A MORAY VILLAGE newspaper has been safeguarded for the future after netting a £4400 lottery Awards for All grant.
The Portgordon Post involves members of the community of all ages to take part in producing the local paper – now they will be able to greatly enhance their production with new IT equipment to be installed at their Lampie Hoose HQ.
The Lottery grant was awarded to the scheme the Post team called “The Next Generation” – because the main thrust of the plan will be to ensure the village newspaper survives and be-comes stronger with the help of local young people.
Among numerous items on the Post’s shopping list are two desktop computers with 24-inch monitors, a printer/scanner, a laptop computer for use by a reporter and a professional-quality digital camera and lenses.
Also included will be the full Microsoft Office package, the industry-standard professional desktop publishing software, and software for picture handling.
Present editor of the Post is Mike George, a retired magazine and newspaper writer and editor with more than 50 years’ experience.
He said: “I really am delighted that the Portgordon Post’s committee has been successful in its quest for a Lottery Awards for All grant.
“The equipment we can buy will enable me to pass on to volunteers some of the skills I have learned during my working career.
“It would be great if we could help launch a youngster’s career in the media by giving him or her pre-university hands-on experience, here in the village, as a volunteer journalist or photographer.
“We could also give more mature people experience in writing, page design and photography.”
The computers acquired by the Post will also be made available to the computer class which meets weekly in the Lampie Hoose and, when it is not required by the Portgordon Post management team, to any other legitimate village group with an IT requirement.
Mike added “There will be a few simple rules to safeguard the equipment against misuse or accidental damage, but we really do want to share our good fortune with the whole village.”