Huge festival losses being picked up by Calderdale tax payers
Plus: Could legal action lead to a social media clean up; and why did going green make your editor see red
Dear Reader
I do hope you have battened down the hatches and made sure your windows are leak free! The winter storm season has kicked off with our first named storm in West Yorkshire leading to cancellation of various events. So, if you do decide to head out... take care.
This week has seen another frenetic week in the Calderdale Inside Out newsdesk/converted cupboard. Once again the biggest question we are facing about our journalism is "who is paying for this operation". Which, of course, is very flattering. Because that suggests our podcast, and new online news presence, must at least (in the eyes of some) have the appearance of a slick news operation. Probably more streamlined than slick, because yes, I do everything myself. From editing and recording podcasts, writing scripts, sorting social media, running planning, and even making my own tea. AI provides some assistance with document organisation and a virtual planning desk, but it's very much a one person passion project. And is funded by no-one but my aching pocket.
We do have plans for monetisation at some point, and next week we hope to be announcing an exciting first partnership. But until we build a critical mass of free subscribers and a large enough base on content we won't be asking anyone for hard cash.
On the slate this week we have an update on our investigation into council expenditure on the now controversial "Stage At The Lake" event back in August. And we would love to hear you experience of roadworks across the borough. I'm not saying we are about to launch a campaign to get utilities to get their shit together, making them finish a job on time, but have a read of my comment piece "Why going green made me see red", and let me know if this echoes your experience. Finally, there have been some brutal exchanges on social media in Calderdale, and word on the street is a legal line is about to be drawn in the sand. Click through below and discover the power of a 'Norwich Pharmacal Order'.
Also we have plenty to read in our news from across the borough, including - let's bring out the marching bands - the new multi-storey opens at the Calderdale general this weekend. And we also have your indispensable What's On Guide...
Until next week dear friends.
Nick
PS If you have a story we should be looking into email: newsdesk@calderdaleinsideout.co.uk
