When I first decided that I wanted to launch a Coventry-based new media project I toyed with the idea of an internet-based TV station. Kent has it’s own, for example, so why can’t Coventry?

Furthermore, even as a kid I was often annoyed at BBC Midlands Today and Central News for focussing more on the areas to the west of Coventry (namely Birmingham, Wolverhampton and the Black Country) than the city I came from. I remember it actually being quite exciting to see Coventry mentioned on the news - it seemed that rare.

In recent years I have grown tired of the media market in Coventry. Numerous efforts have been made to challenge the dominance of the Trinity Mirror Regional Newspaper Group’s grasp on the area through their Coventry Telegraph newspaper. The Observer is the only one that can be seen as anywhere near an alternative to the Coventry Telegraph, but even they still have a mountain to climb.

The fundamental problem is that nearly all of Coventry’s local media is all part of a global-level enterprise. The BBC and ITV are both cutting back spending on regional operations. Trinity Mirror care only about profits - they’re not expected to make any improvements in advertising revenues despite investment in their websites recently. With the economy working against everybody at the moment do you really think they’ll put news before money?

Coventry is a very proud city, often punching above its weight, yet failing to get the recognition it deserves. I believe that the time has come for some home-grown media talent to take things forward and put Coventry on the media map.

Despite toying with the idea of a fully-blown internet-based TV operation in the early days I drifted towards a “Cov Watch” concept, which was a more simple offering of blogs and written content, but it’s become clearer over time that this concept is just not going to have the impact that is needed here. This project has to inspire, enthuse and ultimately attract an audience of local people. We can do that with video more than we can with text right now.

So, it’s time to change course - a u-turn some might say - and get going with the project. Godiva1 TV is soon-to-be born.

Preparations continue to launch Coventry’s TV station over the web. We’ve got a mountain to climb, but Coventrians are famous for great achievements and we hope that Project: “CovWatch” will be just that. There’s a launch party in the pipeline, but first we want to have an informal meeting of everybody that’s interested in the project to meet each other, share ideas and come up with a strategy.

We’re also preparing information for potential investors - both generous rich businessmen and Coventry’s ordinary hard-working people. Everybody should be able to own a piece of this great venture.

Finally, we’re delighted to announce that Project: “CovWatch” is going to have a new permanent name in the coming weeks. We’re keeping it slightly wrapped up for now, but we think it’s got great potential and a good ring to it. Have a guess in the comments section what you think it might be. Prize for the closest guess…

Actually, if you’re good at digging around you’ll find it easily enough.

Whittle IR

Originally uploaded by Homer Simpsons Donut

I found this photo on Flickr of the now almost infamous Whittle Arches. It has had much praise by the Flickr community and I think it captures this iconic piece of architecture in a very magical way. It has a science fiction feel, yet also a strong “industrial” sense to it.

Hello Coventry!!! My name is Sarah and I will attempt to entertain and inspire you with my culinary triumphs and mishaps and also try to point you in the direction of or steer you away from the various
eateries of Coventry and the surrounding area.

Having left the leafy parts of Northern Ireland eight years ago I found myself in Coventry trying to drink my own weight in alcohol at University (Disclaimer: I studied very hard and do actually know what
I am doing in my Job ).

I am currently working as a Physiotherapist for the NHS. When I’m not persuading old ladies to get on their feet I try and do as much cooking, and eating as possible. I have had a passion for cooking from
an early age which mainly stemmed from my parents’ interest and their encouragement with my various attempts at throwing interesting concoctions together. I also have to give credit to Delia Smith, or ‘The Smithster’ as I like to call her, for giving me inspiration in my formative years.

I am really passionate about good, honest food and it is very important to me that I buy free range wherever possible, so I hope to try and covert some people to do the same. For all you Culinary-Phobics out there, I hope to show you that cooking isn’t all that scary and really can be enjoyable when you create something delicious that people enjoy.

For other recipes and ideas, check out my blog at http://www.stuffyerbake.co.uk

Hope you will join me soon.

• John Corbett Arnott aged 15.
• Elsie Ansell aged 21.
• Rex Gentle aged 33.
• Gwilym Rowlands aged 50.
• James Clay aged 81.

Unless you have a reasonably good knowledge of local history these names will probably not be familiar to you. They are the forgotten victims of the worst terrorist attack Coventry has ever suffered. On 25th August 1939 all five had the misfortune to be in Broadgate. It was a busy Friday lunchtime. Elsie Ansell, a shop assistant in nearby Cross Cheaping, was on her lunch break. She was engaged to be married a fortnight later. Gwilym Roberts, known as Bill, was a road sweeper. Around 2:30 pm they and the others were in the vicinity of Astley’s shop when the normal hustle and bustle of the city centre was shattered by an I.R.A. bomb.

Elsie died instantly. Her face was blown away and her body terribly mutilated. She could only be identified by her engagement ring and clothing. In addition to the dead some 50 others were injured including 12 seriously. Extensive damage was caused to 43 business premises in Broadgate and nearby streets. Astley’s and its adjacent shops – Burton and Manfields – were hit badly as was Sketchley’s directly across the road. Alexander Ballinger was the manager of Astley’s at the time. When the bomb went off he was standing a couple of yards behind the front window. The whole frontage of the shop was blown inside and he was blown off his feet suffering several cuts to his knee, right hand, nose and head. He was clearly lucky to survive.

Ironically, in the city that is regarded as its British birthplace, a bicycle played an instrumental part in the mass murder and carnage that shocked the nation. On Tuesday 22nd August 1939 two men visited the shop of the Halford Cycle Company in Smithford Street where one of them purchased a Halford ‘Karriwell’ - a tradesman type cycle built for Halford by the Birmingham Bicycle Company. It had a carrier basket to the front of the handlebars. The buyer gave a false name and address and paid £5 – pledging to pay the remaining 19s 6d on collection which would be either Friday or Saturday.

On the morning of Thursday 24th August 1939 an unknown I.R.A. man began constructing the bomb at 25 Clara Street, Stoke, Coventry. This was a ‘safe-house’ for the terrorists where a member of the I.R.A. unit active in the city lodged. In the evening another I.R.A. man came up by train from London bringing with him the explosive for the bomb. He left later in the evening and returned to London.

The unknown bomb maker completed his task the following morning. It was a 5lb device with an alarm clock used as the timer. The bicycle was collected from Halford’s and left in the back lane at the rear of the house around 1:10 pm. By this stage the bomb had been parcelled up. The bomb maker placed it in the carrier and began his journey into town. Sometime between 1:30 and 1:45 pm the bicycle with its deadly cargo was left standing against the kerb outside Astley’s shop where it was to shortly explode with such devastating consequences.

Five people went on trial for the outrage. It was acknowledged that they had not made or planted the bomb but as they had played an active part in a conspiracy that could clearly endanger life it was a murder charge they faced and consequently the hangman’s noose if found guilty. Two were convicted and three acquitted. After an appeal against their sentence was dismissed the guilty pair were executed at Winson Green Prison on 7th February 1940. They are regarded as ‘martyrs’ by the Irish republican movement and remembered to this day. Their victims on the other hand – ordinary decent folk going about their everyday business – are seemingly forgotten.

Thanks to the Luftwaffe and various town planners, Broadgate has changed almost beyond recognition from that fateful day. I believe the present day location of the explosion is on the road at the entrance to the upper precinct, roughly in line with and not too far away from the Lady Godiva statue. To my knowledge no public memorial exists to their memory so next time you cross the road going to or from Cathedral Lanes spare a thought for John, Elsie, Gwilym, Rex and James.

The reaction to the soft beta launch has been fantastic, considering there’s been no formal advertising and no press coverage. Clearly there is a demand for the kind of things CovWatch is going to do.

We have received emails from a wide range of people offering contributions, introductions, ideas and feedback. Every one has been read, replied to and approached about a party we’re looking to have in a few weeks time to bring us all together in an informal way to chat and share ideas. We’ve identified a great venue that will surprise many, but is a perfect example of CovWatch’s ambitions.

Look and Feel

One thing that has come in for a bit of stick is the look of the website. It’s true that it just looks too much like a blog and it’s already becomming a challenge to accomodate contributions in a way that doesn’t look messy. Well, we have listened and have found a new template. It’s a smasher and you’ll surely be very impressed.

House Photographer Appointed

We are delighted to announce that Carly Harris has joined the CovWatch team as our in-house photographer. She is new to the professional trade, but we are delighted with her work.

CovWatch aims to support people entering new fields and establishing businesses, particularly if they are Coventry-based.

Look out for Carly’s work throughout the website in coming days and weeks. We have some pictures of the new Xcel Centre in Canley that we hope to post over the next few days*

Special Article: Coventry IRA Bombing - Coming Soon

Simon Shaw has emailed an article about the Coventry IRA bombing, which makes for fascinating reading. We hope to bring you the full article over the weekends.

Get Involved

It’s never too late to join the team. At the moment we’re especially looking for weekly columnists for the blog. If you have an area that you would like to write about please contact Mike Rouse, Editor, on mike.rouse@covwatch.com. It could be anything from a clubbing column on a Friday night to a theater column on Thursdays. If you’re passionate about it and it’s Coventry-based then we want to hear from you!

Read the rest of this entry »

I’m throwing the virtual doors open to the public today prior to the offical beta launch on Monday to test out the software, hosting and other features of this website.

News, Current Affairs and Politics

With good contacts starting to be established it is looking likely that the news, current affairs and politics material of CovWatch is going to be the strongest area of production. There are a number of organisations and notable individuals that are interested in the project, particularly our desire to bring a greater spotlight to the charities and other organisations in Coventry that are making our city better every day.

Local History

Being one of the oldest cities in the United Kingdom Coventry has a vibrant and deeply interesting past. There’s been sterling work done by many people over the years and I want to provide a place to put some of their work into online video and give it greater prominence through the modern media and hopeful exposure that this site will get.

Music and Bar Scene

Coventry’s got some great venues, but constantly suffers from a bad reputation and low self-esteem. I have spoken with a number of people and am very hopeful that CovWatch is going to have a strong musical element to it.

Food & Restaurants

There’s more to Coventry’s food scene than a trip out to the local branded burger takeaway shop. I am looking for critics and other foodies to contribute to a regular show that highlights the best of Coventry’s culinary skills.

Film-making, Documentaries and Dramas

I can now reveal that I am talking to a number of creative talents about bringing a web-based TV drama to CovWatch. Watch this space for news on that very soon.

What is lacking, however, is a source of keen documentary makers and people interested in making a Coventry-produced film. If you’re interested in using the CovWatch platform to publicise your existing works or would like to work with us on an original production please drop me a line on the details below.

Getting Involved

This project needs regular contributors to the blog and all the areas covered above. We also need media people to help with the practical production. If you would like to get involved please contact me via:

• Email: mike.rouse@covwatch.com
• Mobile: 07522 867 419
• Skype: mike.rouse
• Windows Live Messenger: mikerouse@hotmail.co.uk

Investors & Advertisements

Get in touch via the above details if you would like to talk about formal investment opportunities in this exciting local project that is going to help put Coventry and the people that make it wonderful on the map.

If you are a local business please contact me for the advertising rate card. At the moment there is only website advertising spaces available, but there will be a rate card for video advertising

Technical Notes

I did initally hope to develop this site in Ruby on Rails, but my skills in this area need some work before I’m ready to publish a full-scale website. So, it’s a self-hosted WordPress installation now. The other point is that the website only needs to be fairly simple as the main focus is going to be on digital video production and distribution.

I’ve decided to kill the separate DevLog and just post updates here from now on. Originally, I was going to base the CovWatch home page on something other than WordPress, but I have since changed my mind.

The core thing that CovWatch is going to do is set up a video service to show off our city and dig out the creative, technical and other talents that are knocking around. We do have some great people in this city that need a better platform than the current assortment of websites and traditional media can offer. We have an opportunity to build a website from the ground up that will rise to the challenge.

So, in looking at how I go about setting up Coventry’s first internet-based TV station and associated website I have been  looking at Mogulus for the live streaming part and just embedding their Flash player in a page on this website. That means that all this website then has to do is provide content for those not able to catch us on the live player. Things like:

• Reviews of bands, performances, films
• Gossip and news
• Politics and city development
• Innovations
• People and places
• History

All of the needs of that content is met by a simple WordPress installation. By using such a simple platform we can focus on the content rather than maintaining the technical plumbing behind it.

Now, all I need is some dedicated people to join me on the journey. If you’re willing to put some time in to making this new venture work then drop me a line - mike.rouse@covwatch.com

Welcome to CovWatch, a positive media project for Coventry and her surrounding areas. We exist because:

• We’re fed up of people slagging Coventry off for being rough and run-down
• We want to show off the great work that organisations in Coventry are doing
• We want to showcase the best of Coventry’s talented creative people
• We want to discover and work with business talents in the city so we can show the world what Coventry is doing since the collapse of the motor industry in the city
• We want to provide Coventrians the chance to express themselves on the issues that affect our city, our country and our world using video and audio.

Join us and show off what Coventry’s made of and watch our city’s reputation grow!