Harness The Power Of Flickr

A newspaper is using photo-sharing site Flickr to provide a host platform for user-generated content.

Wrexham’s Evening Leader has created three public groups on the website to encourage submissions from amateur photographers living in North Wales.

Two groups are asking for photographs of anything and everything in the region and state that some pictures may be published on the website or print issues of the Evening Leader and its affiliated titles.

In addition, staff have set up a third group called “Aspiring Photographers”, which aims to be a discussion group for budding amateurs.

On its profile, Group Picture Editor Rick Matthews writes: “The photographic team ... will help by giving tips on how to improve your work in the future.

“Together, let’s aim to reach our full potential.”

Digital Editor Christian Dunn told journalism.co.uk that external sites such as Flickr provide an additional news gathering and news distribution method for newspapers.

He said: “Flickr groups are another way the web can provide content for our print products - giving our readers an alternative method of getting in touch with us and further breaking down the traditional barriers between newspapers and members of the public.”

Dunn added: “I think it’s really important for regional newspapers to take full advantage of sites such as Flickr.

“Not only do they offer fantastic services, which we can harness, but they also allow our brand to reach a far wider readership than ever before.”