The Slice, a biannual print publication, launching in November 2021, will deliver news and culture from across the borough to its 340,000 residents, say the publishers.
The title will be distributed borough-wide, incorporating Social Streets’ existing digital neighbourhood publications in Tower Hamlets, Roman Road LDN, Bethnal Green LDN, Whitechapel LDN and Poplar LDN.
Social Streets C.I.C, a community interest company seeking to increase participation in the local community, has been growing digital titles and communities since 2018, using journalism to promote citizenship, community development, and the local economy.
The editorial content is aimed to appeal to the wide range of ages, backgrounds, cultures, and interests in the borough, including the high proportion of ethnically diverse families.
In line with the social enterprise's goal to boost local economic growth, the magazine is also aimed at reaching the new residents of Tower Hamlets, young professionals aged between 25-40 that have disposable income to spend on leisure activities.
The content is centred around heritage, history and culture and features thoughtful and sensitive articles, telling the untold stories from within the Tower Hamlets community.
The borough model allows the content to address community stakeholders, policies and initiatives that unite all those living within the borough. This better reflects the lived experiences that are unique to living in each borough, increasing the sense of identity and belonging, says Social Streets.
Designed by Katie Wilde and Jessica Lockett, designer and art director respectively at Cosmopolitan magazine, the magazine has been crafted to be playful and accessible with prominent designs for pull quotes, boxed information and stand first. The front cover features full-page photography, reflecting the magazine’s intention to inspire people about their neighbourhood.
Tabitha Stapely, Founder of Social Streets said: “We believe local journalism can strengthen communities by informing, connecting and uniting people. Tower Hamlets, and East London more widely, has been subject to a huge change over a short space of time and this can create divides. One of the aims of journalism is to bring the far away or distant nearer so that it impresses upon our sympathy and moral concerns. We believe it is important that we tell the stories of the communities within our neighbourhoods. No other publications are doing this to the extent that we are.
“Over the past few years, we have been testing content and tirelessly growing a network of local people on all digital platforms. Now is the time we can confidently launch a print title that we know will be read from cover to cover.”
The Slice is a free-to-read magazine, with 10,000 copies distributed throughout 100 venues, cafes, and community hubs, say the publishers.
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