Ever fancied being able to tell the story of your community or local group – or write about what’s really going on where you live?
Our second West Leeds Dispatch community reporters’ training course is a chance to do just that – or perhaps celebrate the achievements of others or even highlight an important cause or campaign in West Leeds.
If you’d like to get more involved in what’s going on locally our friendly and informal course is right up your street.
It runs over six sessions and offers a fun introduction to writing articles, taking photos, making videos and basic podcasting – as well as offering wider help and guidance on everything you need to know to be a community reporter. We can help with spelling and grammar – there’s no pressure and you get all the support you need.
The second of our free community reporters’ training courses starts from Thursday, June 6 (6.30pm-8.30pm) for six weeks at Beech Hall Care Home, Far Fold Lane, off Theaker Lane in Armley.
They’re run by West Leeds Dispatch editor John Baron, a journalist with 25 years’ experience, who has worked for a variety of local newspapers as well as The Guardian. At the end of it, you’ll become part of the Dispatch family and earn a community correspondents’ press card and certificate, as well as gain increased skills and confidence.
All we ask is that you turn up if you sign up – and that you have an ongoing interest in contributing to the West Leeds Dispatch.
Check out some of the work from our first batch of fab community reporters who are about to complete the first course here.
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While you’re here…
Producing your daily dose of West Leeds Dispatch comes at a cost!
There’s the hosting of the website you’re reading now, running our popular e-mail newsletter, membership of independent press regulator Impress, attending summer events, paying for equipment etc etc.
We need at least £200 a month just to break even – that’s money currently coming out of the pockets of dedicated volunteers who are passionate about what’s happening in our communities, connecting you with local groups and organisations as well as holding decision-makers to account and championing local issues.
And all that’s BEFORE we even think about paying something for people’s time – for instance, our editor puts in more than 24 hours a week in his ‘spare’ time to ensure The Dispatch publishes daily.
To put it bluntly, after nearly four years of daily publishing, we are not sustainable!
And we need YOUR help to continue …
For the cost of less than a couple of cups of coffee you can help support local community news and continue to give our communities a voice by taking out a subscription for just £4 per month (that’s just a pound a week).
As a thanks you’ll get your name on a roll of honour on our website. More importantly you will be enabling us to keep bringing you the news that matters about your neighbourhood.
Achieving a bedrock of supporters will give us a firm financial footing and help us plan for the future.
Supporting us couldn’t be easier…
Just follow this link.
or set up a standing order with your bank:
Contact us on Paywestleedsdispatch@gmail.com if you’d like to do this.
Over to you …