The Dragon Becomes a BBC Local News Partner

Published on: 19 Nov, 2018
Updated on: 21 Nov, 2018

Guildford’s own local news website has now become a partner of the BBC’s nationwide Local News Partnerships scheme.

The BBC told editor, Martin Giles: “We are delighted to inform you that you have successfully met all qualifying criteria.

Martin Giles

“As a result, The Guildford Dragon NEWS is now entitled to receive content produced by the BBC Shared Data Unit, video and audio distributed via the BBC News Hub and Local Democracy Reporter content relating to Surrey County Council.”

Martin said: “This is another step forward for The Dragon. I particularly hope this will allow better coverage of news from Surrey County Council.

“Decisions made at county council level on, for instance, education, social care, highways and transport can affect Guildford Borough residents as directly as those made at the borough council, so I hope we can now offer more extensive reports from County Hall in Kingston.”

The BBC’s local news partnerships were created in 2017 as a result of an agreement between the BBC and the News Media Association, which represents the majority of the UK’s regional press, to spread a wider dialogue with other parts of the local news industry.

The aim is to support public service reporting, sustain local democracy and improve standards in journalism.

In the South East, 35 media organisations are now local news partners.

Rebecca Curley

They are entitled to receive content generated through the BBC’s News Hub, Shared Data Unit and Local Democracy Reporters, including Rebecca Curley who covers Surrey County Council.

Rebecca said: “The LDR scheme is proving to be a great service for news organisations such as The Dragon in helping to cover and highlight local democracy-related business and make their readers aware of issues at borough and county council level.

“As an LDR, I make it my business to know what is going on every week at Surrey County Council and all 11 boroughs and districts within the county, including Guildford.

“Where I can, I attend the meetings and report on things I know matter to people, and issues that perhaps they did not realise were happening.”

There are up to 150 Local Democracy Reporters, who cover councils and other public services on behalf of the BBC and local news organisations. More than 90 media organisations, representing more than 800 print, online or broadcast outlets, are now local news partners.

See Rebecca’s first stories published in The Dragon:

Reaction to County Council Leader Standing Down

Guildford Skills Gap After Brexit Warning

Responses to The Dragon Becomes a BBC Local News Partner

Martin Elliott Reply

November 19, 2018 at 1:50 pm

I must say Rebecca’s live feeds of various council meetings are very enlightening. She has also greatly improved the political content of Surrey Live (not too difficult). Better still she tries her best to expand on queries and even follow up on reports.

An excellent addition to The Guildford Dragon’s news feed.
Jules Cranwell Reply

November 19, 2018 at 3:09 pm

This is most welcome news. Hopefully, this means that the shenanigans of our rotten borough will be exposed to national notoriety, as deserved.

I particularly like the bit about “sustain local democracy”, although in the case of GBC, it should rather read “bring about a return to local democracy”.
Jim Allen Reply

November 19, 2018 at 5:17 pm

Congratulations.
Adam Aaronson Reply

November 19, 2018 at 9:06 pm

I think the Dragon really needs a like button…but in its absence, Congratulations!
Bill Stokoe Reply

November 20, 2018 at 9:14 am

What an accolade. Well done, The Dragon.
Gordon Bridger Reply

November 20, 2018 at 1:12 pm

Well done Dragon NEWS.

You have brought local matters to public attention as few, if any, others have done. Keep it up.
Fiona Curtis Reply

November 20, 2018 at 5:06 pm

If only every area had an equivalent to The Dragon. Great job, well deserved. Good to see great journalism recognized.
Bibhas Neogi Reply

November 20, 2018 at 8:52 pm

Congratulations! Well done.