For my A2 Media coursework we as a group decided to create a local newspaper and website for the Enfield area. We will also create an advertising poster for the paper to help promote the launch of it.

We felt the current local news industry needed to be brought into the 21st Century and branch out to cover other aspects of local media, which previously haven’t been explored. We would like our website to include user-generated content such as videos, blogs and forums. We would encourage leading members of the community would be agenda setters, such as Vicars, youth workers, chief members of the local police and council members/MPs. User-generated content would ideally raise issues that wouldn't necessary have been raised in traditional media.

To achieve this we have decided to create a local news ‘brand’ rather than just a local newspaper. This will include E-Media (Website, On-demand video, E-editions and blogs) and possible a local radio station.

We chose to base our coursework on local newspapers as we thought this was a great opportunity to find out more about local newspapers and to improve upon what is already available.

To achieve this we will focus on content rather than providing an advertising service to businesses. Therefore advertising will play a minimal role in our publication and more ‘subliminal’ advertising techniques, such as having our online video player being sponsored by companies.

Many local newspaper have recently folded as far as ‘paid for’ versions are concerned and the newspaper industry, in general, is struggling. Many papers are now having to adapt to survive, such as dropping their prices, becoming a free newspaper or changing to become more of a ‘lifestyle’ text.

As a group we have decided that, as much as possible, we would like our publication to be politically independent, so as not to alienate a group or groups of our readership. This is particularly important in the Enfield area as, there is not a dominate ideology. However the fact is that independent politics can mean that the news is less dramatic/sensational.