A lot of people assume that SGM does little more than “lift” stories from the Echo or Chronicle. In reality, SGM has been one of the largest drivers of the news cycle in Sunderland by 2025, even to the point that many local news outlets, including the aforementioned two papers, as well as the BBC, now expand on content originally posted on our socials.
Here, we list the major local “news cycles“, or topics of interest, first originated and gained traction through SGM:
- Anti-social behaviour in Sunderland Station and persistent vandalism of toilets and facilities
- Anti-social behaviour in Barnes Park by youths, amplifying local councillors voices
- Concerns over repeated welfare incidents on Wearmouth Bridge and mental health support
- Concerns about people sheltering in bus shops and council support for homelessness