THE threat to the Scottish media is a real one. Circulations are falling and along with them advertising, and although there are a number of reasons for this, the primary one is a loss of faith in journalism.
I buy The National because of its support for independence but even if it didn’t I would buy it anyway for simply telling the truth that you won’t find in other papers.
Nik Williams kind of misses the point with his plea not to tarnish the whole of the mainstream media (Threats to Scottish media freedom are real – that’s why we need to do more, The National, February 16).
British national newspapers on the whole are owned by a handful of billionaires who allow editors to run their papers with agenda-driven stories. The seeds of the mainstream media’s reputation and circulation demise comes from journalists who have taken the King’s shilling and write whatever line the news editor wants.
Since Scotland woke up in 2014, Unionism has been the driving force amongst political journalists with no thought given to half of Scotland who want us to be free from this right-wing Westminster madhouse. You wouldn’t think so reading these papers.
If journalists speak out against the lies, deceit through omission, misogyny, racism and hate on a near daily basis by the mainstream media, maybe then, titles might survive.
Mike Herd
Highland
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We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
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Callum Baird, Editor of The National
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