About Hamilton Reporter

The Hamilton Reporter's mission is simple: to enable you to report real information in real time to people who care about community. We believe that by sharing information in the digital world, change is possible in the real one.

Our cities are now so big and our lives so busy that we can't keep track of everything that's happening where we live. Village elders (and busybodies) used to hold community information, know who was who, what was what, how many accidents had happened in the main street and what was going on in town.

Today we have more freedom but while a few of us know our neighbours and fewer still know what is happening in the larger communities beyond our doors. Our information is filtered. In the silence, we lose our connections with the community and we lose control of what's happening around us.

We think it's time to use technology to bring some of the attributes of the village. To start sharing information again, rather than sitting in silence waiting for others to act. If we share information, both the good and the bad, we can make better decisions, be more involved and be a part of the change we want to see in our world.

Hamilton Reporter keeps track of all "reports" so we can see patterns and problems and drive responses.

How to Submit a Report:

1) Click the "Submit a Report" button on the top right hand corner on the homepage of this website: www.HamiltonReporter.Crowdmap.com

2) Use an app on your iPhone or Android by clicking the link on the right hand box marked "How to Report".

3) By sending us an Email at: hamiltonreporter@gmail.com 

4) By sending a tweet with the hashtag/s: #HamOntReporter or #HamiltonReporter

Stay updated on all the Reports by clicking the "Get Alerts" button and selecting the categories, and you will receive email alerts of all new reports in your area directly to your inbox.

So here's some of what you might like to share with others in our city:

1. Spread the word on a jazz night, a tree planting day, a charity event or protest rally.
2. Need volunteers to drive cars, read to kids or chop veggies? Let locals know .
3. Seen someone committing a crime? Now you can do something about it.
4. Fed up with potholes, graffiti, noise or garbage, let the world know. Hamilton Reporter will alert the relevant authority, together we can get it fixed!
5. If you've lost a cat or found a ring in the park, share it, and everyone looking in your area will see it.
6. Witnessed an accident? Help others avoid the gridlock and lets make sure trouble spots are dealt with once and for all.
7. Want to barter, or express concern, or delight? Now you can. 
8. Fire? Flood? Even small stuff can save lives in emergency situations so share as much as you know, it could make a big difference.
9. Want to let the community know of the latest events and decisions at city hall? Now you can.
10. Want to share your thoughts, concerns, ideas and plans for your neighbourhood with your ward residents or the residents of our city? Now you can.

Review the map and various reports already filed under many categories, explore various layers by clicking it on and off, including check out all the links on the site and when ready, simply click the "Submit a Report" button and compose your report on any of the topics above, select a relevant category or categories to file it under  (including address/location or manually move the marker on the map to the location of your report; and add a link, picture and video if you wish) and click the "Submit" button. Also do email us your 'Custom Maps' (in .kml format) of various themes and features of public interest to all Hamiltonians or even any new planning ideas you may have for Hamilton and we will add your map/s as a 'layer' for the collective viewing and benefit of our community. 

If there is a category we haven't got covered on Hamilton Reporter you think should be there, drop us a line.  Let us together create a living map of our community, we needs to map what matters to us.

We hope technology can make the world a better place. That by sharing information and collaborating we can make our city councils, or anyone who needs to hear us, more responsive and accountable to our communities.

We are inspired by the hundreds of communities who are already using the benefits of open source real time mapping to take ownership of the issues that cripple our efforts to model a better world.

You, the Hamilton Reporter, now have the power of media in your hands!

You can use your power to protect your communities, share our bounty, support one another and put the power of information in the hands of the many, not the control of a few.  Invite your friends and neighbours to become a Hamilton Reporter today! by sharing this with your network via FaceBook, Twitter, SMS and email.

Together we are the publishers, reporters, editors-in-chiefs, opinionators and even pundits of our news and views. And together we will become the drivers of our community driven solutions. So, Speak up!

Hamilton Reporter, February 2012