Supporting Southport's recovery after tragedy, with Andrew Brown of Stand Up For Southport

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On 29 July 2024, the seaside town of Southport in northwest England – known for its friendly atmosphere and beautiful pier where families create cherished memories – was suddenly thrust into international headlines. A horrific attack at a local dance hall left three young girls dead and multiple others injured, shattering the community's sense of safety and identity overnight.

As the tragedy reverberated across the UK and beyond, misinformation rapidly spread claiming the attacker was an asylum seeker – false information that sparked anti-immigration riots across the country.

Our guest in this week's podcast provides a uniquely valuable perspective to this conversation. Andrew Brown was born and raised in Southport, and has 25 years of local reporting experience working with independent titles and Reach plc. Now leading the community news project Stand Up For Southport, he has experienced this tragedy both as a professional journalist and as a member of the grieving community.

We discuss what impact a tragedy like this has on a local community, and what people truly need from their news providers – both in the immediate aftermath and in the months that follow as healing begins.

The answer, you might be pleased to know, is not all doom and gloom. Southport has responded with remarkable resilience and kindness, demonstrating how a community can begin to reclaim its identity after unimaginable pain.

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