University News Last updated 04 November 2015
News website Birmingham Eastside run by media students from the University was shortlisted for the Guardian Student Media Awards 2015 in the category Student Website of the Year.
The website was created two years ago by MA Online Journalism course leader Paul Bradshaw and Senior Journalism lecturer Ross Hawkes as an outlet to be used by journalism students for publishing their stories. Paul said:
"It is a massive achievement for a site to be shortlisted at the first attempt - and a deserved recognition of all the hard work and creativity that students have put into the site over the past year. Not only has Birmingham Eastside regularly reported on important local issues, but it has used cutting edge methods to engage with its audiences, whether that's its use of chat apps and mobile video during election night, live-blogging key events on social media, or using investigative data journalism methods.
Birmingham Eastside is now an editorially independent hyperlocal news website that writes for people who work and live in the Eastside area of Birmingham. The editorial team is ambitious to develop partnerships with other hyperlocal news sites in the Midlands. James Stokes, Arts and Culture Editor for Birmingham Eastside and third year BA (Hons) Media and Communication student believes that the growing number of reporters and covered topics is generating a loyal and expanding audience. He added:
Birmingham Eastside
See the website to get all the news from Eastside and adjacent areas of Birmingham.