Hackney Citizens

The latest issue - number 5 - of the Hackney Citizen landed on my doormat yesterday and I was really pleased to see it. Professional, sensible and refreshingly upbeat it provides just the sort of news and culture coverage the borough needs much more of. It also carries a astute editorial on that very theme:

Commenting recently on the role of local papers, Alan Rusbridger, editor of the Guardian said: “Communities need information; local politicians and officials need challenge; citizens need a voice.”

He did, too, and he's right. The Citizen adds:

A viable independent press is a crucial part of democracy.

Right again. And the same is true of independent local blogosphere. Hackney has been perhaps surprisingly slow off the mark in this regard. We lag behind the trailblazers of Greenwich and Barnet, where such as 853 and Barnet Eye make valuable nuisances of themselves. Let the cry go out. More local bloggers required!

Comments

[Zoe]

I've started a blog: http://eastlondonlocal.wordpress.com/

I am trying to promote local independent businesses, arts venues & authors/artists, write news stories and book reviews etc. It's definitely a learning process and I'm starting to think that it's better to do one or two detailed posts a week than lots of little ones about nothing much. It's also difficult trying to decide what you can and can't write about - from people around me I find out all sorts of things about Hackney but publishing them - even on a blog - takes a certain amount of daring....!

[rick harter]

ive got a blog too and im local.....pity its really just about osteopathy and health and the body and other bits and pieces but not so much about hackney....i'm the osteopath on broadway market.
http://osteopod.tumblr.com/

surprised there arent more London Fields bloggers around.

[Jane Egginton]

I've got a Hackney blog. I am a travel writer, and the aim is that my blog will become a mini guide to all the delights of Hackney - its restaurants, shops, museums, parks...
http://www.hackneyhome.blogspot.com/
By the way, Rick, you are a fab osteopath (have yet to check out your blogging skils) - you sorted out both mine and Iain's, my husbands, backs.

[Rob]

Hi, I'm a bit late to this post, but if you all do decide to gang up, can I join? I'm another lonely Hackney blogger but then I haven't made much effort to link up with anyone.

I've not posted much recently, not until today, and it's a dodgy story about when I worked in Tower Hamlets - where I became an accidental racist - I hope it doesn't put anyone off. I'm not a fan of racism in case that sounds a bit alarming.

Otherwise Hackney is what I've been writing about up til now and I hope to write about it more regularly in future, mainly about politics.

http://bloodandproperty.blogspot.com/

Blood and Property

I've just been made redundant and have time to try and gather Hackney bloggers - but I'm a complete novice - and what happens when we've gathered?