links for 2010-02-18

Hyperlocal news is set to be a huge growth area this year and AOL is gearing up to be a major player in this new market.

Meanwhile, in the UK The Guardian launched its first hyperlocal site today. As major media companies colonize this space, do small independent publishers have a chance of competing?

Its designated blogger is John Baron (@johncbaron). Introducing the site today, Baron provides a run-down of local Leeds activity and its first guest blogger – Leeds Student editor Virginia Newman, “who’s writing her take on the planned strikes by Leeds University staff”.

The Guardian today launches its new Guardian Local collaborative community journalism initiative in Leeds with beatblogger John Baron.
Top story is about a pot holed scarred road which may be the worst in Leeds.

Interesting: Guardian local blog site for Leeds, with integrated MySociety and Openly Local functionality, plus Google Maps, local Delicious links and a Leeds-filtered panel for the Guardian's dating site.