Southport Reporter

The idea started when Patrick Trollope[https://www.flickr.com/photos/97758537@N00/23419199221/ Flickr Blog]"Patrick Trollope, Editor of Southport Reporter" is a contributor and referred to in a book called Viking Mersey, written by Stephen Harding. {{ISBN|1-901231-34-8}} Published by Countryvise Publication, Wirral UK in 2002. decided to use unpublished news as a single page on a website called Formby Online, run by Andy Johnson, over 1998 and 1999, after studying at Wolverhampton University.Published in the UK as the "UK's only web-based newspaper" in January 2005 in a hard copy magazine called Web Pages Made Easy. By 1999 the idea had grown into a multi-page system. In 1999 the site was moved onto his photographic business website, PCBT Photography.[http://www.pcbtphotography.co.uk PCBtphotography.co.uk] The interest shown during 1999 helped the idea develop quicker, but produced bandwidth restriction problems by the end of 1999. In 2000, the site was again moved to a new temporary host location, on a newly launched site called Southport.gb.com.[http://www.southport.gb.com/ Southport.gb.com] The increase of visitors in 2000 helped the Southport Reporter to become better established. In 2001 the section was moved again and became fully independent, hosted as SouthportReporter.com. As it was by then becoming established, it was also registered as a trademark.Published in UK as the "UK's only web-based newspaper" in January 2005 in a hard copy magazine called Web Pages Made Easy.

As the website became larger, it also began to be published under the names Mersey Reporter[http://www.rjmf.co.uk/index.cfm/page/RJMF-Press-Clippings/listid/30 RJMF.co.uk Rhys Jones Memorial Fund]

[http://www.europarl.org.uk/outreach/Page05Pic38-Manchester-Mar09-9.htm UK Office's 2007 MEP press briefing.] and Liverpool Reporter.[http://y2u.co.uk/liverpool_uk/liverpool_guide_facts.htm Y2u.co.uk][http://www.legaldownload.net/radiostation/partners/ct Legal Down Load] By April 2002 Southport Reporter was starting to become known as Southport & Mersey Reporter,[https://www.youtube.com/user/LiverpoolReporter Youtube.com] due to its coverage of news from all parts of Merseyside.[http://www.merseyworld.com/media/newspapers/ MerseyWorld.com]

By then they had started covering events as far away as Manchester, with the paper covering the Manchester Commonwealth Games, on a local and international level.[http://www.picsearch.es/imagenes/atletas%2c%20femeninas/deportes%20clasicos/gimnasia/nicola%20willis.html Imágenes de Nicola Willis] - Link from URL to report about Manchester Commonwealth Games By 2007 the paper was being used as a news resource for many international media groups, like HULIQ.[http://www.huliq.com/42234/housing-crisis-set-deepen-uk Huliq.com] - A report where Southport Reporter is quoted as source. Submitted by admin_huliq on Sat, 2007-11-17 22:33. In 2008 the paper ran a Limited Company,[http://www.merseyreporter.com/ Mersey Reporter] Home Page - section "Who are we...?" called PBT Media Relations Ltd.[http://wck2.companieshouse.gov.uk/550f0976297708a882d3adc50a2daccd/compdetails Companies House] Company UK. Also in 2008 the paper started to push for better rights for photographers in the UK.[http://www.huliq.com/64310/bfp-campaign-photographers Huliq.com], BFP Campaign For Photographers

After Liverpool's run as European Capital of Culture 2008, tourism was at an all-time high in the area, so by 2009, questions within the Merseyside's community were being asked about the city's next steps. As a result, it was not surprising that Southport & Mersey Reporter[http://www.britishscienceassociation.org/NR/rdonlyres/D69F1302-9CAA-46A1-854D-A3E5A4BCB8AD/0/FOS08_MediaEvaluation2008FINALX.pdf BA Festival of Science] - site show 08 link to the paper. would be consulted on the city's future development, resulting in them becoming a media partner of the "Beyond Capital of Culture: A New Dawn for Tourism in Liverpool" event.[https://www.eventsforce.net/waterfront/frontend/reg/thome.csp?pageID=23401&CSPCHDx=0000000000000&CSPIHN=108058-108058:443&CSPSCN=CSPSESSIONID&eventID=68&mode=preview&version=future&eventID=68 Events Force]

In October 2012, the online newspaper published a paperback[http://www.isbns.la/isbn/9780957421509 ISBNS.la] book under the publishing name VAMPhire.com.{{cite web |url=http://www.Vamphire.com/ |title=Home |website=Vamphire.com}} Beyond The Book was printed as part of an event called "ScareFEST 3 – Beyond The Book"{{ISBN|978-0-9574215-0-9}} - vamphire.com that took place in October 2016 in a town called Crosby in Merseyside (UK).[http://www.crosby.towntalk.co.uk/events/d/64444/scarefest-3-beyond-the-book/ Crosby Town Talk] The event showcased seven UK award-winning authors including those who were published in the book: Jon Mayhew, Tommy Donbavand, Barry Hutchison,[http://www.barryhutchison.co.uk/2012/10/scottish-friendly-childrens-book-tour/ Barry Hutchison's] website Philip Caveney, Joseph Delaney and David Gatward.[http://www.southportreporter.com/573/ Southport Reporter] The book was illustrated by Sean Steele.[http://myrubbishblog.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/six-days-till-scarefest.html Sean Steele]

In 2013 the group started backing the Liverpool JCI[https://jciliverpool.wordpress.com/author/jciliverpool/page/2/ JCI Liverpool] as part of their aim to use the online paper to help development and improve the area's image.

IN 2014 the group was still leading the way as they started to get involved with the UK's first fully independent press regulation known as IMPRESS - the Independent Press Regulator. Southport Reporter and its connected websites became one of the first members of the new Regulator in 2016. This was a major step, resulting in PR from the likes of The Financial Times,[http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/d9993b1a-c05d-11e5-9fdb-87b8d15baec2.html#axzz4EOtlLIu1 Financial Times] the UK's Press Gazette[http://www.pressgazette.co.uk/leaked-draft-savile-scandal-report-reveals-bbc-staff-are-still-afraid-speak-out-about-wrongdoing/ Press Gazette] and the UK's Guardian.{{cite web |title=Does press regulator Impress cut the mustard? The PRP wants to know |date=2016-02-05 |website=The Guardian |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221129173916/https://www.theguardian.com/media/greenslade/2016/feb/05/does-press-regulator-impress-cut-the-mustard-the-prp-wants-to-know |archive-date=2022-11-29 |url-status=live |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/greenslade/2016/feb/05/does-press-regulator-impress-cut-the-mustard-the-prp-wants-to-know}} This makes them fully regulated and lets them publish and display the 'IMPRESS Kitemark.'[http://pressrecognitionpanel.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/IMPRESS-Regulatory-Scheme-revised.pdf Press Recognition Panel (PRP)]

In 2015 the site started putting a small logo up on its websites with the words "VAMPHire.com." They have mentioned this project a few times, but mystery surrounds it. The group has been very quiet on the development. A few items have popped up in recent years, including on sites including Manchester Fashion Week,[http://www.mancunianmatters.co.uk/content/250575923-beige-and-black-no-more-give-manchester-fashion-week-time-rival-best-says Mancunian Matters] London Calling,[http://londoncalling.com/features/tarzan-2.0-andy-briggs-on-reviving-literatures-first-eco-warrior London Calling] North Devon Gazette[http://www.northdevongazette.co.uk/what-s-on/tarzan_author_swings_into_north_devon_1_1531287 North Devon Gazette] and Liverpool Express.[http://www.liverpoolexpress.co.uk/special-welcome-baa-ck-for-cruise-ships/discovery-at-cruise-terminal-free-if-credited-vamphire_com-or-uk-press-photography_com/ Liverpool Express] It has also been mentioned on websites like The North West Bus Blog,http://thenorthwestbusblog.co.uk/macauleypugh/optare-metrocity-byng-house-southport/ The North West Bus Blog Felicity Hat Hire,[http://www.felicity-southport.co.uk/shop/page.php?id=links Felicity Hat Hire] Google Chrome website[http://www.themebeta.com/chrome/theme/347355 Chrome Theme] and Vessel Finder.[https://www.vesselfinder.com/ship-photos/153988 Vessel Finder] However, as of yet, other than photos and the fact that they own or run VAMPhire.com,[https://ico.org.uk/ESDWebPages/Entry/ZA091469 UK Data Protection Register] the connection is still unclear. As they have a connection to book publishing via that name, this is worth keeping an eye on, as very little movement has taken place on some of the group's other websites. With all the developments on the Press Regulator side, some are asking what the next move will be for this group, who are also now going under the name PBT Media Relations Ltd.[https://ico.org.uk/ESDWebPages/Entry/ZA091469 UK Data Protection Register]

• Formby Golf Club
• Liverpool
• Merseyside
• Southport

{{Reflist}}

• [http://www.southportreporter.com/ Southport Reporter]
• [http://www.merseyreporter.com/ Mersey Reporter]
• [http://www.liverpoolreporter.com/ Liverpool Reporter]
• [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/merseyside/3754282.stm BBC news sources in the Merseyside area]
• [http://www.myspace.com/southportreporter Myspace - Southport Reporter]

Category:Weekly newspapers published in the United Kingdom

Category:Newspapers published in Merseyside

Category:Newspapers established in 2001

Category:European news websites