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In this district challenge, three groups will each focus on a specific area: Rochester, Chatham, and Gillingham. Each group is tasked with producing one lead story from their locality, with additional content sourced from Medway or Kent. The submission requirements are concise, with a deadline of 7:00 PM on Monday, December 2. Members are encouraged to create multiple original journalism pieces. Important local council meetings, national stories impacting Kent, and seasonal events will serve as primary coverage topics.
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District Challenge A look at where local news comes from
Brief • Three groups to cover Rochester, Chatham and Gillingham • Each group must produce ONE lead story from their specific local area. All the rest must either be from Medway or elsewhere in Kent. • For this challenge, the copy need only be submitted as a word document. Next term you must submit laid out pieces. • EACH member of the group must produce at least one, preferably more, pieces of original journalism. • Deadline, to email to me by 7.00 pm Monday December 2
Kent and Medway Councils • Medway Issues • Council meetings this week: Tuesday, 3.00 pm Cabinet meeting – this will discuss the results of the consultation of the Rochester Airport masterplan and the relocation of a Special School in the area. • Thursday, 7.30 pm: Licensing and Safety committee – something on scrap metal merchants
Councils contd • Medway • Reactions to national stories • 1) Any more on the Thames estuary Airport: ‘Boris Island’? • 2)What is the council’s ongoing cuts programme? Any forced redundancy programme? • 3) ‘Olympic Legacy’ Is anything being done there? • 4) How is the Chatham Dockside outlet doing in the run-up to Christmas? • 5) Repercussions of the closure of the acute mental health unit at Medway Maritime Hospital
Councils contd • Kent County Council • www.kent.gov.uk • Press releases • Committee meetings this week
National stories affecting Kent • Ash die back – any large sections of Ash woodland facing the chop? • Find out what Kent’s MPs are doing by checking their websites, see if they have signed any EDMs • Food banks, homeless, long-term unemployed
Police stories • Kent police website updates crime stories hourly: http://www.kent.police.uk/news/news.html • For more information ring: 01622 652150 • Medway Police 01634 792275 (Dan Palmer) • Magistrates Courts: Chatham, Maidstone; Maidstone Crown Court. A visit to Chatham mags on Weds morning might be fruitful
Fire stories • www.kent.fire-uk.org/news • Press office: 01622 692121 for small local incidents that might not get onto the website
Stories from the current local newspapers • Update on the woman who went to Mexico? • Defra designates Boris airport site as ‘marine conservation zone’ • Nightingales at the Lodge Hill site: this is a long-running story, but still potential for follow-on • High Court decision on ex-oil trader’s case for unfair dismissal, due Thursday – pitch for interview at weekend? • Vintage and collectibles fair at Chatham Historic Dockyard this Sunday • Give Blood Day this Friday in Strood – chance for some Gonzo journalism? • Lecture on old Brompton and its links with Victorian Prostitution, this Thursday at Royal Engineers – change to grab an interview with the author afterwards? • Men’s Breakfast event this Saturday morning, Lordswood (Why?)
Parish council stories • Check Parish council websites for any stories • St Mary Hoo Parish Council has a meeting on Tuesday night at 7.30 pm at the Fenn Bell Function Room
Seasonal stories • Try ringing round local animal rescue centres, shelters such as Anim-mates – Christmas is their busiest time • Is Medway ready for bad weather? Salt supplies, grittersetc • Are there any Christmas fairs coming up? • Even a stroll down the high street and ask independent shop keepers what the most unusual Christmas gift they have sold/been asked to order this week • Baggins bookshop – are they doing better because of the recession this Christmas? • Turkey farmers looking forward to a good Christmas? (Last year they were too fat) • Brussels Sprouts farmers? • Charity shops – expensive/possibly valuable donations?