Here in Vancouver, the biggest news story remains the trial of Robert William Picton on six counts of (particularly gruesome) murder. It is sensational stuff: Picton has been linked as a suspect in the murder of as many as 49 women.
Local media is all over the story (so much so that there’s been blowback from viewers and readers who feel they are overdoing it). Some of the most interesting stuff is being done by one of the smaller players, the freesheet 24 Hours. Their Drupal-powered Picton coverage site, features blog-style regular trial coverage, videocasts, background information and more. The coverage is being provided by two reporters. Given that freesheet newsroom are small, that’s a significant commitment.
(Some disclosures here: Matt Kieltyka, one of the two reporters, is a former student of mine. Ian King, both a journalist and a techie, is the man behind the site and someone I’ve had lunch and beer with. Ian writes about the 24 Hour site here.)
The 24 Hour site is impressive for its coverage and for showing what a small news operation, driven by a desire to do more with daily journalism, can do. The site doesn’t have the depth provided by the city’s big, resource-rich daily, The Vancouver Sun, but the innovative use of the blog form, podcasts and video show how the new tools can be used in the service of good journalism.
TAGS: 24 HOURS, VANCOUVER SUN, NEWSPAPERS, RETHINKING MEDIA
The posting was a great news Mark Hamilton.
Story involved on trial of Robert William Picton count of murder. Murdering 49 women is a big impact for Vancouver.
Not to take away from the import of how women in the sex trade or dealing with addictions are ignored until dozens of them are dead, possibly (probably) many of them at the hand of Willy Picton, there is another story that has been floating about under the radar of the media other than our wee “24″.
I speak of the Legislature Raids/BC Rail of three and some years ago and the jostling about that has been going on. But finally it is going to court…maybe, the dates have changes so often. I think the next hearing is February 26th
Watch “24″ for updates.
[...] Mark Hamilton has a great story to tell us. Here in Vancouver, the biggest news story remains the trial of Robert William Picton… [...]