Local knowledge pays off

The burning question I often get aked is always “What is there to film in Shropshire?” writes our video journalist James Shaw.
With Midlands Today and Central news covering our patch, many people will think there’s not much left for little old me.

Wrong. The current floods, perhaps, are a case in point and illustrate how we can give big brother a bloody nose, from time to time.

Whereas other crews had to wait until tea time to get their full reports on air, the beauty of online video meant that I could get my video completed and virtually online by mid-afternoon.

The fact that you couldn’t see it due to a computer fault is, perhaps, irrelevant - the principle is that we can get videos on our website is just a few hours, and are not constrained by broadcast times.

In addition, I have found that a little local knowledge goes a very long way in Shropshire.

I was given the news of the

bridge collapse in Ludlow at 7am by our editor, Sarah-Jane Smith, and within minutes, was on the way to the south Shropshire town.

When I got there, the scene was devastating. But armed with my local press card, I discovered that people tend to trust the Shropshire Star and are willing to talk to us.

Ironically, the online video service is getting a huge leg-up from the reputation built up by the main newspaper over the last 40 years or so - honest reporting that concentrates on local issues.

However much our industry may change over the next few years, that is something which will remain a huge part of our attraction.