#SoLoMoDEN Social, Local and Mobile Innovation & MADE project launch on the agenda for next DEN meetup on 23 Feb in Media City, Manchester

Innovations in Social, Local and Mobile news top the agenda for the next Digital Editors Network meeting from 1-5:30pm on Thursday, 23 February2012, at Media City UK in Manchester, followed by a networking reception and launch of the MADE project, the UK winner of the International Press Institute's inaugural News Innovation Contest sponsored by Google.

Leading the discussions on Social, Local and Mobile Innovations are:

• Greg Hadfield (@greghadfield) on how the rise of open-data cities is giving local media a chance to re-invent themselves – and why it could be their last lifeline. Greg, a former Fleet Street journalist and internet entrepreneur, is director of strategic projects with Cogapp, an award-winning digital agency in Brighton and Hove.
• Paul Bradshaw (@paulbradshaw) on opportunities for news enterprises to co-create content through new HelpMeInvestigate initiatives. Paul is author of the Online Journalism Handbook, founder of the Online Journalism Blog, HelpMeInvestigate and Hacks & Hackers Birmingham.
• Sarah Hartley (@foodiesarah) on how news innovators can use the Guardian Media Group’s nOtice.com platform for local content, communities and commerce. Sarah is Managing Director of TalkAboutLocal and Community Strategist for GMG.
• François Nel (@francoisnel) on the how local newspapers are doing on the 4Cs of mobile news - content, channels, content and commerce – and why they’re in danger of making some grave errors. François is digital media business researcher and director of the Journalism Leaders Programme at UCLan.

François also recently became the only UK winner of the inaugural International Press Institute’s News Innovation Contest funded by a grant from Google. During the networking reception that will follow the DEN meeting at 5:30, François will briefly explain the Media And Digital Enterprise (MADE) project which aims to equip digital innovators with the cutting-edge knowledge and skills required to start up and sustain innovative new journalistic enterprises in the public interest. The MADE project hopes to support individuals, groups and organisations in- and outside of the mainstream media (To stay in the MADE project loop, see http://bit.ly/thXQiy ) .

The discussion will be chaired by Nick Turner (@nickincumbria), Head of Digital Content for the CN Group and a co-founder of DEN.

You can register for one of the 50 spaces at the next #SoLoMoDEN or to only join for MADE project launch here.

Since 2007, the Digital Editors Network has worked to link media innovators, whether they work inside, outside or alongside mainstream media organisations. You can connect with DEN by liking our Facebook page , joining our Linkedin group, or following us on Twitter @DENupdates or this blog. DEN is supported by the School of Journalism, Media & Communication at the University of Central Lancashire in Preston, UK, home to the UK's oldest journalism programme.

 If you'd like to contribute ideas, speak, host or sponsor a future DEN meetup, don't hesitate to contact the convenors Nick Turner nick.turner @cumbrian-newspapers. co.uk or François Nel FPNel @uclan . ac . uk