Network Norfolk celebrates fifth anniversary
The
Network Norwich & Norfolk website is celebrating the fifth anniversary of its launch back in the autumn of 2005.
Since its launch, the website has become the online location to find out all about the latest news, events and features concerning the Christian community across Norwich and Norfolk.
It now welcomes over 7,000 different visitors every month and has a weekly e-news bulletin which goes to around 2,200 people.
The site was launched by editor Keith Morris (above) as Network Norwich, backed first by Transforming Norwich and then quickly by a whole host of Christian projects, organizations and churches from across greater Norwich.
Within its first year, in June 2006, Network Norwich won a prestigious award when it was named as the
Best Regional Religious Website in the whole country at the
Andrew Cross Awards run by the
Churches Media Council.
Recognising the links between Norwich and Norfolk, and because of increasing demand, in January 2008 the site was relaunched as
Network Norwich & Norfolk extending coverage more fully out into the county as well as greater Norwich. Editor
Helen Baldry (right) joined the team to help make this expansion possible.
In December 2009, Network Norwich & Norfolk was declared a website of significance and relevance and of long-term research value by the
British Library and is now included it its major
UK Web Archive project.
Launch editor, Keith Morris, said: “Accolades are great, but what is of real value to us are our regular contributors, advertisers and readers who, through a common purpose, come together in our virtual meeting place to exchange news, ideas, opinions and encouragement. The fact that more and more individuals and Christian groups are doing this all the time shows the real success of the website.
“Because of the way the internet works, the website positively portrays the Christian message and the work of the Christian community much further than just its own readership. Stories from the site often end up in local newspapers, radio stations and even TV news bulletins and, of course, are spread by word of mouth.