Editor Dan Mason is answering his critics in a troubled part of Birmingham by sending his journalists out into the community.

He is setting up a temporary district office of the Birmingham Post in Aston.

A team of reporters will be based at the local Neighbourhood Centre for the next seven days.

The move comes after critics voiced their views that the media only goes into their community to cover bad news.

Reporters will listen to the views of residents and gather positive news stories from the area.

Dan told readers there had been much criticism of the media on the streets of Aston following the New Year shootings of teenagers Charlene Ellis and Letisha Shakespeare.

But he said that the Birmingham Post had the power to publicly applaud those who had come together to denounce the evil of guns and encourage those in a position of influence to back their cause.

For the next seven days a reporting team from the paper will be based at Aston Neighbourhood Centre to meet residents, listening to what they have to say and hearing about their achievements, hopes and fears.

Dan said: "This is an opportunity for the people of Aston to tell their story, their way. We'll be proud to publish their news and views.

"And we'll be on the doorstep next day so people can tell us, face to face, if we got it right."

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