Scottish co-op The Ferret has announced a plan to greatly increase reader and member participation in content generation.
Anyone can sign up and can register fields in which they have interest and knowledge. When The Ferret is working on a topic related to those, members can be consulted by text for their input. They can also take part in skills training to help build a solid base of Scottish citizen journalism.
Establishment media has taken to using Twitter feeds a great deal. It’s a cheap means of seeming to be in touch at the same time as padding out content, even if that content is dubious or trivial.
The Ferret’s intentions are far more inclusive and less exploitative, along the lines of an ownership model that places subscribers and workers in control, rather than commercial interests.
The Media Fund are proud to be working with such innovation partners as The Ferret and Dorset Eye, who also allow readers to register to submit stories from ground level.
These are exactly the sort of independent models with which to counter top down, elite skewed platforms that tend to produce content framed by elite perspectives.
Find out more about The Ferrets plan in this original article from The Press Gazette.
Stephen Durrant
