Oliver - immediate ask: see below Stories that can be mapped and linked. Is there a way - via Social Spider? - easily to get direct links to stories in an edition, so they can be added to pages, as +EC1 themes index. Currently these are categorised on the site as news, features etc and it takes a time to search through. Not all stories are there.
Approach - or skip straight to Stories suggestions below
Stories and features
Use social media, maps and other tech to extend the reach and impact of print
Aim to help residents, visitors and businesses engage with each other and the locality
Build relationships with key organisations, groups and businesses that may then provide more stories and/or support(subs, help in kind, adverts, listings)
Capture and curate content
Encourage people to write their stories and/or give audio/video interviews. Enabling, reduces Echo editorial commitment
Link stories to map if relevant … and from maps to stories. Curate Echo content on theme pages(art, entertainment, shops) with other resources … then link from maps, Echo site and other sites.
Start to map online activity/spaces as well as physical - Facebook, Twitter, etc - to make easier to monitor. Look for people who are the connectors in these spaces
Explore scope for extending the Echo brand
Deals for supporters with venues?
Run some online events jointly with organisations already doing that(promote, report, build relationship) using print, newsletter, social media
Look for initiatives/campaigns to support - e.g. is Exmouth Market planning collaborative promotion? Also Culture Mile and The Ring heritage venues(Charterhouse, Great St Barts, Barts Hospital Museum, Museum of the Order of St John, The Goldsmiths’ Centre)
Story suggestions - follow up and new
These could be ideas for direct use in the Echo, and/or an associated blog and website as in +Exploring EC1. For excample, I can float ideas on the blog, gather linked resources on site, tweet to gather more input … then follow up in the Echo if it has legs.
Culture Mile community projects(build CM relationship, feature local groups/citizens)
Eloise Hawser launches news map(she says due soon). Print story … how it was created … anecdotes … link to map.
How St Barts community garden is developing … how the church used streaming effectively during lockdown … further church plans. Photo and interview with Bernadette and rector Marcus(maybe Bernadette would do interview and/or video)
I think Islington Council have plans for Clerkenwell Green and Bunhill Fields mapping - may collaborate with my mapping. What’s the history - can history enthusiasts contribute?
How are The Ring venues are opening up to attract visitors … feature on the great work Charterhouse is doing(advertorial?)
The Fleet River shaped a lot of Clerkenwell/City development. The Museum of London has created four videos with Blue Badge guide Julie Chandler. You can hear it through a drain grill in front of the The Coach pub on Ray Street, and just about see where it flows into the Thames at Blackfriars.
Craft and creativity
Something on The Goldsmiths’ Centre - marketing director there is keen and added to my favourites map. Link to Grillz and thrills
Ask Anna at Culture Mile for other ideas(or can first scan their releases/site) - link to stories in Echo this edition
Building community connections
The Peel community organisers can now start reconnecting face to face. Any stories of how/what groups they know have done during lockdown? What plans do they have for the future? Good personal stories? Can put projects on the map.
The London Recovery programme, in its Build Strong Communities Mission, says that by 2025 all Londoners should have access to a community hub helping build community networks. How can we achieve that for EC1, building on the work of The Peel? See also below on Barbican library.
The Relationship Project is based in St John Street. What have they learned about people’s community relationships during lockdown - what suggestions do they have for recovery and rebuilding? Report here.
City
The next Lord Mayor is local alderman Vincent Keaveny. Ann and I know him personally - nice guy. Wife Amanda is interesting too. What’s it like to prepare for the role(which has been delayed for a year). Apparently he has to do a lot personally to plan the Show. Maybe Elena could do an interview?
A recent Times article headlined: The City has so much to offer, so why does it not welcome visitors? In fact the City has a dedicated information centre, a set of self-guided walks and trails, a host of City Guides, and a sophisticated phone app for its City Visitor Trail. Could the City do more to let its neighbour Clerkenwell know more about what’s on offer - as well as other visitors?
The City has dropped plans for the new Music Centre. Does this have any impact on plans to move the Museum of London from its site to West Smithfield? Other follow-up to Peter Bill’s earlier article. Add key sites to the map, link to more info.
Approach - or skip straight to Stories suggestions below
Story suggestions - follow up and new