Johnston Press launches video-based general election website ‘What Matters to Me’

Regional newspaper publisher Johnston Press has launched a video-based election website What Matters to Me.

The site features short videos of people answering the question “what matters to you in this general election?” filmed by journalists working on company's various titles around the UK.

Users can share and “upvote” videos, with trending videos and issues decided by a combination of page views, shares, and upvotes.

Currently, the highest rated topic is healthcare, followed by immigration.

Readers can also view videos by location using the website’s interactive map.

Paul Napier, Johnston Press’s group editorial development director, is heading up the project. He said: “As the election campaigns heat up, What Matters to Me will take the focus away from party politics, and shine a spotlight on the issues themselves, from the perspective of the people.

“We wanted to give real people in communities up and down the country a platform to raise these issues, as well as feel part of something bigger, and with What Matters to Me we have been successful in doing that.”