage here.
In a number of reader surveys we’ve run, the desire for more in-depth coverage of arts and culture in the city comes through strongly as being a priority. We’d like to expand on this as well, so we’re looking into running a crowdfunder to help establish more of this coverage in the city.
Kate said: “It’s been nearly five years at the helm of Blog Preston, navigating through a pandemic and more. Thank you to everyone who has supported me. I’m looking forward to working alongside Luke and Ed again, and taking on a new what’s on focus – and I think the city is ready for it too.
“Arts and culture strengthen a place’s identity. Events let you be creative, learn, share, have fun and connect. There’s lots going on, and I’m looking forward to shining a light on as much as possible – whether it’s a gig, exhibition, family fun day, makers market, etc. – and no matter how big or small.”
If you’re interested in helping with this or want to help us ensure we don’t miss events that are coming up then email kate@blogpreston.co.uk
We’re going to hold a number of reader events in early 2024 to get your views on the site, our social channels and plenty more too. If you’re interested in coming to one of these sessions – we will hold a number in-person but also seek to do one virtually as well – then please email ed@blogpreston.co.uk to register your interest.
We always seek to provide a way for community organisations and those putting on community initiatives to have a way to let people know about them – and also help highlight people who go the extra mile and do great things through our Proud Preston section and campaign.
In the last few weeks we’ve been joined by our community journalism intern Sophie Swain.
Sophie is in her second year studying journalism at the University of Central Lancashire and is taking a lead on community news and stories in the city. You can send in stories for her to look at on contactus@blogpreston.co.uk
Read more: Big PNE Sleep Out sees wet weather braved at Deepdale
We will also be increasing how we use email newsletters to deliver our news to the city.
The vagaries of Google and Facebook and their impact on publishers are well-documented, and we have a very popular Sunday email digest which goes to more than 4,500 people in the city and surrounding area.
In the coming weeks we’ll be offering the opportunity to receive our email updates more frequently so you can keep informed on everything happening in the city. You can sign up for our email updates here or fill in the form below.
You can also join us on WhatsApp on our dedicated channel, our Facebook page, on LinkedIn, on Instagram and on X.
We have always accepted advertising on Blog Preston to support our journalism. This will continue and in the coming weeks we will be relaunching our advertising packages offered to businesses either in the city or surrounding area – or those with an interest in reaching Prestonians with their messages.
If you’re interested in how you can engage with our audiences through adverts, sponsored features or sponsored social media posts and more you can contact charlotte@blogpreston.co.uk for more information and rates.
We will also be looking to take on some additional staffing to support the development of our advertising packages. If you’re interested in casual work to support this, which is flexible around other commitments then please email a CV to charlotte@blogpreston.co.uk expressing your interest and we’ll set up a conversation.
Blog Preston is already a member of a number of organisations both nationally and locally around community and community news. We are regulated by IPSO – the Independent Press Standards Organisation – and will continue to be so. This means we have to comply with the Editors’ Code of Practice for publishing stories and handle complaints in a robust way too.
We’re also a part of the News For All campaign through the Public Interest News Foundation (PINF) – which seeks to get a fair funding settlement for independent publishers like Blog Preston when the government is dealing with the likes of Google and Meta. We will seek to play a greater part in the development of sustainable local news through PINF.
In the coming months we’re also hoping to join the Independent Community News Network (ICNN), Public Interest News Gateway (PING) and the Independent Publishers Alliance (IPA). We hope our experiences of 15 years of covering the city and how we’ve developed Blog Preston over the years, and continue to do so, means we can play an active part and contribute across all these member-led organisations.
We will also maintain our membership of the Preston Community Network (PCN) and seek to continue to support it and its members by providing a platform for them to tell people about the good work happening in the city by many groups and individuals. We will also maintain our membership of the Preston Partnership which has relaunched in the last few months and focuses on looking at encouraging collaboration in the city and shaping its future.
We always welcome guest pieces on Blog Preston, either one-off or regular contributions. From Geoff’s history pieces to Karen’s food reviews, to Lisa’s arts coverage, there’s always space for more writing about the city.
We’re also exploring how we enable a contributions and membership option for the site (we’ll always be free to read), looking at a foray into podcasting, considering how we cover sports and community sport in particular in and around the city and much more in the next 12 months or so.
If you’re interested in writing regularly about a topic for Blog Preston or just a one-off piece then email luke@blogpreston.co.uk with your pitch.
Most importantly, we’ll continue to tell your stories. No matter what it is, keep them coming via contactus@blogpreston.co.uk or our social media inboxes. We read every message (we can’t always reply!). We try to get to every story. It’s why we’re here.
Ed said: “Thank you again to everyone who has contributed over the years, and in particular the late Tony Worrall and Paul Swarbrick who played an enormous part in helping Blog Preston establish itself in the city.
“I’m looking forward to continuing to grow Blog Preston’s stories and output in the months and years ahead.
“We’re very open to conversations and collaborations, so just drop one of us a line and we’ll be happy to have a chat.”
Thank you for reading over the years and we thank you in advance for reading during 2024 and supporting us with what promises to be a really exciting year for Blog Preston in so many ways.
Kate, Ed, Luke, Charlotte B, Lisa, Sophie, Geoff, Karen and Charlotte E