Why the PINF team is already smitten with Belfast - four reasons to book your tickets now!
Belfast is growing on us. The PINF team has spent the last 24 hours in the capital, checking out the venue for our fifth annual Local News Forum (9th - 10th October). Alongside some planning and plotting for the event, we're using the trip get to know the city hosting us this October.
As newbies to the city, we spent our lunch break talking about the things we like most about Belfast so far. Call it a highly unscientific, totally biased travel guide. If you've been on the fence about whether to join us next month, this is why we think you should book your ticket now.
Joe is here for the good vibes, the good craic and the history waiting on every street corner. Getting the bus in from either of the two local airports is super easy and once you're here, you can walk through the dockyard where the Titanic was built, right through the original gantries. Nearby to our venue, the lanes are packed with little bars and cafes to sit and soak up the atmosphere of the city.
Jonathan has fallen for the MAC itself, our venue for the Forum this year is a brilliant arts centre in Belfast's Cathedral Quarter. The space we'll be in is light, airy, modern and crisp, so expect some great photos this year! There's plenty of room for breakout chats and work throughout a building that's buzzing with students and home to three art galleries, with views out to Black Mountain.
Louise loves the mix of old and new architecture across the city, from the murals marking the end of every street along the Falls and Shankill roads, the public art from the Salmon of Knowledge to The Calling, to one of the most beautiful stretches of coastline just outside the city, with the Giant's Causeway in easy striking distance.
Beckie was struck by how friendly the city feels, walking past a metal gig on the way to her hotel, gig-goers in Metallica t-shirts spilled out into the street with locals taking in the atmosphere from the surrounding pubs and restaurants. The MAC's downstairs café certainly doesn’t hurt, slinging banana bread, coffee and hot chilli chicken!
Now in its fifth year, the Local News Forum is the only gathering in the UK of local news providers and their champions. Previous participants have consistently rated the networking at the Forum very highly, as well as the excellent panels, speakers and the opportunity get best practice and inspiration for the future.
It's a critical time for local news, with the Competition and Markets Authority gearing up to regulate big tech companies next year, the government consulting on media prominence and public notices and the BBC Charter up for renewal next year. Now is the moment to get together and get organised ahead of these big moments.
The Local News Forum will take place from Friday 9th to Saturday 10th October at the MAC, Belfast. Get your tickets here.
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