THE Herald newspaper has come out in favour of a No vote in Thursday’s indyref vote, but on condition of Scotland being given more autonomy, as is now being promised by the leaders of three main Unionist political parties.
Says the paper, in its leader comment: “Unlike the legion of Private Frazers who have raised their tremulous voices recently in a chorus of doom, we reject the notion that independence would be a catastrophe for Scotland. Scotland is already a successful country and could come to be so, in time, with independence.”
But it concludes: “The Herald backs Scotland staying within the UK at this stage. But fudge this process, stitch it up and fail to deliver far-reaching further devolution, and make no mistake: you will be guaranteeing another referendum – one that you will lose, and deserve to lose.”
Read more, here.
In May (as noted here), sister title, the Sunday Herald, declared for Yes.
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THE National Union of Journalists has expressed concern at what it describes as an “increase in intimidation and bullying of journalists covering the independence referendum”, adding it is calling “for people on both sides of the campaign to rein in the abuse being directed at our members”.
Says the NUJ website (here): “For the duration of the referendum there has been hostility to journalists doing their jobs. Much of this is fuelled by the availability of social media, allowing contributors anonymity to make personal attacks on individuals.”
The statement adds later: “In particular, the NUJ is concerned about threats about future employment at the country’s main broadcaster as well as public labelling of journalists and programmes as being biased. As the Public Service Broadcaster, BBC Scotland’s journalism is rightly scrutinised very closely by people and parties on all sides of the political debate. No journalist working for the organisation has a problem with this but they have been singled out by demonstrations which by and large have been loud and rowdy but can be perceived as being intimidatory and a threat to press freedom. There is an increasing trend towards the intimidation of BBC journalists, who are working hard to hold politicians of all sides to account in the referendum debate.”
Scotland organiser, Paul Holleran, is quoted citing specific incidents of ‘abuse’.
Meanwhile, The Drum media and marketing magazine begins: “BBC Scotland reporters have been warned and asked to report any abuse or intimidation they face in the build up to the Scottish independence referendum this week.”
Read more, here.
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THE International Network of Street Papers is seeking an editorial officer, as advertised here on the allmediascotland.com media jobs board.
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IT’S two years since the broadcasting regulators, Ofcom, issued the first of a series of TV licences for operators of local services, such as the channel currently being operated for Glasgow by STV, in association with Glasgow Caledonian University.
And in an update (here), Ofcom says: “Six local TV channels are now on-air, having broadcast some 6,400 hours of local programmes to a potential audience of six million across the UK, while more than ten stations are preparing for launch before February 2015.”
The channels now on-air are: Estuary TV, Grimsby (broadcasting from November 2013); Mustard TV, Norwich (broadcasting from March 2014); London Live, London (broadcasting from March 2014); Notts TV, Nottingham (broadcasting from May 2014); STV Glasgow, Glasgow (broadcasting from June 2014) and Latest TV, Brighton & Hove (broadcasting from August 2014).
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A SCOTS PR agency has formed a ‘strategic partnership’ with a counterpart in London, according to a report in today’s Herald.
Begins The Herald: “Taste Communications has announced a strategic partnership with London-based food and drink public relations and marketing specialist, Sauce.”
Read more, here.
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BEGINS a report on the BBC website: “With just two days to go until the referendum, the world’s media is turning its gaze on Scotland.
“At the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh, preparations are underway to host some 500 journalists and news crews from around the globe.”
Read more, here.
And the Edinburgh Evening News reports, in a similar vein: “As the world turns its gaze upon the nation for Thursday’s referendum vote, journalists from across the globe are flocking to the Capital.
“More than 240 reporters representing a dozen countries have poured into Edinburgh, representing media outlets from countries as far afield as Turkey to the United States.”
Read more, here.
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CONCLUDES a survey of eight daily newspapers (The Times, The Daily Telegraph, The Scottish Sun, the Daily Record, the Scottish Daily Express, the Scottish Daily Mail, The Scotsman and The Herald) in Scotland: “When all relevant articles were quantified together, it becomes clear that the upcoming referendum has been a, and surely the, main news story over the past 12 months.
“Combining front-page articles, editorials and comment pieces gives a total of 1,578 articles.
“When headlines were analysed for evidence of pro-Union/pro-independence framing, it was discovered that whilst 976 (61.8 per cent) headlines showed no obvious bias towards either side, those headlines which did display some form of bias showed that for every headline which framed Scottish independence positively, there were 4.3 articles which were against independence.
“When the main body of the text was analysed in depth, 763 (48.4 per cent) were neutral in their coverage, whilst those remaining articles showing evidence of clear bias were weighted three-to-one in favour of a pro-Union position.”
The research was undertaken by a Dr David Patrick, a postdoctoral research fellow, working at the University of the Free State (South Africa).
Read more, here.
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BEGINS the website, radiotoday.co.uk: “In the week when Scotland decides on independence, Global has given [radio station] Heart Scotland its own version of the new network jingle package.”
Read more, here.
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WELL-known Scots journalist, Andrew Marr, is quoted, saying, that to be a good journalist, “you have to be devious”, in an interview accompanying the launch of his debut novel.
Marr was interviewed by Aida Edemariam, for The Guardian (here), to coincide with the publication of Head of State.
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THE Herald’s Susan Swarbrick previews the latest BBC series featuring TV presenter and producer/director, Paul Murton, exploring Scotland, this time the country’s islands.
Grand Tours of the Scottish Islands begins on Monday, at 1930.
Read Susan’s piece, here.
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