VentnorBlog scoops overall prize at Talk About Local 'unconference'

Isle of Wight-based site the VentnorBlog took away two prizes from last Saturday's 'unawards' at the Talk About Local 'unconference' - for best overall site, and best hyperlocal story.

As Journalism.co.uk commented at the time, VentnorBlog gave the national and local media a run for its money with its comprehensive coverage of the Vestas industrial dispute on the Isle of Wight.

The informal Talk About Local event, held in Leeds on 17 April and organised by hyperlocal publisher Will Perrin, brought together bloggers and journalists from across the UK.

In six months since the last Talk About Local event, the hyperlocal scene has really matured, Perrin told Journalism.co.uk.

While most of the local sites involved are independent of mainstream media, they partnered with the Guardian for these events because they share the same values, he said. Guardian Local, through its Edinburgh, Cardiff and Leeds sites, had made a thoughtful approach to hyperlocal, he said.

The 'unawards', while light-hearted with cheap and silly prizes - VentnorBlog won an oven glove, for example - gave credit to the best of the UK's hyperlocal contributors.

Ventnor Blog publisher Simon Perry will talk about how he built up the online community at Journalism.co.uk's news:rewired event on 25 June 2010.

As reported on Guardian Local, the full list of winners also included (citations quoted directly):

• Best investigation - HelpMeInvestigate, behind BCCDIY
• Best community engagement - w14London
• The UnTourist Board Award for a site that attracts visitors to a place - Parwich.org.
• Most innovative use of data - Lichfield council Stuart Harrison aka pezholio
• Best use of audio  - Mr Caulkhead Isle of Wight colloquialisms.
• Best use of photography 4am project Karen Strunks
• The Hyperlocal Extreme Award for thrilling, breathtaking or dangerous examples of innovation in a small area kingtonblackboard.org, for issues around Christmas lights.
• Lulz Award for site, project or individual that made us laugh - Glum Councillors
• Most Inspirational site went to Josh Halliday for firing up young journalists with his doorstep project SR2
• Best local special interest website Greener Leith for its dedication to the local environment north of the border
• Best use of video East Salford direct tv 
• Best use of a map - Openly Local for the hyperlocal map
• Best council coverage for PitsnPots by Tony Walley and Mike Rawlins for the site's dogged Stoke City council coverage

In addition,thanks was given to  Paul Bradshaw for excellent academic support and the 'UK Hyperlocal Favourite Tool' Fix My Street. A booby prize went to the Hull Daily Mail for 'Best attack by traditional media'.

Free daily newsletter

If you like our news and feature articles, you can sign up to receive our free daily (Mon-Fri) email newsletter (mobile friendly).