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Community paper prepares to mark fourth anniversary and 100th edition

A community-run independent newspaper is set to celebrate both its fourth anniversary and the publication of its 100th edition.

The Hastings Independent will mark the double milestone later this month.

The free, not-for-profit fortnightly paper is run by unpaid writers, students and volunteers as a community interest company.

A celebration party marking the occasion is set to be held at Hastings Pier on 19 April, with local MP Amber Rudd set to speak at the event.

Hastings Independent

Hastings Independent Press director Jon Dunham said: “With the importance of independent journalism, the survival of regional press and the necessity of free press, Hastings Independent is a huge success story.

“The majority of community newspapers do not reach issue 12 due to lack of finance, lack of time or internal disagreements.

“Hastings Independent has been through all this but [this month] we celebrate our fourth anniversary as well as our 100th edition.”

He added: “The company’s constitution is to enthuse political debate, promote the town in a positive light, spotlight local creativity and offer work experience and media training to volunteers and students.

“Since the paper’s launch, volunteers have found paid work with the national press through the experience gained working and writing for HIP. The paper continues to offer placements to students looking for a career in publishing, journalism or digital media.”

4 comments

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  • April 10, 2018 at 9:41 am
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    Congratulations to all involved with the HIP, this type of well run community publication is the way forward for local people seeking across the country looking for a good, grass roots hyper local news and advertising service, here’s to the next milestone anniversary!

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  • April 10, 2018 at 1:18 pm
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    well done. But oh! that splash. So dull in writing and pic.

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  • April 12, 2018 at 11:31 am
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    The one thing we have found in the last 4 years is that it is not the paper format regional press that is dead. It is more the old style of regional newspaper layout and content that is tired and boring. Hastings Independent Press (HIP) is growing readership numbers and revenue year on year because it is different. This is a free paper that feeds the community instead of feeding off it. We are now the go to marketing option for all local events and have found additional revenue streams by the creation of community sector supplements. With a healthy stream of community writers we continue to be creative, bold, opinionated and informative and with no Shareholders or Editor in Chief, all content decisions are made by our voluntary Section Eds and Directors.

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  • April 12, 2018 at 11:33 am
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    Note to Eds: Amber Rudd can not now attend our celebration.

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