Pudsey Bear and the Peculiarities of Local News

There is no doubt that the way we consume news has transformed the media landscape, even at a local level.

Improvements in access to news and journalism mean that even the more obscure stories, often overlooked when browsing through the print version of a favoured publication, can achieve a high-ranking status owing to their popularity online.

As web news channels rank their stories in terms of most read and popularity, nuggets of news gold are unearthed as they rise to prominence.

As Bournemouth's Daily Echo launches an internet research project to gauge how users view content online, the peculiar story of how a famous fundraising mascot 'nearly caused a riot' at a local school finds itself top of the charts as residents revel in its newsworthy peculiarity.

Cue my own surprise whilst reading the headline 'Children in Need fundraiser cancelled after Pudsey sparks near riot' as I trawled through the daily digest sent to my email inbox.

Pudsey Bear, the furry face of the Children in Need telethon was due to appear at Ashdown Technology College, Canford Heath however his suprise appearance resulted in hundereds of children stampeding to greet his arrival and that of a local TV crew by helicopter on the school field.

As a result, the decision was taken to halt proceedings and a planned non-uniform day was scrapped as punishment and rescheduled.

Despite the relatively comical nature of the piece, it is perhaps a sad indictment that the paper's headline story, 'Help David, 5, make the most of his last weeks of life' was relegated to the number five slot on the most-read list.

Contrast this with High Wycombe's Bucks Free Press and it's stories of the day, the most obscure relating to the planned entrace by Father Christmas by air ambulance having to be toned down to the slightly less glamorous arrival by fire engine after an emergency call-out for the Thames Valley and Chiltern helicopter. Presumably, his reindeer were unavailable.

This gem has only managed to rank number eight in the most-read standings as the more sobering 'Fire at student halls' and 'Linford Christie unable to attend Wycombe court appearance' hold sway. Viva the (social media) revolution.