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| Type of site | Community, local news, politics, direct action |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | Brixton, London, England |
| Editor | Mike Slocombe |
| URL | urban75 |
| Commercial | No |
Urban75 also known as U75 or simply Urban is a website and internet forum based in Brixton, London online since 1995.
History
Urban75 originated from a football comic Bluebird Jones - an e-zine formed around football fans opposition to the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994. The campaign received large amounts of exposure in the media, and in May 1995 an unknown helper on the campaign from Brighton put together the first version of the Urban75 site, using a modem donated by The Levellers.
The site and forums are characterised by an opposition to mainstream culture and do not carry adverts, and are edited by its founder Mike Slocombe.
As the site and forums expanded beyond football and direct action with a mix of left-wing politics, drugs, music, and photography amongst other interests, it grew in popularity and was moved to a different, bigger server (becoming part of The Head-Space Project until it moved to its own domain in 1998). Early publicity was generated by Shockwave games in which celebrities could be virtually "slapped" or "punched".
Media coverage
In March 2002, Urban75 entered the national news when Lambeth police chief Brian Paddick posted on the forums in order to discuss issues with Brixton's internet users while he was conducting a cannabis tolerance experiment. However, when the tabloid press discovered Paddick's posting on the site, a scandal ensued. In particular, the press highlighted one post on the boards, where Paddick supposedly said "The concept of anarchy has always appealed to me". Paddick subsequently met with the Metropolitan Police Commissioner, Sir John Stevens, and accepted criticism of his remarks. No disciplinary action was taken and Paddick remained in his post until his retirement in 2007.
In July 2005, Rachel North, would post her account on having being caught up in the 2005 London bombings, which would become a BBC blog.
Offline
Urban75 held its first Offline club night in February 2004, and continues today hosting nights in Brixton venues such as the Ritzy Cinema, Dogstar, Brixton Jamm Club, 414 Club, and the Prince Albert. Offline hosts a line-up of DJs and has also put on well known acts such as Alabama 3, Sharks, Morton Valence, Stewart Lee, Josie Long, Rob Newman, Shazia Mirza, and Howard Marks.
References
- Urban75 - about us, Urban75
- Matthew Collin (17 June 1997). Wired world: Eighties survivor cracks the zine scene, Wired
- Jason Whittaker. "Internet forms and e-zines". The Cyberspace Handbook. Routledge, 2003.
- JL Perone (9 June 1998). The Urban Web Warrior:Urban75's Mike Slocombe, Online Journalism Review
- Vikram Dodd (28 November 2003). The Guardian profile: Brian Paddick, The Guardian
- ^ Police chief rebuked over 'anarchy' remark, BBC News 11 March 2002.
- Met's Paddick set to retire early, BBC News, 27 April 2007.
- BBC News - UK - Coming together as a city BBC News
- Offline Club in Brixton Urban75