Conversations at the Euromeduc media literacy conference in Bellaria, Italy, confirmed for me that the story of media change is similar throughout Europe – on the one hand decline of some traditional big players, particularly newspapers, and on the other the increase in media created by individuals and small groups. I also heard about work in community media centres in Holland similar to that developing in the UK.

I first talked to two people who have a good overview of what’s happeningin local media. Peter de Groot teaches media economics, while Simon Strömberg works in the field for the Culture Administration in Stockholm. Both are also involved in the Media Coaches network that trains teachers, librarians, health workers and others to help children, parents and others use the web.
I was particularly interested in the implications for journalists seeing their jobs disappear, and for activists in local communities creating their own blogs and online communities. In the UK local activists are being supported by Talk About Local and Community Voices. read more »