At East Side Story, we’re here to amplify the heart of East Leeds – its people. We shine a light on community champions, grassroots groups, and everyday neighbours doing extraordinary things.
We celebrate the voices often left out – ordinary, working-class people from diverse backgrounds – sharing both their triumphs and their truths. East Side Story belongs to you – the community. Your stories matter. Let’s keep telling the ones that build us up.
We’re not just a publication, we’re a movement. A space where local people become storytellers, where marginalised voices shape the narrative, and where every article becomes an act of empowerment. Our journalism goes beyond headlines, it nurtures hope, sparks solidarity, and pushes for change.
Because we're rooted in East Leeds and shaped by its people, we share the voices and experiences that truly reflect the spirit, struggles and strength of our community, narratives that get to the heart of who we are and what we stand for.
So far, we’ve shone a light on the untold stories that shape our communities — from the powerful moments of unity following the Harehills disorder, to East Leeds organisations quietly transforming lives. We’ve uncovered pioneering medical breakthroughs happening right on our doorstep, exposed the real impact of planning applications, and spotlighted local housing activists fighting for dignity and fairness.
East Side Story is not just a newspaper. It’s a platform, a movement, a mirror held up to a vibrant and diverse part of Leeds that’s too often overlooked. We exist because our community matters. And because every resident — regardless of background — deserves to see themselves reflected in the media that shapes our collective understanding.
Meet the team
East Side Story is run by a group of dedicated volunteers, and team members who all live and breathe East Leeds.
Alongside our dedicated volunteers and core team, East Side Story is guided by an inspiring advisory panel — a group of changemakers whose insight, experience, and deep roots in the community have been instrumental in bringing this vision to life.
(Pictured Editor Janine Griffiths left with Natalie Tharraleos, a trustee)
Each member has played a vital role in shaping East Side Story from the ground up — not just supporting our growth, but helping lay the very foundations of what we stand for today. Their leadership and lived commitment to justice, inclusion, and storytelling power this platform — and their impact is written into every page we publish.
I’m Janine Griffiths, a journalist that has previously worked with the BBC, Yorkshire Evening Post, and Shropshire Star. But my heart has always been here – in East Leeds, in the community. I launched East Side Story because I believe journalism shouldn’t just speak about communities – it should speak with them, for them, and most of all, by them.
Journalism that changes lives
Our passion isn’t just about telling stories, it’s about building power. That’s why East Side Story goes beyond reporting: we run free, hands-on community journalism workshops designed to give local people - especially those from underrepresented backgrounds - the skills and confidence to make their voices heard.
These workshops do more than teach writing. They build confidence and connection. They spark critical thinking. They give a voice to those too often spoken about rather than with.
Participants have gone on to publish their own pieces, challenge injustices in their community, and even support others to speak up. In a world where many feel voiceless, East Side Story is helping people become heard.
Let’s do this together
But producing an independent community paper takes more than passion. It takes resources.
We’re currently raising funds to support our core operations:
Day-to-day running costs that keep our publication active, ethical, and community-led. E-newsletters that connect our readers directly to stories that matter — local updates, grassroots initiatives, and cultural celebrations. A printed edition, which ensures accessibility for all members of our community — including older residents, people without regular internet access, and those for whom digital platforms remain a barrier. Our journalism workshops, which we run free of charge so that everyone, regardless of income or education, can take part.Every pound we raise goes right back into the community - creating opportunities, building connections, and changing the way media serves the people.
East Side Story is more than news - it’s a catalyst.
It fosters pride and unity. It builds bridges across differences. It sparks ambition in young people and brings visibility to those who’ve been historically ignored. We’ve seen how one story, well-told, can unlock a whole new sense of belonging.
This is the power of community media done right.
And together, we can make sure it continues and grows.