It's time for the Scottish Government to get behind local news
Plus: tell us about your experiences with free food provision. AND: all the latest from our partners including a new climate action hub, First Minister's speech, and survivor art classes.
This week, I attended the Scottish Council of Voluntary Organisations ‘Gathering’ in Edinburgh. This annual event brings together charities from across Scotland for a two day conference. We used the opportunity to talk to organisations about the advantages of working with independent community media as a way to get their message out.
First Minister Humza Yousaf delivered a keynote speech. He spoke about how, ‘in the darkest times, the best of humanity shines through’. As he was preparing to speak, I noticed another Scottish Beacon member right at the front, camera in hand, ready to capture the event. Phyllis Stephen runs The Edinburgh Reporter, a brilliant independent news website and a monthly printed paper.
I was able to pick up a copy of this free newspaper at the event and was struck by the Editorial on page 2 calling on the Scottish Government to provide vital and essential support to the independent news sector. Read it in full below.
I only hope the First Minister left with a copy too.
-Rhiannon
Greater Govanhill/Scottish Beacon founder
Editorial
I missed the Cabinet Secretary for Constitution, External Affairs and Culture, answering a portfolio question at Holyrood about establishing a Scottish public interest journalism institute or foundation, but reading Angus Robertson’s reply afterwards there was not much to miss.
The Scottish Government set up a public interest journalism working group* in January 2021 which published its recommendations later that year. But nothing has happened with any of those, including one urging the government to set up a public interest journalism institute.
The working group included reputable journalists such as Rob Edwards, one of the founders of The Ferret, and Joyce McMillan, the theatre critic and political columnist of The Scotsman. Ms McMillan was one of the journalists who took strike action recently when the owners of The Scotsman, National World, would not improve on the 4.5% pay increase offered to journalists.
Contrast this situation with Wales – where funding of £200,000 was made available to establish a professional institute. This has led to 10 local news outlets being established. Plurality of media voices is key to holding power to account.
In Scotland it seems that independent news outlets such as The Edinburgh Reporter have to get on with it and help themselves. Perhaps with the exception of the BBC-funded Local Democracy Reporter scheme which works like a news agency and provides useful copy to us and our fellow “qualifying partners”.
We are founder members of The Scottish Beacon, a collaborative news initiative, which is shortlisted for a British Journalism Award. The money behind that comes from the Google News Initiative, not the government. We look forward to hearing when The Scottish Government will do something to help sustain independent news outlets which try to inform their readers, rather than the big boys and their clickbait journalism.
Phyllis Stephen, The Edinburgh Reporter
Latest from The Scottish Beacon partners
Midlothian View: Midlothian Climate Action hub receives funding
A new Climate Action Hub will be established in Midlothian after it receives a Scottish Government grant for the initiative.
Greater Govanhill: From football to art classes: How local survivor groups provide a safe haven
Local groups like The Survivor Arts Community and The Cathkin Blazes have been running projects geared towards survivors, with the aim of providing a safe space to socialise, create and play.
The Edinburgh Reporter: First Minister promises multi-year funding for charities
The First Minister, Humza Yousaf, addressed the SCVO conference, making it clear the Scottish Government are considering longer term funding for third sector organisations in its budget deliberations.
Glenkens Gazette: Upper Urr Environmental Trust signs milestone agreement with Foresight Sustainable Forest Company
Upper Urr Environmental Trust (UUET) have signed a community lease agreement with Foresight Sustainable Forestry Company (FSF), FSF’s first charitable community collaboration since launching in 2021.
The Bellman: The Living Room: Aberdeenshire’s first public living room launched
Step into The Living Room, a unique community space in Stoneheaven that prioritises inclusivity, warmth, and acceptance
C&B News: Young Author, Chikamso Kanu, Joins Pentland Book Festival
A local 12 year old has written and illustrated a book entitled The Official Gang
Orkney News: Northern Invasion Gamers Tournament Return to Orkney
A two day gaming tournament returned to Orkney attracting players from Orkney and Shetland.
Can you help?
We’re trying to build a picture of food bank use across the communities we serve for a collaborative project exploring this issue. Have you ever accessed free food from a food bank, food larder or other service? We’d really appreciate you taking two minutes to share your experience.
Elsewhere in local news
Shock has once more reverberated through local journalism as one of the biggest publishers in the country announced yet more rounds of cuts, with plans to make an additional 450 people redundant.
The Liberal Democrats have called for the UK Government to come clean over a Covid-era advertising campaign which Dominic Cummings claimed was a ‘bung’ paid for friendly media coverage. Read more from the BBC.