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The Fitzrovia News is a free community newspaper produced by volunteers living and working in Fitzrovia, London, United Kingdom. It is an example of what has been called hyperlocal media or community journalism. It is notable because it is "one of the country's oldest community newspapers".Williams, Rhys, "Making fun - and a name: Politically divided but united cartographically, Fitzrovia is much in fashion. Rhys Williams takes a tour", The Independent, London, 5 July 1994.
It is a non-profit news media published by the Fitzrovia Community Newspaper Group, with support from central London charity the Fitzrovia Neighbourhood Association as part of its charitable work. "Charitable status for journalism proceeds by one case at a time", by Sam Burne James. Third Sector 31 July 2014 accessed 5 July 2015 "About Fitzrovia News", Fitzrovia News accessed 5 September 2020
The Fitzrovia News was originally called The Tower and was started by a group of community activists in April 1973 in response to threats to their neighbourhood from building developers and the loss of housing. The name Tower was a reference to the Post Office Tower now the BT Tower which stands near the geographic heart of the neighbourhood. The Tower was produced from the flat of Judith Thomas, a local resident. The paper was renamed Fitzrovia News in 1980 when it was produced by the Fitzrovia Community Newspaper Group from the recently established Fitzrovia Neighbourhood Centre.Pentelow, Mike & Rowe, Marsha, Characters of Fitzrovia, Felix Dennis, 2001, p. 29
The printed paper is produced four times a year. It is left at distribution points in the London neighbourhood of Fitzrovia. The website is updated more frequently and the editors produce a monthly email newsletter to subscribers. Like many hyperlocal media, the Fitzrovia News makes extensive use of freely available digital media: blog software WordPress and social media Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. About Fitzrovia News accessed 5 September 2020
Fitzrovia News covers all aspects of life in Fitzrovia with news and features about housing, business, environment, people, events, history and culture. About Fitzrovia News accessed 5 September 2020 "It has pursued stories about the impact of rising property prices and local hospital workers losing their homes, and submitted freedom of information requests to the local council."[6] Can charity save the local press? by Roy Greenslade and Steven Barnett, accessed 5 September 2020
Until April 2020 the newspaper was led by editor Mike Pentelow, an author and former trade union journalist. Mavericks, misfits, murderers and manslaughterers. By DJ Taylor, The Independent, 7 January 2002, accessed 21 February 2011
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