Readers’ Photos Boost Fire Coverage

Pictures sent in by readers of a massive warehouse blaze in London enhanced a local newspaper’s coverage of the incident.

Panoramic photos of thick black smoke billowing across the capital’s skyline as well as close-up video footage of angry flames pouring from the Olympics site warehouse were submitted by dozens of readers to the East London Advertiser.

Editor Malcolm Starbrook told Press Gazette: “Within minutes of the fire starting we had a reader arrive at the office offering to download a video on his mobile.

“As fast as we received new images we posted them on line and that encouraged more readers to submit their images.

“The quality and standard of the submitted pictures was outstanding.”

In addition to the impressive web coverage, the East London Advertiser reverse-published stills sent in by users in a special newspaper report two days later.