Spotlight on Middlesbrough from BBC News with We Are Middlesbrough

Following the success of We are Bradford, BBC News is to do something similar in Middlesbrough.

We Are Middlesbrough will run from Monday 20 May in the week leading up to Radio 1’s Big Weekend, which is being held in the town’s Stewart Park on 25 and 26 May.

Local people will be able to get involved in the editorial process via a special page, letting the BBC which know stories they would like to be reported on. They will then be able to see to see those stories told on digital, radio and TV platforms.

Radio involved in We Are Middlesbrough includes BBC Tees, Radio 4’s Today programme, BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC Radio 1 Newsbeat.

Richard Burgess, UK News Editor, BBC News says: “After the success of our We Are Bradford week, when we received more than 800 stories directly from the audience, I am delighted BBC News is joining forces with our colleagues in BBC England and Radio 1 to bring this exciting project to Middlesbrough ahead of the Big Weekend. Once again, we’ll be aiming to get the people of Middlesbrough to tell us their stories in their own words – and showcasing those stories across all our output.”

During the week of We Are Middlesbrough there will be a pop-up newsroom and an exhibition in the Cleveland Shopping Centre, which will be open from 11am to 6pm every day.

People will have the chance to get hands on with future technology and have a go at CBeebies’ games and challenges. There will also be photo opportunities and the chance to meet various BBC presenters.

Dan Thorpe, Managing Editor, BBC Tees, says: “BBC Tees is based in Middlesbrough and serves the area every day. Our strapline is ‘proud of where we live’, so we are looking forward to being joined by lots of network outlets to tell the stories which are important to people here.”