rhiannon davies is
relentlessly optimistic
At the heart of the Greater Govanhill community magazine lies not just the words on the pages or the photographs that adorn them, but a true changemaker - a founder whose commitment to amplifying marginalised voices and creating space for community-led storytelling is redefining what local journalism can achieve.
Rhiannon is the kind of person that faces obstacles head on with a relentless optimism. As a young adult, she fell whilst cycling and knocked her front teeth out. Instead of steering clear of her bike like most people would, she jumped right back on and did a sponsored cycle from Dunkirk to Amsterdam to pay for her dental surgery – and donated an equal sum to charity.
Rhiannon’s journey is one that began with a deep desire to reinvent the way local journalism represented and served its communities. Looking back through her career, Rhiannon recounts a mishmash of jobs in music festivals, farms, politics, teaching, community development, and archaeological tour companies, all of which eventually led her to Istanbul, working for an arts and culture magazine. A series of random coincidences that on reflection, resemble more of a master plan.
When her time in Türkiye coincided with an uprising, she experienced a government crackdown on free media, and saw independent publishers getting shut down left, right and centre. Rhiannon observed the devastating impact this had, along with how poorly events were being covered by those outside of Türkiye who didn’t understand the context. “I really felt for the first time the impact on democracy when you don’t have independent media”. The stories that dominated the narrative no longer represented reality. She firmly understood the need for truly community-powered media.
Driven by a desire to be part of the solution, Rhiannon moved to Glasgow to study a masters in journalism and soon after moved to Govanhill. This community, like those she had gotten to know in Istanbul, had long experienced having most of its stories told about it, and very few told by it.
On settling into her new home, Rhiannon quickly discovered a gaping difference between the outsiders’ perception and insiders’ reality of her neighbourhood. “There was this huge discrepancy between how people speak about Govanhill and what it’s really like.” Contrary to the toxic narratives that highlighted crime and dilapidation, she instead found herself in a vibrant, warm community filled with local businesses, social enterprises and grassroots activism. The fire in her belly was set. Govanhill’s story had to change.
So Rhiannon headed out and got chatting to her fellow residents. At bus stops, businesses, cafes and community groups, she asked her community what their stories and needs were. The plan for Greater Govanhill was set in motion. Despite the many obstacles in her path - having a job, going into lockdown and giving birth to her first child - Rhiannon’s vision never wavered. In fact, the very day after Scotland went into lockdown at 7 months pregnant, Greater Govanhill magazine was launched online.
The incredible impact that Greater Govanhill has had on its community in the 4 years since is difficult to summarise. People from marginalised backgrounds are finally having their voices represented. People say they feel more connected to their neighbours and neighbourhoods. Residents are taking an active role in their community. The area’s diverse community spanning 88 languages and a plethora of cultures are building greater understanding of one another. And most importantly, Govanhill’s story is being rewritten.
Contrary to traditional journalism, Greater Govanhill’s support doesn’t stop at the words on the pages. It goes beyond, using its platform, resources and very own Community Newsroom to advocate for the community it serves and support the contributors it features. From photography groups to journalism training, litter picks and community events, Rhiannon makes sure that everything she does is of the utmost value to her community. “If you are truly listening to your community and putting them first and understanding what they need then you can create something that has value.” Recognising that mainstream journalists don’t tend to be organising the likes of litter picks, Rhiannon believes that journalism can - and should - change. “I disagree with the idea that journalists should stand outside and shouldn’t get involved. Journalists should be wanting to make their community better”.
One of Rhiannon’s most important strategies is leading with solutions, not problems. Rather than focus on what’s going wrong, Rhiannon prefers to use her journalism to share ideas for improving things. That’s where she feels that hope truly lies. “There’s so much negativity in mainstream media and you’re left feeling helpless. If you read constructive journalism you’re more likely to be inspired. That’s what we try to do”
Beyond Greater Govanhill, Rhiannon has goals to expand the impact of community-driven media across Scotland. This began with the launch of The Scottish Beacon, a collaborative network of independent local media that aims to promote peer-to-peer learning and cross pollinate successful initiatives “we’re trying to seed ideas of inspiration and community solutions to make a change.”
Her next project is Greater Community Media, to support other communities to launch their own media projects, and work with media organisations to help them become more community-led and participatory. “What we’ve built here works for Govanhill but it wouldn’t necessarily work for Aberdeen or Inverness. So it’s not about producing identical outlets, it’s about helping others root their mission in care for their communities.”
With more independent media outlets across Scotland’s neighbourhoods that truly put their communities first, Rhiannon believes that others can follow in the footsteps of Greater Govanhill. “Govanhill’s reputation has changed a lot in the past few years. I don’t think that’s entirely down to us but we’ve played our part.” When the narrative is solutions-focused and optimistic, Rhiannon has proven that a community’s story really can be rewritten. And when a community believes in its story, great things can happen.
