THE Scots online news website, www.caledonianmercury.com, has a new look.
Launched on Burns Night two years ago, with former scotsman.com editor, Stewart Kirkpatrick, at its helm, the new look is brighter, sharper and easier to navigate around.
Says Kirkpatrick, welcoming readers: “In the two years since the site launched we have learned a lot of lessons – some of them revolving around online journalism not making anybody rich any time soon.
“However, the most important lesson is that the relationship between the journalist and reader has changed. The old model of selling audiences to advertisers no longer works. Also, readers are much more active and vocal than was the case when I started out in journalism. This does not just manifest itself through the traditional making comments at the bottom of stories but by submitting major articles.”
He continues: “As I said when we started this venture: ‘This newspaper is an experiment in the evolution of media. It is a statement of belief in a better public life. It does not fear the possibility of failure and instead relishes the prospect of change.’
“The Caledonian Mercury has evolved, and will continue to evolve. It is far from the finished product, very far from paying our journalists a decent amount and very, very far from being the answer to the ills of the Scottish media. But we are still here and still trying, still experimenting and still determined to succeed.”
Readers are urged to share content, donate and write.
Kirkpatrick adds: “The Caledonian Mercury is committed to encouraging open and free debate. We celebrate all the voices of Scotland and want to encourage as many people as possible to share their thoughts about our country.
“We do not have a central editorial line. That commitment is born of experiences of newspapers where adherents to the approved opinion thrived while those guilty of thoughtcrime did not. I have no time for that, nor for propaganda of any stripe. What The Caledonian Mercury believes in is free speech, the power of Scottish journalism and the need for intelligent debate about our country.”
