Some exciting news here at the South West Durham News (SWDN) as we welcome four volunteer community journalists visiting us from Germany.
Henri, Mona, Carla and Anton (pictured) are studying journalism at Magdeburg University of Applied Sciences and are now spending some time getting to know our region and hearing people’s stories.
The group are all passionate about the natural world and so will also be involved with our partner news organisation, The Northern Eco, alongside experiencing community life here in County Durham.
SWDN Managing editor Archie Mackay said the group would bring some fresh perspectives to the publications.
“They’re joining us at an exciting time! The South West Durham News is expanding coverage across our local towns and villages with many stories being shared online and via social media as well in our delivered newspapers.”
Here, in their own words, they introduce themselves:
Henri, who will be covering Shildon: “I feel most alive when I’m outdoors, whether hiking through the mountains or walking through the woods. Through my writing, I want to address environmental issues and give a voice to the people working on solutions.
Mona, who will be covering Ferryhill & Chilton: “I value independent, regional journalism and really enjoy being part of it. Together with three fellow students, I am now exploring Northern England and the many stories it has to offer. When I’m not working on stories, you’ll probably find me spending time in nature and getting excited about every dog I see.
Carla, who will be covering Bishop Auckland: “I am passionate about storytelling, music and all kinds of animals. I feel excited and eager to explore all the interesting stories and surroundings of the lovely County Durham, and with a little luck, I might even meet a dog or two ;)”
Anton, who will be covering Spennymoor: “Just got a very warm welcome in the north. Coming from Magdeburg where I‘m studying journalism and working for German public broadcasting – with a focus mostly on politics. Excited to see more up here and report for the region.”
The group’s journey to the North East began many months ago when Anton emailed Sarah Hartley at The Northern Eco asking about opportunities.
“The very polite email was intriguing and, coming from Germany, extremely unusual. Young people have such a hard time getting introductions and experience in the news industry so I was impressed by the initiative shown and wanted to hear more.”
Several video calls and emails later and we’ve invited them to come and take a look at how independent journalism operates in the UK. During their time here they’ll be exploring the different towns and villages of the SWDN area as well as getting stuck into some of the issues impacting North Yorkshire and the North East
Their visit comes as we also start a new initiative – a drop-in community newsroom at Bishop Auckland.
Every Wednesday starting tomorrow, we’ll be based at The Artists’ Hub in Bishop Auckland from 10am until 3pm. The building is in the Market Square over the road from the Spanish Gallery. The move is thanks to the generosity of The Auckland Project. If you’re in the area, please do drop in and we’ll put the kettle on! We want to hear your stories, understand more about the environmental issues that interest you and help amplify your community projects.
Sarah Hartley
South West Durham News covering news across County Durham.
