Big Lottery Boost for Travellers' Times

Travellers’ Times started life as a campaigning newsletter published by the Law Faculty of Cardiff University, and over 14 years Rural Media has transformed it via accessible graphic design and photo-based news and features, into a high quality, full colour printed magazine.  By 2010 23,000 copies of the 32 page colour quarterly were being distributed free of charge, but rising costs of print and distribution presented significant challenges to maintaining the publication over the long term.      

Meanwhile in 2009 TT Online was launched http://www.travellerstimes.org.uk/  and quickly became the ‘go to’ website not only for the Gypsy and Traveller community but for service providers and other stakeholders including the media.   In 2012 the website received over 360,000 visits and its linked social media channels (Facebook, Twitter etc.) began to grow very rapidly.

In 2010 Rural Media launched Travelling Voices with the aim of investing Gypsy and Traveller communities with the digital skills and experience in order for them to be even more effective in raising their voice, celebrating their culture, and challenging public and media prejudice and stereotypes.  Between 2010 and 2012 96 people from across England were trained in audio and video production, and learnt how to tell their stories and share them via the internet and local media outlets.    

Moving Forward:

Looking forward it is clear that the future for Travellers’ Times is digital.   

Over the last few months Rural Media has been consulting with Gypsy, Roma and Traveller organisations nationally as well as with service providers and funders.  In 2014 we will be re-launching the Travellers’ Times website as TT-TV.  At the heart of TT-TV will be a partnership approach and it will aim to carry and share more information about the work of Gypsy and Traveller organisations around the country, enabling stronger messages and campaigns to be heard, new projects and services to be developed, and providing regular news, and opportunities for Gypsy, Roma and Traveller families to participate.

We are mindful that not everyone has easy access to the internet and  many still enjoy receiving a print magazine, so we will be redesigning and making sure that two copies a year of Travellers’ Times are available free for anyone that would like a copy.  We will also be offering a new programme of short media courses across England, building the pool of digitally literate advocates who can develop their own communications campaigns.        

The TT-TV project will comprise:

·         Web Portal – Information provided by partners & other agencies will be edited & uploaded to TT-TV portal every week. New journalistic, photographic & video content, alerts, games, competitions, news, events, reviews, contacts etc. will inform and empower a significant & loyal GRT audience.

·         Education and Training Resources - Many excellent resources (audio, video, print, photographic) on GRT culture, history and contemporary issues already exist.  The TT-TV team will curate, add or create new resources, and make available to service providers using the latest presentation & distribution tools.   

·         Media Skills Training Programme - A new digital media course will be devised and delivered through minimum 24 workshops in partnership with local GRT agencies and support services. Media content produced in workshops will be published regularly on TT-TV.

·         Academy Programme – An academy programme will offer activities such as ‘handling the media’; getting your message heard’; and ‘start your own media project’.

·         Partnership Scheme - During the first year of operation a partnership scheme will be developed with national and regional GRT organisations.  Based upon a standard Memorandum of Understanding TT-TV will support and promote the work of its partners in return for provision of content for its print and online publications.  We expect new initiatives, campaigns and projects to develop from these partnerships from 2014 onwards.       

·         TT-TV in Print – TT-TV will continue to publish and distribute magazine style resources targeted at specific audiences such as education and justice sectors.

·         TT-TV e-Newsletter - a free monthly e-newsletter will be distributed to members.

·         Advisory Group – an online advisory group will be recruited comprising approx. 16 members.  The group will meet together at an annual event to celebrate achievements and forward plan.   

For further information please contact info@ruralmedia.co.uk or Julie Colman on 01432 344039