About Us

The Digital Sentinel is a community news website for Wester Hailes, in southwest Edinburgh.

Our content is created by staff and local residents who report news, opinion and events which is relevant to people living here. Any resident is also able to submit and comment on content.

The Digital Sentinel runs weekly IT Drop In session and online job search and benefit application sessions at community venues in the area. The drop ins support local residents to learn digital skills and inform them how they could become more involved with their local news website.

The Digital Sentinel is an ethical media site which aims to represent Wester Hailes as the vibrant and rich community it is.

The Digital Sentinel was established by a consortium of local organisations and individuals and was formally launched in October 2013. The project started with the idea of trying to take the place of our lost and lamented community newspapers (The Wester Hailes Sentinel and The West Edinburgh Times) with an online news website.

The group came together when funding cuts forced the West Edinburgh Times to close in 2008, and initially worked on projects to preserve the archives and keep them accessible and alive for the local community known collectively as Our Place In Time.

Another one of these projects is the social history blog From There To Here.

Digital Sentinel Computers Drop-in training room

Currently the project is managed by WHALE Arts where our reporter and community development worker can be found writing up the latest articles or holding I.T drop in sessions.

The site is a news and information resource for the residents of Wester Hailes and the surrounding areas. It uses free to access digital platforms (WordPress, Flickr,  Instagram, Youtube and Audioboom) and content is created and uploaded using smart phones, tablets and other accessible digital technologies.

Photo courtesy of The Edinburgh Reporter

Photo courtesy of The Edinburgh Reporter

The site can be reached by scanning QR codes sited in the local area, including one on the Totem Pole (sited between the Canal and Westside Plaza) which links to a hidden page on the site.

Content is created by staff and local residents, trained by our Community Development Worker and Community Reporter to become local reporters. As the site develops, residents will form an editorial group to review and post submitted content and maintain the ethical principles of the site.

Comments Policy

We welcome comments on any of our stories or articles and encourage site visitors to join in debates. However, to preserve the ethos of the site we reserve the right to remove any comment that is;

  • abusive, insulting or threatening, or which promotes or encourages racism, sexism, hatred or bigotry

  • defamatory

  • obscene or pornographic

  • relates to commercial activities or is clearly “junk” mail or “spam”

  • mean-spirited, uncivil or has been created with the intention of causing trouble or upsetting any third party

  • in breach of any relevant law or regulation

If you see a comment that you feel is not appropriate, please email us at feedback@digitalsentinel.net

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