At JesmondLocal, we believe in a journalism that is open and collaborative – inclusive, not exclusive. And one of the directions in which this is leading us is “pop-up publishing”: gathering a group of volunteers at an event, then helping them put together a magazine or newspaper in a very short space of time.

We can’t claim the idea as our own – some friends and colleagues of ours at the Church of London agency piqued our interest when they gathered like-minded creative professionals for their South Bank Centre and Good Times projects.

But we like to think we’re mildly innovative (and probably foolhardy) in our inclusiveness – our willingness to enlist enthusiastic amateurs as well as talented professionals, working together as a single team to beat the clock. It’s chaotic. It’s stressful. But it’s also a lot of fun. And we find it helps people engage more fully in the event and its subject matter.

You can read about our last project at BALTIC below. For our next project, we’re inviting delegates attending the three-day Thinking Digital Conference at the Sage Gateshead to join us in making a newspaper in less than 48 hours.

If you’re a #TDC12 delegate and would like to get involved as a writer, photographer, illustrator, designer… or something we haven’t thought of yet, please email us at editor@jesmondlocal.com

Otherwise… wish us luck!

 

Turnaround: 48 hours at BALTIC

What? A magazine created in 48 hours at BALTIC, about the Turner Prize, by local, volunteer journalists.

Why? To give “ordinary” people (student journalists, local people, school children and others) a means of explaining to ordinary people (readers) in just 24 pages the purpose and power of contemporary art, as showcased by this year’s Turner Prize. The magazine will complement BALTIC’s other engagement initiatives, such as the Turner Prize Café – helping to document the public perceptions, issues and conversations which the Turner Prize has generated. Watch a video of the process here.

Who? The team of more than volunteers was led by Ian Wylie, Dan Howarth and Sophie Bauckham who produce the volunteer-run JesmondLocal.com, a hyperlocal news service for Jesmond, Newcastle upon Tyne. Ian has 20 years’ experience as a national newspaper reporter and editor (Guardian, FT); Dan is publications officer at Newcastle University; and Sophie has just joined the BBC after completing her masters in international multimedia journalism. The magazine’s art director was James Askham, who runs local agency Warm Design. And business manager was Elizabeth Shaw, who has just gained an MSc in Innovation, Creativity and Entrepreneurship following a strategic role at the Institute of Digital Innovation.

When? 48 hours during the weekend of 25th-27th November, with distribution of 10,000 copies of the magazine at BALTIC from 2nd December in the run-up to the prize award ceremony.