Citizens’Eye is the community news agency that started everything nearly two years ago. As specific areas of interest to communities rose to the fore, volunteers were identified who wished to take on editorial roles to develop that section. This has resulted in new news agencies being created that have their own website or newsletter. Many of them are developing an international reputation for good reporting, such as Hat News, that continues to prosper under the Editorship of Elisha Shamba.
www.citizenseye.org

Senior Eye (Editors – Nancy Bennett & Vikki Buchannan) is a newsletter reporting on older people’s issues. The second newsletter is currently being prepared. In partnership with Leicester Libraries, Senior Eye offer volunteering opportunities to report about older people on Citizens’ Eye. Senior Eye is edited by Vikki Buchanan and Nancy Bennett who attended the community media course.
editor@citizeneye.org

The2 began as a partnership between Citizens’ Eye and Wot Box Consultants, to develop a news agency run by, and for, young people in Leicester. Wot Box is a consultancy working for the active participation of young people in Leicester. Given several options, The2 Young Persons’ News Agency decided to base themselves in Libraries offering accessible local venues for training, meetings, events and access to equipment such as cameras, voice recorders and camcorders. There are currently over 200 young people signed up for The2 & Wave Newspaper from all areas of the city.
www.the2.tv

HAT News (Editor – Elisha Shamba) covers asylum, refugee and migration issues and is recognised and used by the Home Office Press Office for its delivery of fair and balanced information. In partnership with Leicester Libraries, HAT News offers volunteer opportunities for refugees and asylum seekers. HAT News, Citizens’ Eye and Leicester Libraries have recently been filmed by Channel 4 for a programme about volunteering.
www.hatnews.org

Ewalin (Editor – Kenneth Mawomo) in partnership with Leicester Libraries offers volunteering opportunities to those living in Leicester who are interested in the economic development of Africa. The volunteers get involved in tracking the news regarding international development across the whole of the continent and then focus on their own areas of interest, including countries of birth.
editor@citizeneye.org

Ino Mag (Editor – Mark Clark) focuses on those who have been to prison but are choosing a life away from crime and offending behaviour. It showcases how individuals are achieving re-entry and contribution to the community ‘outside’, as well as covering work produced and experiences gained on the ‘inside’. It also covers issues of debate within the Criminal Justice System, and offers users links to and information about other charities, public sector services and organisations that ex-offenders may find useful in their rehabilitative efforts. Inside ‘n’ Out Magazine seeks to be an independent platform for those on both sides of prison walls to share experiences, with the ideal of providing better understanding between parties. The project also provides ex-offenders with volunteering opportunities during which they can add to their skills and experience in the workplace, as a first step towards the rehabilitative pathway of gaining employment. In partnership with Leicester Libraries, Ino Mag offers volunteering opportunities.
www.inomag.org

Dzine News Agency aims to provide the latest news and features on disability issues in Leicester and Leicestershire. The editorial team draw on their own personal experiences of disability and the role it plays in their relationships with family, friends and those around them.
dzine@citizenseye.org

Down Not Out (Editor – Keith Hart) is the latest news agency in development, evolving out of partnership work done by Action Homeless, Citizens’ Eye and Leicester Libraries in creating a newsletter (Onwards and Upwards) by and for service users of Action Homeless. Down Not Out will be an online news agency for information by and for homeless people, accessible for free on library computers. In partnership with Leicester Libraries, Down Not Out offers volunteering opportunities for homeless people.
editor@citizeneye.org