Work to move Rye News to a brand new website will mean a halt to publishing for a number of weeks after today, Friday 18 September.
Staffing changes are also taking place, with a new team of volunteers being recruited to put the paper together each week. During this time Rye News will still publish updates on social media, the what’s on diary will be kept up to date, and the weekly email will also continue to be sent out.
“Over 15,000 articles have been published since Rye News began in 2014,” said chair Peter Connock. “That’s an amazing archive of life in our town which we need to preserve, along with over 50,000 pictures. Getting that right is a huge job.”
“We’re also building a new team and putting in place several major changes to make Rye News sustainable in the long run,” he said. “When the paper restarts you’ll immediately notice a new look with a cutting-edge website that’s much easier to publish and contribute to. We will then slowly rebuild our coverage of the town’s news, but do make sure you’re registered with our email alert for updates. It’s an exciting new chapter for Rye News.”
The changes at the paper also include significant staffing changes. As we reported in July, editor James Stewart is stepping down after two and a half years leading the volunteers who contribute to the paper.
Deputy editor Juliet Duff and chief reporter Kt Bruce are also stepping down. “They’ve both made a huge contribution to Rye News,” said James. “Week in week out they’ve written and researched so many stories, covered events, and published the paper. They’re so passionate about making Rye News the best it can be. Thanks Juliet. Thanks Kt.”
“It has been a wonderful time working on the paper,” said Juliet. “It’s enabled me to meet so many interesting people and to experience the variety of wonderful things that Rye has to offer. I feel very proud to have been part of a great team who really care about Rye and about the paper, and to have helped to keep people informed about events in the news, the arts and the community. I am sure it will take me some time to stop looking out for possible stories, something that has become quite a habit over the last four and half years!”
“One of the great joys of writing for Rye News is how I have been given a reason to be curious,” said Kt. “I have photographed mayors and musicians, chefs and councillors, volunteers and performers, town criers and lifeboat crews. I have stood in churches, castles, pubs, kitchens, rehearsal rooms and on windswept quaysides. Wherever the story has taken me, I have discovered that the most interesting part is nearly always the people.”
She said she leaves the paper with an enormous collection of photographs, a head full of stories and some very happy memories after twelve years. “I have met people I might otherwise never have known and been invited into parts of Rye life I might never have seen. Thank you to everyone who has trusted me with their story, tolerated my camera, answered my questions and occasionally wondered, ‘What on earth is she going to ask me next?'”
Everyone involved in Rye News is a volunteer,” said James Stewart. “That’s almost unique in Sussex. Very few towns have something like Rye News to fill the gap left by the collapse of the local media industry. There’s no office and the whole team put the paper together using their own laptops and computers. I’d recommend getting involved as its a great way to meet new people and find out more about our amazing town.”
Over 30 people responded to a recent appeal for new volunteers. To find out more about the opportunities at Rye News email info@ryenews.org.uk.
You can read more about the changes here.
Follow Rye News on Facebook here and on Instagram here.
Rye News was first published in 2014 and has over 6000 readers a week. More than 3000 people receive our weekly email, with a similar number following on social media. The paper is entirely staffed by volunteers and funded through grants, advertising and donations.
Image Credits: Rye News , Natasha Robinson , Juliet Duff , Susan Benn .