Member Article

York consortium wins share of £2.4 million funding to encourage ‘hyperlocal’ media

A Yorkshire consortium including City of York Council and York’s new television channel (due on air in 2015) is to launch an Open Data Mill for York and develop ‘hyperlocal’ media technologies.

The project was one of just four to win a share of the £2.4 million funding in a competition by Nesta (National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts) and the Technology Strategy Board to demonstrate the potential of ‘hyperlocal’ media technologies to serve UK communities.

Working with partners in Leeds, the 18-month project will investigate ways that locally sourced open data (across public, private, cultural and third sector sources) can “empower citizens and improve city-wide services.”

It will also look to transform data into local media content and experiences, predominantly aimed at mobile and television.

The creation of an Open Data Mill in York - a place for businesses and organisations to share their Open Data - follows the successful launch of the Leeds Data Mill in April 2014.

The consortium includes Leeds City Council, City of York Council, The York Channel (the local TV channel for the York area, launching in 2015) and University of Central Lancashire, and is being led by Leeds-based boutique media company Hebe Media and supported by the Leeds Data Mill.

Kersten England, Chief Executive of City of York Council, said: “As a city and a local authority that is committed to being open and transparent, we look forward to working with the partners and public to deliver real insights and improvements to everyday life and services in York.

“We wish to encourage local businesses and institutions, service providers, and residents to join us in this exciting project.”

Mark Barrett of Leeds Data Mill said: “The Technology Strategy Boards funding will allow us to create another Open Data platform to another of the UK’s greatest cities, and by collaborating with the consortium there is enormous potential for us to learn more about both Leeds and York and transform the places where we live, work and play.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Clare Burnett .