This week’s Behind the Headlines comes from editor Laura Webster. To receive the update direct to your inbox free every week, click here.
IT isn’t really all that long since I was at university, but the world seems to have changed quite a lot in that time.
When I was studying journalism, we were asked to think about how we would promote our stories on Facebook and Twitter.
Now, Facebook purposefully deprioritises political content and Twitter … well, you really don’t need me to get into all the issues with Twitter.
The social media landscape is changing so rapidly, and video-based platforms like Instagram and TikTok rule.
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But with an unbelievable level of content being uploaded, and completely incomprehensible algorithms controlling what users see, how can a newspaper make an impact?
Oh – don’t forget all the fake news out there too.
This week I went to speak to students at Edinburgh University who are involved in the production of The Student Newspaper. It’s Europe’s oldest student paper, and has produced some leading reporters who are working in the field today.
As part of the Q&A, the budding reporters asked what they could do to stand out, what kind of skills an editor would prioritise in a candidate, and how to get a start in the industry without the helping hand of nepotism.
Smart use of social media is really the key to much of this. But that got me thinking about how much is expected of the next generation of reporters, both because of technological advances and cuts in the industry.
They need to be able to record a podcast, film and edit video, put together eye-catching social media copy, design graphics, use data visualisation tools, report LIVE from a scene … oh yeah, and then submit an article after all that.
At The National, our creative and innovative team is out and about doing that for us every day already, and their amazing multimedia output stands out in Scotland’s newspaper landscape.
When you think about the multi-tasking skills that requires, especially with our small team, it’s pretty mind blowing.
I want to dedicate today’s Behind The Headlines to all our journalists who spend their days jumping from platform to platform, producing video, audio, livestreams and more.
I’m so proud to be a part of this team, and always amazed by the breadth of content and stories they’re able to publish.
@scotnational Douglas Murray - who is he and what has he said about Humza Yousaf? #scotland #scotlandtiktok #humzayousaf #gaza #douglasmurray ♬ original sound - The National
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Doing all of that, and being the only explicitly pro-independence journalists out there, is pretty tough work.
So I hope next time you see one of our Instagram reels from a media huddle, or a TikTok explainer from the journalist behind the story, you think about just how much work this small team is putting in each and every day.
We’re so grateful for your support as it allows us to do what we love and continue to stand up for Scotland.
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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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