FOI: How local journalists make a difference by sticking with a story

At certain times in the last 12 months, it will have been quite hard to avoid journalists in the West Country as news outlets from across the country followed wave after wave of floods hitting the region. The 24-hour news cycle, the instant update world of social media and the ease of publishing online have

FOI FRIDAY: Changing high streets, FGM, hospital crimes and council staff attacks

How is your high street changing? – East Grinstead Courier instead is filling up with coffee shops and financial service providers such as banks and estate agents – and residents are not happy about it. According to a Freedom of Information Act request put in by the Courier, nearly half the change-of-use applications submitted by

FOI Friday: Most frequent ambulance callout addresses, affordable homes, benefits families moved hundreds of miles, and fire crews freeing kids from cars

52 visits to one address by ambulances … and just two patients taken to hospital < Dundee Telegraph Ambulances were called out to a Dundee property a staggering 52 times in just ONE year it has been revealed. And on just two of those occasions somebody was taken to hospital by paramedics. The figures, from

FOI Friday: 10 stories which show how FOI helps local media make a difference

This week is Local Newspaper Week, run by the newspaper industry and the Newspaper Society, to promote the important work done by the local and regional press. The theme this year has been ‘making a difference’ – highlighting the campaigns regional newspapers have run which have helped change the communities they live in for the

20 great storm photos which show us how journalism is changing

The recent storms – which are continuing as I write this – have dominated many local news websites and their associated newspapers. Great images have not been in short supply. This isn’t meant to be a ’20 great images’ post, but a collection of images which tell us something about how we cover big weather

Arise, your newspaper: How regional newspapers covered the New Year Honours

If you saw the national newspapers or TV news on Saturday, then you’ll know that The New Year Honours were somewhat dominated by  Olympians. And why not? 2012, after all, is a year which will be remembered for sport.

FOI FRIDAY: Big benefit claims, football ground safety, spending on temps and how much headteachers earn

  1. School-based hate crimes investigated by the police < < < Western Morning News Sure, we’ve seen FOI requests about the number of reports of racism recorded by schools or local authorities – but this is the first time I’ve seen a figure for the number of times police have been called in to investigate

FOI Friday: Hospital parking, strange police phone calls, cheating students and criminals applying to work in schools

Toilet seats and compensation < < < Birmingham Mail A WORKER sued Birmingham City Council and won £1,750 after a toilet seat collapsed causing him injuries, it has emerged. The man was one of 274 successful claims in the last five years leaving taxpayers with a bill of almost £5 million. Trips, exposure to deadly asbestos

FOI Friday: Uni expenses, shoplifting, driving tests and a speed camera success story

1. The expenses of university top bods With £9,000 a year tuition fees very likely for many students starting university, there’s probably never been a better time to stick the finances of universities under the FOI microscope. The Sunday Sun has done just that, asking for the expenses of senior officials at universities in its areas:

FOI Friday: Lost warrant cards, council sick days, noisy students and the real cost of council savings

1. Stolen warrant cards The Yorkshire Post used the Freedom of Information Act to find out how many warrant cards had been lost or stolen by officers in Yorkshire in recent years. The answer: 370. Why are warrant cards particularly important? According to the paper: Just over a week ago a gang of distraction burglars