BBC reveals deal with local newspaper on York Council reporting

The BBC has today announced the winners of the contracts to employ up to 150 local reporters to cover councils and public meetings across the UK.

The lion’s share of the contracts have gone to the ‘big three’ regional press groups – Trinity Mirror, Johnston Press and Newsquest.

They and other successful bidders will be responsible for recruiting and employing the new reporters, but their stories will be used by the BBC and up to 700 other media outlets across the country.

The BBC, which is funding the scheme, has now provided a full breakdown of which newspaper titles will be responsible for covering each top-tier local authority.

The contract to cover the York Council (together with Darlington and North Yorkshire) has gone to the Northern Echo (part of the Newsquest group, which also runs The Press).

It is unclear what effect this change will have on the quality and breadth of coverage of local affairs in York.

York’s newly restored Mansion House attracts 1000 visitors

Visitors have flocked to see inside York’s newly restored Mansion House after it opened its doors for the first time last weekend [2-3 December].

Over 1,000 people visited the house following a £2.6m restoration project to make the history of the Mansion House even more accessible to York residents and visitors.

The house will now be open every day [except Mondays and Tuesdays] until Saturday 23 December, giving people more opportunities to see the house fully dressed for Christmas, complete with decorative garlands and a 10ft Christmas tree.

Councillor Keith Orrell, Interim Executive Member for Economic Development and Community Engagement, City of York Council, said: “York Mansion House really comes into its own at this time of year and the house looks really beautiful dressed for Christmas. I hope that local residents will take the opportunity to see for themselves the marvellous retoration work – the biggest since the house was finished in 1732 – and find out more about the unique history of York’s Mansion House than ever before.”

The resoration includes a new-look exterior, with a brick-coloured facade and a polychrome crest – a colour scheme voted for by York residents in 2016 – and thought to be similar to how the Manison House would have looked in the 1890s. (more…)

Panto stars heading for Front Street on 23rd December

What’s on in York – Handel’s Messiah in the beautiful setting of York Minster’s Nave.

Experience the story of Christ through this celebrated and popular oratorio, performed by the York Minster Choir.

9th Dec 2017

19.00

BOOK TICKETS

The York Minster Choir will be joined by internationally renowned soloists this Christmas for a special performance of Handel’s Messiah in the beautiful setting of York Minster’s Nave.

The famous work was first performed in Dublin in 1742 and has since become one of the best-known and most popular English oratorios.

What better way to celebrate Christmas than to experience the story of Christ through this moving and poignant choral performance?

Tickets are priced at £25, £18 and £12 and are available from the York Theatre Royal Box Office, by telephoning 01904 623568 or in person at the theatre in St Leonard’s Place, YO1 7HD.