Rising East Online

Inaugural Editorial

The re-rise of Rising East

by Mike Rustin

Back to life as an aca-zine.

Between 1997 and 2000, the University of East London published a three-times yearly journal, Rising East: the Journal of East London Studies.

Now Rising East returns, as a web-based publication, seeking to combine in-depth academic analysis with reportage, vox pops, interviews, surveys and comment. Rising East has become Rising East Online, transforming from an academic journal into an 'aca-zine'.

In its previous incarnation, publishing a total of 12 issues, Rising East gave a substantial and lively coverage to developments in the Thames Gateway. It discussed plans for the Thames Gateway region, provided information on social and economic conditions, including levels of deprivation, and in its 'Artyfacts' section explored cultural initiatives often ignored in debates about regeneration.

Difficulties in marketing a substantial printed journal in the region led to a suspension of publication in 2000, while we sought more effective methods of dissemination.

Rising East Online, of which this is the first issue, will now continue the work of Rising East, in the light of the much larger programme of research, consultancy and debate about the Thames Gateway which LERI (the London East Research Institute) is now undertaking.

This electronic format enables us to make the publication available without charge. We also aim to be accessible, both practically (making content available at the click of a button) and ideas-wise too.

Rising East Online will examine the social, cultural and political implications of the Thames Gateay plan across the whole range of policy areas, and situate these developments in a wider analysis of trends in urban regeneration worldwide - with contributions from lecturers and students at the University of East London, and beyond. This will be a 'local' website with a global outlook.

Our aim is to become the first port of call - or indeed a one-stop shop - for local councillors, planners, civil servants, journalists, researchers, community activists and the general public, anyone keen to get a handle on everything Gateway-related.

We will archive past issues, and also intend to make available an electronic archive of the earlier Rising East, so that readers will have access to past articles and debates.

We are also going to provide e-links to many other sources of information on East London and the Thames Gateway, so that readers can use Rising East Online as a portal as well as a publication. A gateway to the Gateway, if you like.

This first issue is devoted to the London Olympic Bid.

We welcome articles, correspondence and other contributions on any issues concerned with the development of the Thames Gateway.

The editor of Rising East Online is Professor Phil Cohen, director of the London East Research Institute, and the managing editor is Brendan O'Neill. (Email Brendan.ONeill@spiked-online.com).

The editorial team is:

• Andrew Calcutt
• Phil Cohen
• Carly Crittenden
• Jody Dempsey
• Louise Ford
• Sarah Liptrott
• Sam Penn
• Lennie Pothecary
• Mike Rustin

Webmasters:

• Jonathan Stephenson
• Alex Logvynovskiy

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