Saturday 18 December 2010
Saturday 11 December 2010
Friday 10 December 2010
People, Places and New Faces
The location for the Community Media Centre 2012 is the Phoenix Square Film & Digital Media Centre in the Cultural Quarter. The building offers all the necessary elements needed to provide this experience.
Events are being organised in 2011 as part of a planned build up to the London 2012 Olympics and Paralympics.These include some key milestone dates:
- March – 1 day event ‘500 days to London 2012’
- June – 1 day conference – UK wide independent media centre organizers
- July – 2 day ‘Open’ Weekend – 1 year to London 2012 Olympics Opening Ceremony
- August – Bank Holiday Monday – 1 year to Paralympics 2012 Opening Ceremony
In January 2012 the CMC 2012 will open at Phoenix Square and start a nine month long series of events, workshops and seminars taking place for members of all communities across the city and county. This will include events organised with our many partners including Inspire Leicestershireand working inside schools to develop 2012 related experiences.
Monday 6 December 2010
Hiding In The Open Leicester
Reverend Tim Blewett experienced 4 days & nights rough sleeping on the streets of Leicester to gain a personal insight. This experience will assist him in his role as a trustee of Action Homeless and help them raise awareness of the issues and create new services. All words below are his own and detail many of his experiences into one 24 hour timeline. They were captured on a digital voice recorder.
I'm pleased to have had the opportunity to film and photograph his experience and I'm pleased with how the blog turned out. Let's hope it helps raise awareness about the homelessness sector.
http://hidingintheopenleicester.blogspot.com/
Blog post by John Ager - http://johnager.co.uk/2010/12/07/undercover-in-leicester/
Saturday 27 November 2010
Wednesday 24 November 2010
Thursday 18 November 2010
The Week That Was
Last week was rather busy but so worth it. If the aim of Community Media Week was to spread the word about Citizens Eye and attract people to the opportunities available to people as a Community Reporter then it has been a success.
Sixteen venues across the city and county hosted the travelling Community News Café and by end of the opening day we had signed up 38 people.
I enjoy meeting new people and explaining the Citizens Eye community news agency and its origins, that were shaped in conversations back in 2007. Community groups and organisations have historically found it difficult to access the local mainstream media and if truth be told, it’s not always been the media’s fault. What is important to us and our particular part of the community is very personal and therefore not really news to the outside world.
So the question is when does your publicity, as an awareness raising exercise, become news?
From my discussions with professional journalists the answer is when either there is nothing else going on of more general news interest or the national news agenda of the day makes them seek out local examples, in order for them to give local comment.
Example… You run a teenage pregnancy drop-in clinic and are having a summer fundraiser. The football team are at home, the Mayor is causing a stir with his tweets and a public building has a black hole in its finances. What chance does your ‘good news’ story stand, although it’s a worthy subject, the whole ‘sell more papers’ battle for survival. In all honesty… Zero!
However, if the government of the day has launched a new strategy to deal with the issue of teenage pregnancy, then suddenly your event has ‘newsworthy’ context and you become a useful source for quotes. Sometimes you just have to realise the value of your event to the mainstream media and be prepared to be patient or target your message.
Read more
Sixteen venues across the city and county hosted the travelling Community News Café and by end of the opening day we had signed up 38 people.
I enjoy meeting new people and explaining the Citizens Eye community news agency and its origins, that were shaped in conversations back in 2007. Community groups and organisations have historically found it difficult to access the local mainstream media and if truth be told, it’s not always been the media’s fault. What is important to us and our particular part of the community is very personal and therefore not really news to the outside world.
So the question is when does your publicity, as an awareness raising exercise, become news?
From my discussions with professional journalists the answer is when either there is nothing else going on of more general news interest or the national news agenda of the day makes them seek out local examples, in order for them to give local comment.
Example… You run a teenage pregnancy drop-in clinic and are having a summer fundraiser. The football team are at home, the Mayor is causing a stir with his tweets and a public building has a black hole in its finances. What chance does your ‘good news’ story stand, although it’s a worthy subject, the whole ‘sell more papers’ battle for survival. In all honesty… Zero!
However, if the government of the day has launched a new strategy to deal with the issue of teenage pregnancy, then suddenly your event has ‘newsworthy’ context and you become a useful source for quotes. Sometimes you just have to realise the value of your event to the mainstream media and be prepared to be patient or target your message.
Read more
Wednesday 17 November 2010
Friday 12 November 2010
Thursday 11 November 2010
Wednesday 10 November 2010
Tuesday 9 November 2010
2 Down, 4 To Go!
The end of Day 2 has arrived.
I'm 48 hours into the longest 6 days of my life. The timetable has been planned to ensure ease of movement between venues as Simon Parker and myself attempt to take the Community News Cafe to 16 venues across the city and county.
I've so far attended 12 seperate events since Monday morning and the thing that strikes me the most is the enthusiasm of our Community Reporters and the willingness of public members to find out more about Community Reporters 2012. This is the project where the aim is to recruit 2,012 members of the public to become Community Reporters by the year 2012.
The full timetable of events can be found at the top of the Citizens Eye website and I would encourage you to come along and get involved.
Our intention is clear! Take the Community News Cafe to all 22 wards of the city and across the county to as many people that want us to visit. With the help of the Leicester Mercury and BBC Radio Leicester we should be able to engage with the public to start raising the profiles of their communities through the use of social media.
I'm giving a talk about the Big Society tomorrow. While thinking about what to say and what to discuss with this particular charities trustees, it struck me that it is really what we have already been doing for years but with less money. Therefore to survive 'it' assuming we actually know what 'it' is, organisations must ensure they work together but more importantly 'shout' together ie communicate the sectors needs and fight for support if its really needed.
Nothing less will spell the end of many community groups because they are reliant on grant funding from central government and they are getting hammered.
The future is uncertain but you can plan to let people know what you do better. Its the loudest & most effective who will get fed first!
I'm 48 hours into the longest 6 days of my life. The timetable has been planned to ensure ease of movement between venues as Simon Parker and myself attempt to take the Community News Cafe to 16 venues across the city and county.
I've so far attended 12 seperate events since Monday morning and the thing that strikes me the most is the enthusiasm of our Community Reporters and the willingness of public members to find out more about Community Reporters 2012. This is the project where the aim is to recruit 2,012 members of the public to become Community Reporters by the year 2012.
The full timetable of events can be found at the top of the Citizens Eye website and I would encourage you to come along and get involved.
Our intention is clear! Take the Community News Cafe to all 22 wards of the city and across the county to as many people that want us to visit. With the help of the Leicester Mercury and BBC Radio Leicester we should be able to engage with the public to start raising the profiles of their communities through the use of social media.
I'm giving a talk about the Big Society tomorrow. While thinking about what to say and what to discuss with this particular charities trustees, it struck me that it is really what we have already been doing for years but with less money. Therefore to survive 'it' assuming we actually know what 'it' is, organisations must ensure they work together but more importantly 'shout' together ie communicate the sectors needs and fight for support if its really needed.
Nothing less will spell the end of many community groups because they are reliant on grant funding from central government and they are getting hammered.
The future is uncertain but you can plan to let people know what you do better. Its the loudest & most effective who will get fed first!
Monday 8 November 2010
Friday 5 November 2010
Soar Community Blog - Preparing for Community Media Week
Well, it’s been rather hectic preparing for the biggest event in the Citizens’ Eye calendar – Community Media Week 8-13th November.
Citizens’ Eye is having a week of events which will be spread out across the city and county, covering the subject of Citizens Journalists and the wider Community Media.
The Community Media Week involves events hosted by many partners and the full timetable of venues is available for you to view on the website home page, so I won’t waste any space by reproducing here and if you are on facebook (is there still anyone not on it?) please check out the group.
One of the exciting developments is the opportunity to take part in interviews across many of the region’s excellent community internet and FM radio stations. They have been helping us in the build up to Community Media Week and many will be broadcasting regular interviews and news updates throughout.
Read the full blog
Citizens’ Eye is having a week of events which will be spread out across the city and county, covering the subject of Citizens Journalists and the wider Community Media.
The Community Media Week involves events hosted by many partners and the full timetable of venues is available for you to view on the website home page, so I won’t waste any space by reproducing here and if you are on facebook (is there still anyone not on it?) please check out the group.
One of the exciting developments is the opportunity to take part in interviews across many of the region’s excellent community internet and FM radio stations. They have been helping us in the build up to Community Media Week and many will be broadcasting regular interviews and news updates throughout.
Read the full blog
Wednesday 3 November 2010
Friday 29 October 2010
John Coster Blog: Every Event Provides an Opportunity
It’s been one of those weeks when you stop and look back and find it hard to believe what has happened. Several big decisions have been made that will shape the next three years of activity.
Firstly, I had a very good meeting with the guys from the superb Leicester Comedy Festival. The plan is to run a ‘skyride’ style media centre for the whole comedy festival, based in the Phoenix Square Film & Digital Media Centre foyer. The media centre will be set up a week before the start and run throughout the whole 17 days of the festival. Congratulations to Geoff Rowe and his team on being nominated for the People’s Millions project on ITV. Make sure you vote for them so the money can be used to set up Laughter Clubs and community bases across Leicester.
Read more of this blog
Firstly, I had a very good meeting with the guys from the superb Leicester Comedy Festival. The plan is to run a ‘skyride’ style media centre for the whole comedy festival, based in the Phoenix Square Film & Digital Media Centre foyer. The media centre will be set up a week before the start and run throughout the whole 17 days of the festival. Congratulations to Geoff Rowe and his team on being nominated for the People’s Millions project on ITV. Make sure you vote for them so the money can be used to set up Laughter Clubs and community bases across Leicester.
Read more of this blog
Thursday 21 October 2010
Community Media Week 8-13th November
Community Media Week 8-13th November is rapidly approaching! The next 2 Community News Cafe sessions on Tuesday's 9.30-10.30am at Kona Blue Coffee will be about finalising the events / workshops etc. If you want to get involved please let me know editor@citizenseye.org
Friday 15 October 2010
Leicester Speaks
Welcome to the Leicester Speaks programme of events, supporting
Local Democracy Week in Leicester, Leicestershire and beyond.
http://leicesterspeaks.org/
Selection of films on Leicester Speaks You Tube channel
Local Democracy Week in Leicester, Leicestershire and beyond.
http://leicesterspeaks.org/
Selection of films on Leicester Speaks You Tube channel
Thursday 14 October 2010
Community Media Week Plan Takes Shape
It's just over 4 weeks to Community Media Week 8-13th November and the timetable of events across the city and county are taking shape.
If you would like to contribute by holding a 'Community News Cafe' at your premises or in partnership with a local cafe please let me know.
Contact me on M 07734 305595 or email editor@citizenseye.org
If you would like to contribute by holding a 'Community News Cafe' at your premises or in partnership with a local cafe please let me know.
Contact me on M 07734 305595 or email editor@citizenseye.org
Sunday 10 October 2010
Saturday 9 October 2010
Wednesday 6 October 2010
Thursday 30 September 2010
John Coster Blog: It All Begins on Monday
Next Monday I’ll be in Manchester to deliver a 10 minute presentation. Not to difficult for me you might think, but this has been one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. The reason? It’s the opening shot in the big push towards the Community Media Hub at Phoenix Square to cover the London 2012 Olympics and Paralympics.
The theme for the day is “Will citizen media take over the 2012 Games?”
The event website says:
“This day-long event will be the first public presentation of Professor Andy Miah’s Media Blueprint for London 2012,an independent proposal to create a UK wide Underground Media Zone during the London 2012 Games. The event is co-sponsored by Abandon Normal Devices, the London 2012 Creative Programmers Network and theUniversity of the West of Scotland.
Wednesday 29 September 2010
Leicester Speaks in Local Democracy Week 11-17th October
A partnership of more than 30 Leicester organisations and community groups has come together to give local people the chance to voice their opinions, share their ideas and debate issues ranging from the case for an elected mayor to the needs of young people in events taking place in venues across the city between 11 and 17 October.
Some 25 events have already been organised as part of the Leicester Speaks initiative which is thought to be the most ambitious programme ever mounted to mark the annual Local Democracy Week in the UK.
Read More - Leicester Speaks in Local Democracy Week
Tuesday 28 September 2010
Sunday 26 September 2010
Leicester Documentary Club
It was great to watch the 3.45pm screening yesterday of The Wildest Dream at Phoenix Square - I spoke to the audience before the film, telling them about the Leicester Documentary Club & next January's planned DocFilm Festival.
It was a good turnout and nice to meet up with friends. Views were mixed about the film. Most felt the scenery & camera work were fantastic but the way the film was planned out and some of the shots were a bit cheesy!
If you get a chance to see it at the Phoenix I would recommend it.
Friday 24 September 2010
John Coster Blog: The Young Get Inspired
The media appears to be full of horror stories at the moment about the Commonwealth Games in Delhi. The sporting events get underway in 10 days and large parts of the build seem to be incomplete.
I would like to see the event go ahead for all the athletes who have been training hard and are using the Games as preparation for London 2012. But also for all the children across the world who will be spurred on to take up sport. It’s these large-scale events that showcase competition at its best and shines a light into a world of opportunity for developing countries.
Thursday 16 September 2010
Games Maker or Community Reporter – who’s more important?
The applications for the 2012 Games Volunteer programme are now open to the general public. It’s a fantastic opportunity for people across the country to experience the world’s biggest sporting and media event up close and personal.
The application asks if you want tickets to the events and to meet the athletes etc. If you answer ‘yes’ your application is likely to be rejected. Why? When you volunteer at these kind of events you could be placed absolutely anywhere in the games system and positioned away from the action. You may in fact see no sport at all.
This is how volunteering is sometimes. Doing what needs to be done rather than what you want to do. The fantastic thing about volunteering is you may enjoy what you do and be surprised to find that by undertaking a certain task you find enjoyment and have developed personally, by unexpectedly challenging yourself.
Read more of Soar Community blog
The application asks if you want tickets to the events and to meet the athletes etc. If you answer ‘yes’ your application is likely to be rejected. Why? When you volunteer at these kind of events you could be placed absolutely anywhere in the games system and positioned away from the action. You may in fact see no sport at all.
This is how volunteering is sometimes. Doing what needs to be done rather than what you want to do. The fantastic thing about volunteering is you may enjoy what you do and be surprised to find that by undertaking a certain task you find enjoyment and have developed personally, by unexpectedly challenging yourself.
Read more of Soar Community blog
Wednesday 15 September 2010
Nearly 3 years....
It's been nearly 3 years since I started up Citizens Eye. After the success of the Media Centre for Sky Ride we are planning the next one for the Leicester Marathon on Sunday 10th October. I'm also having a meeting with Geoff Rowe of the Comedy Festival about running a Media Centre throughout their event in February 2011....should be a laugh!! Pun intended.
Plans are picking up speed for Community Media Week that takes place between 8-13th November. It's a full timetable of events & activities across the city & county. This is the reason I've been looking for previous reports or studies that we took part in to build a portfolio of evidence for.....well I'm not sure who but I guess its reflection time. It will 3 years to the day I went to prison on 5th October (2007).
One of the Governor's of HMP Welford Road (where I spent the first week) has asked me to visit his office at the prison to discuss going back to talk to prisoners about 2nd chances & opportunities when they are released. It will be a real challenge to walk back through the gates that I entered in the back of one of those big white trucks but it should help.
Plans are picking up speed for Community Media Week that takes place between 8-13th November. It's a full timetable of events & activities across the city & county. This is the reason I've been looking for previous reports or studies that we took part in to build a portfolio of evidence for.....well I'm not sure who but I guess its reflection time. It will 3 years to the day I went to prison on 5th October (2007).
One of the Governor's of HMP Welford Road (where I spent the first week) has asked me to visit his office at the prison to discuss going back to talk to prisoners about 2nd chances & opportunities when they are released. It will be a real challenge to walk back through the gates that I entered in the back of one of those big white trucks but it should help.
Thursday 9 September 2010
John Coster Blog: So what will be our Legacy?
Whenever I speak to someone about the Olympics and its arrival in London during the summer of 2012, it’s a mixed reaction. There are roughly two schools of thought I’ve met.
The first are what I call the ‘Doomers’. It’s a disaster waiting to happen ‘look at Athens 2004’, the opening ceremony will be rubbish compared to ‘Sydney 2000 or Beijing 2008’, we don’t have the money. The other is the ‘Boomers’. They love it. In fact, once you get them started they remember where they were when Steve Redgrave did this and Steve Ovett did that…does Chris Hoy really eat Shredded Wheat?
http://www.soarmagazine.co.uk/2010/09/09/john-coster-blog-so-what-will-be-our-legacy/
Wednesday 8 September 2010
Saturday 4 September 2010
Friday 3 September 2010
Thursday 2 September 2010
Community Action Photographers (CAPs) Get The Job Done!
Well done to the CAPs or Community Action Photographers led by co-editors Tara Gatherer & Andy Williams.
They put in a great effort with their team and have been rewarded with a great article on page 12 of today’s Leicester Mercury – http://www.thisisleicestershire.co.uk/news/Citizens-Skyride-photos-capture-atmosphere-day/article-2589849-detail/article.html
The thisisleicestershire website has a photo gallery of their images -http://www.thisisleicestershire.co.uk/skyridegallery.html
And also BBC Leicester has used their images in a photo gallery – http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/leicester/hi/people_and_places/newsid_8957000/8957174.stm
They put in a great effort with their team and have been rewarded with a great article on page 12 of today’s Leicester Mercury – http://www.thisisleicestershire.co.uk/news/Citizens-Skyride-photos-capture-atmosphere-day/article-2589849-detail/article.html
The thisisleicestershire website has a photo gallery of their images -http://www.thisisleicestershire.co.uk/skyridegallery.html
And also BBC Leicester has used their images in a photo gallery – http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/leicester/hi/people_and_places/newsid_8957000/8957174.stm
British Cycling Website Uses Citizens Eye Ipadios
The British Cycling website posted information to do with Leicester's Sky Ride event and used 3 Ipadio reports created by our Community Reporters Tina Barton & Elisha Shamba.
http://www.britishcycling.org.uk/recreation/article/rec20100829-Report--Sky-Ride-Leicester-0
http://www.britishcycling.org.uk/recreation/article/rec20100829-Report--Sky-Ride-Leicester-0
John Coster Blog: We came We Reported We Conquered
Tuesday 31 August 2010
Friday 27 August 2010
Ride Leicester Media Centre Opened By Lord Mayor
Phoenix Square – the impressive Film & Digital Media centre in Leicester played host last night to the launch event for Sky Ride & 8th Bike Film Festival.
The Media Centre volunteers had set up in the afternoon and the stage was set for the launch event to include live music by The Slowdown Boys.
http://www.citizenseye.org/2010/08/27/media-centre-launched/
The Media Centre volunteers had set up in the afternoon and the stage was set for the launch event to include live music by The Slowdown Boys.
http://www.citizenseye.org/2010/08/27/media-centre-launched/
Thursday 26 August 2010
John Coster Blog: If you can keep your head…
Another Thursday so it must be time for the Soar Community blog. I thought it might be a real problem trying to write 800 words every week but I’ve found it rather stress-free really and dare I say it, enjoyable!
Today’s blog can only be about one thing. It’s dominated my life since Andy Salkeld, the Leicester Cycling Co-ordinator asked me to run the Media Centre for it at Phoenix Square – Sky Ride!
The mass participation cycling event takes place this coming Sunday August 29th. We are expecting around 12,000 cyclists to enjoy the traffic-free route around some of Leicester’s most famous landmarks; Abbey Park, Abbey Pumping Station, the National Space Centre, Belgrave’s Golden Mile, Curve, Clock Tower, Market and of course the Phoenix
Read more - http://www.soarmagazine.co.uk/2010/08/26/john-coster-blog-if-you-can-keep-your-head/
Today’s blog can only be about one thing. It’s dominated my life since Andy Salkeld, the Leicester Cycling Co-ordinator asked me to run the Media Centre for it at Phoenix Square – Sky Ride!
The mass participation cycling event takes place this coming Sunday August 29th. We are expecting around 12,000 cyclists to enjoy the traffic-free route around some of Leicester’s most famous landmarks; Abbey Park, Abbey Pumping Station, the National Space Centre, Belgrave’s Golden Mile, Curve, Clock Tower, Market and of course the Phoenix
Read more - http://www.soarmagazine.co.uk/2010/08/26/john-coster-blog-if-you-can-keep-your-head/
Monday 23 August 2010
Thinking About The Community Media Hub You Tube Channel
I've been thinking lately about the You Tube channel we have - CommMediaHub. Some of you may already know we are well into the creation of Citizens Eye TV and now have several distribution channels set up - You Tube, Vimeo, Current TV and Ustream. The BBC Big Screen is also interested in our community generated programming so things are looking great.
This went from a dream to a reality when Gareth Morgan of Zenith Films agreed to take the lead on its creation so I'm looking forward to covering the 8th Bike Film Festival and Sky Ride cycling events.
This interesting news item appeared in the inbox this morning so thought it timely:
Why every independent news site should have a YouTube channel - news item on Journalism.co.uk
http://blogs.journalism.co.uk/editors/2010/08/23/why-every-independent-news-site-should-have-a-youtube-channel/
This went from a dream to a reality when Gareth Morgan of Zenith Films agreed to take the lead on its creation so I'm looking forward to covering the 8th Bike Film Festival and Sky Ride cycling events.
This interesting news item appeared in the inbox this morning so thought it timely:
Why every independent news site should have a YouTube channel - news item on Journalism.co.uk
http://blogs.journalism.co.uk/editors/2010/08/23/why-every-independent-news-site-should-have-a-youtube-channel/
Sunday 22 August 2010
Special Olympics cyclists ready for Sky Ride
Special Olympics cyclists ready for Sky Ride Leicester at Self Unlimited Shangton
http://www.ipadio.com/phlogs/JohnCoster/2010/8/13/Special-Olympics-Cyclists-Train-For-Sky-Ride
http://www.ipadio.com/phlogs/JohnCoster/2010/8/13/Special-Olympics-Cyclists-Train-For-Sky-Ride
Media Hub volunteer briefing session on Saturday
On Saturday 21st August - only a week to go to Leicester's Sky Ride event - I called together any of the volunteer 'Media Hub Reporters' at 11am to be briefed about what's happening at the Phoenix. The whole project is being set up by 5pm on Thursday 26th and is officially to be opened by the Lord Mayor Cllr Colin Hall at the reception party. This starts at 6pm and launches the 8th Bike Film Festival & Media Hub for Sky Ride.
The VIP is Baroness Sue Campbell, Head of UK Sport. Over 20 volunteers turned up and with the further 25 people I know who couldn't make it, because of other commitments, I think we should be well prepared for anything the 3 days throws our way.
The Media Centre will run from 5pm Thursday until the late evening of Sunday 29th (Sky Ride) so hopefully lots of people will pass through the Phoenix to see what we are up to. The plan is to capture as much of the Sky Ride event 'experience' as we can and send it as positive 'community' news around the world using all the FREE resources available to Community Reporters.
Register for Sky Ride http://www.goskyride.com
Timetable of 8th Bike Film Festival http://www.bikefilmfestival.org
The VIP is Baroness Sue Campbell, Head of UK Sport. Over 20 volunteers turned up and with the further 25 people I know who couldn't make it, because of other commitments, I think we should be well prepared for anything the 3 days throws our way.
The Media Centre will run from 5pm Thursday until the late evening of Sunday 29th (Sky Ride) so hopefully lots of people will pass through the Phoenix to see what we are up to. The plan is to capture as much of the Sky Ride event 'experience' as we can and send it as positive 'community' news around the world using all the FREE resources available to Community Reporters.
Register for Sky Ride http://www.goskyride.com
Timetable of 8th Bike Film Festival http://www.bikefilmfestival.org
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