Hyperlocal is "past, present and future" of journalism

"Reporting about what's close to you always gives the best results for your audience," says Brouwers, the managing editor for hyperlocal online at Telegraaf Media Group in the Netherlands and a speaker at the upcoming Summer University in Paris organised by the World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers (WAN-IFRA) and the World Editors Forum.

Success for hyperlocal projects depends on "credibility, authenticity and the ability to mix fine journalism and an engaged audience with sustainable business models," he says.

From the benefits of "hacker journalism" - which combines programming and journalism skills - to advice for developing neighbourhood news and conversation websites, the two-day Summer University seminar, on 27 and 28 June next, will provide strategies and ideas for engaging audiences and capturing readers' attention.

A limited number of places remain and there is still time to register; full details can be found at www.wan-ifra.org/summeruniversity2011

Other speakers include, but are not limited to:

• Adrian Holovaty, a journalist and computer programmer in Chicago who used a US$1.1 million grant from the Knight Foundation to found EveryBlock.com, which provides hyperlocal news and information in 16 US cities. He is the former editor of editorial innovations at washingtonpost.com and has also worked with Rob Curley at the Lawrence (Kansas) Journal-World and at the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

• Anette Novak, editor-in-chief of Norran in northern Sweden, and the former editor of Stockholm City. Novak, a member of the board of the Swedish Media Association, is an evangelist of digital opportunities and know for advocating transparency as the "new objectivity."

• Jacques Natz, director of Digital Media Content for Hearst Television in the United States, who oversees content and brand development for more than two dozen local web and mobile sites as well as digital partnerships with Yahoo, YouTube, MSN, MSNBC and CNN. Digital content development for Hearst has centred on innovations that increase audience and revenue for web, mobile, video syndication and social networking.

• Randy Covington, director of the WAN-IFRA Newsplex at the University of South Carolina, where he has worked as a professional trainer and consultant for news organisations such as the Financial Times in London, Impresa in Portugal and El Nuevo Dia in Puerto Rico. He is on the USC faculty and teaches classes in new media and ethics.

• Urs Gossweiler, CEO of Jungfrau Zeitung in Switzerland, a former typesetter with a fascination with audiovisual media - a combination that, thanks to digitalisation, has helped him become a leading expert on media integration. Grossweiler, a member of the executive board of the Swiss Media Association, has long held there is no conflict between audiovisual media and classic print media.

• Philip Trippenbach, editor in chief of Citizenside, the world's largest citizen journalism network, who will discuss tools, practices and the attitudes that lead to successful collaboration with a member community. Citizenside's editorial team works with thousands of eyewitnesses, photographers and videographers around the world to create a high-quality news destination (citizenside.com).

• Roberto De Celis, director of digital editions for Vocento in Spain, and a expert on newsroom organisation who will talk about how to organise newsrooms to satisfy small communities.

Full programme, registration details and other information can be found at www.wan-ifra.org/summeruniversity2011.

The Summer University will be held on 27 and 28 June at the Hilton Hotel Paris La Défense and will offer simultaneous translation in English, French and Spanish. The registration fee is €890 for WAN-IFRA and WEF members and €1190 for non-members plus tax, with the third registration from any company offered free of charge.