ABC News 24 launches regional magazine made by locals

ABC News 24 has added a magazine style TV show to its schedule with ABC Open.

Contributors from regional Australia have teamed up with ABC multimedia producers to learn digital media production skills to allow them to share stories from across the country on the national FTA channel.

The first program goes to air this evening and includes a photographic essay from Wollongong contributor Michaela Werner about free diver Erez Beatus and a piece about wildlife in the outback along with footage from the Dreambox project with indigenous children.

Since the ABC Open website launched in September 2010 more than 10,000 photos, videos and text-based stories have been contributed by regional Australians who work with a team of 45 producers based in regional radio stations.