Over the next few weeks we’re marking ten years of Rye News. Our lead article this week looks back at how the paper began, and has been written by one of the Rye News founders – Dennis Leeds-George.
Dennis is still heavily involved in the paper, one of a handful of volunteers who’ve been with us from day one. You’ll be hearing from more of them, and another founder and former chairman Kenneth Bird, in the coming weeks.
It’s probably more accurate to say we’re marking the end of our tenth year as the first edition was published in 2014. However, it was this week exactly ten years ago that Rye News officially registered as a Community Interest Company.
As you’ll see in another article soon, our first edition contained fears about flooding, planning rows and potholes – plus loads of stories about what was happening in Rye in 2014 and features on some of the people who still live and work here.
Some things never change.
Nor does the fact everyone who works on Rye News is a volunteer. Everything you read has been written and produced from kitchen tables and back bedrooms all over Rye. That’s something pretty unique, there aren’t many places in England with something like Rye News.
The original Rye News team were incredibly forward thinking in 2014. They saw how the local media landscape was changing and how local papers and local radio were increasingly ignoring Rye. Something that’s only got worse over the past decade. They also foresaw the rise of social media – wanting Rye News to be a trusted voice in the town and the place where readers can find out about the stuff that matters to people in Rye, Camber, Winchelsea, Iden, Peasmarsh and Pett (and a bit beyond too…).
That absolutely continues in 2025.
It’s not just for locals though, just under twenty thousand people read Rye News each month with many using the paper to keep in touch with Rye from around the corner and around the world.
Our ambition for 2025 is to be the “best local paper in England.” We’ve big plans – a new look, more advertising opportunities, campaigns that make an impact – and more stories telling you things you didn’t know about people in Rye.
So here’s to 2025 – and forgive us for a bit of self introspection and navel gazing over the next few weeks – but we’re really proud to put together Rye News each week for our thousands of readers.
If you would like to join the team there’s always an open invite to anybody who lives here. We’re on the look out for writers and contributors, fact checkers and photographers, sub-editors and salesmen and women. Do get in touch. Our email is info@ryenews.org.uk
Image Credits: KT Bruce , Natasha Robinson .