A NEW, not-for-profit online magazine, telling inspiring and positive stories about Scotland and Scots, home and abroad, has been launched.
Positively Scottish will focus on how people and groups tackle issues in a fast-changing world, and will present an alternative to a mainstream media which some readers say has become too reliant on a diet of conflict, disaster, and clickbait.
www.positivelyscottish.scot is thought to be one of the first sites in the world to marry a national media USP to this kind of reporting, which has been dubbed ‘solutions or constructive journalism*’.
The site will always be apolitical, free to access, and will not host any digital advertising so as to optimise the user experience.
Positively Scottish will include a mixture of long reads, interviews, and profiles of largely unsung heroes in areas such as social enterprise, charities, the environment, and grassroots arts and sport. In its initial phase, at least one story will be posted every day (Monday to Saturday).
A pool of 15 freelance journalists have already signed on to contribute. More than half are completing their journalism training at Scottish universities.
Some two-thirds of writers are female, and eight different nationalities are represented. All articles will be overseen by an experienced editor to ensure high standards of useful journalism.
A US-based writer will focus on Scots’ achievements in America, and Positively Scottish will be actively marketed to the ex-pat readership.
Writers will be paid at a market rate for articles they pitch which are successfully commissioned.
Positively Scottish is operated by a Community Interest Company (CIC) whose directors share decades of experience in journalism, web development, digital design and the charity sector.
Funding for the initial phase will come from a personal legacy and the nature of the CIC means any external finance that can be brought in must be re-invested in journalism.
Possible funding routes include philanthropic aid from individuals or grant-giving bodies, or editorial partnerships with organisations attracted by a site with a signed-up audience of Scots committed to social good. Early discussions with a number of potential partners have been very encouraging.
Calum Macdonald, one of the CIC’s directors and a former digital editor of the Herald & Times Group in Glasgow, said: “We’ve had very positive feedback from all quarters so far. We’ve now got to prove there’s an audience for this kind of niche alternative, but I’m convinced there’s no shortage of inspiring stories out there, and we’ve got some very talented writers on board already.”
Notes to editors:
* ‘Solutions journalism’ has been embraced by leading US publishers, such as the New York Times (‘Fixes’) and the Huffington Post (‘What’s Working?’), while the Bristol Cable is a regional equivalent south of the border.
www.positivelyscottish.scot is built responsively for easy reading on mobile, tablet and desktop.
For further information, please contact Calum Macdonald at ps@positivelyscottish.scot
ENDS
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Positively Scottish contact details…
Contact: Calum Macdonald
Email: ps@positivelyscottish.scot
