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Weekly sends home working reporters on tour to meet readers

A weekly newspaper is sending its home working journalists out on the road to help readers replicate the “familiar feeling” of visiting its office.

The County Derry Post has launched the initiative, which will see the paper base a reporter in a different area of the county for one day each week.

The Post is revealing the location where their reporter will be based each week via its Facebook and Twitter accounts.

HTFP reported last week that Archant chief content officer Matt Kelly had urged the company’s journalists to get “on the road” while working from home during the coronavirus pandemic.

County Derry Post `1

In a piece explaining the initiative, Post journalist Liam Tunny wrote: “With our staff currently working from home, there is no opportunity for members of the public to bring stories and ideas directly to us in person.

“In order to try and replicate that familiar feeling of walking into the newspaper office, we’re going to bring the office to you, in a more informal setting, such as a local coffee shop.

“For one day each week, we’ll be basing a reporter in a different area of the county, giving local people a chance to bring any issues directly to our attention.”

Liam added: “We’ll also have hand sanitiser at the ready and will be set up to adhere to social distancing guidelines at all times.”

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