The Evening Press at York is giving its readers the chance to write the news as well as read it, with the launch of a new ‘citizen journalism’ website.

Together with its website This Is York, the paper has set up www.myyorknews.com, where ordinary people can write the news, get their pictures posted and express their views on any topic ‘live’ on the Internet.

People can share experiences and successes and can send in words or pictures from digital cameras or mobile phones as well as by e-mail.

Suitable stories may be published in the Evening Press and on This Is York, and the website is also looking for online wizards who would like to write a weekly blog or would-be arts critics who would like to have their say on the latest films, books or music.

The website is being edited by Francine Clee, who is assistant editor of the Evening Press.

She said: “This is the first dedicated citizen journalist site based in our area and it goes hand in hand with the Evening Press’s role as a major information provider for our region.

“If people have any news they want to share – about their club, pub, or even their family or friends – they can send it to My York News and we’ll put it on the website.”

The venture was launched on Monday, the day the Society of Editors heard that newspapers must respond to the new challenges of the information age.

Les Hinton, executive chairman of News International, told the society’s 2005 conference about the need to be aware of citizen journalism.

“Look at how citizens reacted to the London bombings,” he said.

“Within minutes, owners of video and picture phones were calling TV channels and news desks. It is second nature to trained journalists. But now our readers are doing it too.

“Therefore it remains to newspapers with their strong trusted brands to provide the context and understanding for readers.

“Words and images will be with us forever in whatever form. It is our ingenuity that will deliver it,” he concluded.

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