Local democracy reporter reveals city council’s ‘orgasm’ ban
Journalist uncovers list of words censored in authority’s communications
Story Ideas
Quiet day in the office? In need of some inspiration to fill that slot on the features page? Check out our story ideas here and see if you can take news developments from around the UK and localise them for your patch.
If you would like to share a story idea with our readers, you can email us at [email protected] and we will upload it to the site.
Guest blog: ‘Why I slept rough on the streets of my patch’
Reporter takes direct approach to expose homelessness issue
Journalist enters ITV’s X Factor for regional daily feature
Reporter sings Shirley Bassey number in audition
Daily journalist wins editor’s challenge to capture ’12 Days of Christmas’
Feature and photograph based on each verse appears in newspaper
Reporters test beach cleanliness across patch with litter-picks
Journalists go litter picking for story
Reporters race editor to work in Top Gear-style transport challenge
Contest part of news website’s week-long look at travel issues
Journalist loses weight after going on all-Greggs diet for feature
Reporter’s story shared widely across sister titles
Reporter undergoes hypnosis in bid to cure fear of spiders
Journalist attempts to find root of phobia
Reporter debunks council claims by walking from toilet to toilet
Journalist’s trek follows partial U-turn after daily’s campaign
Helping people enjoy a 'wheelie' good night
There’s nothing more socially unpleasant than a row of drunk men (and sometimes women) urinating into shop doorways or onto streets during nights out on the town. But police and Eastleigh Borough Council, in Hampshire, are considering putting up wheelie
Is pollution really polluting your population?
Nearly 50,000 people die each year unnecessarily through air pollution. Health costs to society as a result of pollution could be equal to those dealing with alcohol abuse. Speak to local NHS bodies, health and ‘green’ groups and care associations
Finding people 'armed' with good skills
Hire a Hero – a company which helps ex-military personnel find work – is apparently being inundated with offers. Read more about it here. Surely businesses on your patch could make use of former military staff…if they aren’t already. Have
A 'bleeping' ridiculous idea?
New government plans could see children undergo annual fitness tests including the dreaded ‘bleep tests’. Bleep tests involve running between two markers before a bleep sounds with the intervals becoming increasingly shorter. They are used by, among others, emergency services
Age ain't nothing but a number
People in their 90s could be allowed to sit on juries after proposals to scrap age limits were mooted. But fears have been raised that elderly people would struggle to follow court cases – read more about it here. Is
Some places are just streets ahead
A centuries-old cobbled shopping street in York has been voted the nation’s most picturesque. The Shambles topped the poll in the Google Street View Awards ahead of picturesque spots in Bath and Newcastle. Did your town get a look in
'Glad' to be in employment
Sainsbury’s checkout girl Gladys Smith has just celebrated her 90th birthday. The nonagenarian started working for the supermarket chain in Basingstoke 22 years ago to earn a bit of extra Christmas cash. Read more about her here. Take a look