Grassroots Journalism Takes the Spotlight at Community Late Event

In a celebration of grassroots media, the Thackray Medical Museum became a hub for emerging citizen journalists to share the untold stories of their local communities.

The Community Late event brought together diverse communities in a celebration of local talent and culture on Saturday September 21st.

Participants were invited to come along and discover the performances, crafts and exhibitions that took place during the evening.

As part of the event, East Side Story encouraged members of the local community to try their hand at newspaper journalism and learn new skills during an Introduction to Journalism workshop. 

These free sessions gave participants the opportunity to develop skills in news writing, photography, and digital research, while also engaging in lively discussions on key community issues such as climate change, equality, and local politics.

Over the evening, multiple groups of participants rotated through our workshops, with 30 students participating altogether.

The workshops attracted people from a range of different backgrounds, and ages including university students, refugees, global majority people, and working-class residents. Sponsored by Places4People and Leeds City Council, the sessions received positive feedback from participants.

Sarah Evard, a university student who took part in the event, said that the workshop gave her the confidence to write about her own experiences and pursue a career in the media.

She added: “The whole event has been fantastic, and I really enjoyed this workshop. I didn’t know what to expect but it interested me because I’m currently studying media at Leeds Beckett. This workshop gave me lots of useful tips and information and reinforced the things I’m learning at uni and gave me a bit of extra confidence.”

The workshop was one of several focus groups and sessions held by East Side Story throughout the evening, drawing a steady stream of participants. 

Attendees came and went in a while engaging with different aspects of the workshops as they discovered new skills and shared their perspectives. From aspiring journalists to community advocates, the sessions provided something for everyone.

“It’s incredible to see so many people from different walks of life come together to learn, share ideas, and contribute to the conversation,” said Janine Griffiths, editor and co-founder of East Side Story, who organised and facilitated the event. She added: “We wanted to create a space where everyone feels encouraged to tell their own stories.”

Other events that took place at the Thackray Medical Museum on the night include a family-friendly exhibition called You Choose, which featured displays created by local community groups. It also included an eco-friendly fashion and catwalk show from talented local designer Goodness Woodhead, plus stalls from local charities such as Freedom for Girls.

The evening was a true showcase of the diversity, creativity, and shared vision of East Leeds, providing attendees not only with new skills but also a sense of connection and collaboration.

Speaking about the event, Ezra Kingston, the Community Co-Producer at Thackray Museum of Medicine, said: “We are so proud to be part of this amazing community, and we want to continue to do more with and for the community. We hope that we’ll be able to keep doing these in the future.”