The BBC, via BBCi, has just launched a competition to build a 'Picture of Britain', where people are encouraged to submit photos to its website. This slightly random exercise results in the entries being divided into several groups, from 'rural' to 'human', and the resultant hotchpotch is intended to give, literally, a snapshot of the UK. It all looks like an attempt at inclusive broadcasting — what they call 'engagement.' However, this idea is being used to greater effect on a much smaller scale by researcher Astrid Kirchner. Austrian-born Kirchner has lived in London for three years and wants us all to explore the city a bit more. Her sense of wonder at the city seems relatively undimmed, even though she has progressed from being a visitor to a resident.
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