WIDELY reported, not least by the Sunday Herald’s Paul Hutcheon, who has been investigating the story for several weeks and who begins in today’s sister title, The Herald: “Police Scotland is facing multiple investigations after the UK surveillance watchdog judged that the single force recklessly broke new rules on spying on journalists’ sources.”
Read him, here. Read the BBC’s report, here.
And the Scottish Government’s response begins (here): “Following [yesterday’s] publication of findings by the Interception of Communications Commissioner’s Office investigation into Police Scotland, Justice Secretary, Michael Matheson, commented: ‘We note IOCCO’s clarification that no journalists were targeted by Police Scotland as part of their investigations.'”
A statement from the Statement by the Interception of Communications Commissioner can be found here, and a statement from Police Scotland can be found, here.
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THE BBC Charter review and how it might impact on Scotland is to be the subject of a panel debate taking place in Edinburgh, next week.
Organised by the Scottish Government and being chaired by well-known Channel 4 executive and BBC Radio Scotland broadcaster, Stuart Cosgrove, the panel is expected to include representatives from BBC Scotland, RTE, MG ALBA and Tern TV.
The event – titled, ‘Shaping Scotland’s Contribution – What is next for BBC Charter Renewal in Scotland?’ – is free to attend. It is taking place on Wednesday.
For more details, click here.
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THREE well-known members of the Scots magazine community have agreed to assist the restructuring of a trade body committee – by stepping down.
Fraser Allen, CEO, White Light Media; Justin Chater, director, Pinpoint Scotland; and Alan Ramsay, MD, Connect Communications; have each left the executive committee of the Professional Publishers Association, Scotland division.
But they each continue to be involved as part of a steering group working on a proposal to launch an international magazine centre (IMC) in Scotland.
Among the changes involved within the executive committee is a constitution re-drafting it hopes will result in shorter terms in office for members and the more frequent injection of ‘new blood’.
Says Nikki Simpson, PPA Scotland business manager: “I would like to thank Fraser, Justin and Alan for the huge amounts of time, energy and enthusiasm they’ve dedicated to PPA and to the PPA members over their tenure, and look forward to working with them on the IMC and other projects in future.”
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A SUB-editor is being sought by Glasgow-based The Digger magazine, to work Monday evenings.
The vacancy is being advertised here, on the allmediascotland.com media jobs board.
Please do mention the site when replying to job ads you see on it.
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THE readership, in Scotland alone, of the print edition of the Scottish Daily Mail newspaper has increased, on average, by an estimated 25 per cent between the period October 2013 and September 2014 and the 12 months that followed
Says the National Readership Survey, readership of the print product alone in Scotland rose from an average 169,000 between October 2013 and September last year to an average 211,000 between October last year and two months ago.
The survey is compiled based on asking people their readership habits, readership figures higher than sales figures by virtue of a single copy of a title often being read by more than one person.
The Scottish Daily Mail was joined by several other titles – including The Times, The Guardian, The Press and Journal, The Courier and The Observer – in terms of average increases in the readership, in Scotland alone, of their print-only products between the two time periods.
Welcoming figures for The Scottish Sun, The Times (Scotland) and the Sunday Times (Scotland), Richard Bogie, general manager (Scotland) for publishers, News UK, is quoted in a media release from the company, as saying: “It is really heartening to see such strong figures for our titles which is a great reward for our market leading brands, outstanding journalism, strong marketing executions and the growing number of new advertisers who have supported our titles in 2015.
“We are looking forward to 2016 with great confidence.”
Read more, here – as part of the regular allmediascotland.com feature, The Media in Figures.
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BEGINS the website, DailyBusiness: “Gordon Beattie, chairman and founder of the eponymous communications group, has published a collection of his daily musings about marketing, branding and creativity.
“Thought for the Day offers advice and communications ideas about building brands and outgunning the competition.”
Read more, here.
And here, in a media release about the book, posted on allmediascotland.com by Beattie Communications.
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BEGINS the website, radiotoday.co.uk: “The Vinyl Frontier, a weekly 60s to 80s classic oldies show on YOUR Radio in the Firth of Clyde celebrated its 750th weekly edition this week.
“To mark the occasion, ten competition winners were invited to the studio to share cake and champagne. The first show was broadcast on May 30th 2001.”
Read more, here.
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