This week's Behind the Headlines comes from managing editor Stewart Ward – to receive this newsletter direct to your inbox every week, click here to sign up.
THE National’s recent online subscription offer was a major success – and we’re already turning that support into the kind of journalism that our readers have asked for.
This Sunday, we’re excited to launch a new series in collaboration with The Ferret. The title is Solutions For Scotland.
In your Sunday National and on the cover of our Seven Days broadsheet supplement, we’ll be joining forces to deliver a series of packages that sets out answers – from housing to health to the arts.
There’s an epidemic of talking Scotland down. Call it the Scottish Cringe or call it a desperate attempt to maintain the Union. We’ve all seen it.
At The National, we make a point of shouting out Scottish success stories.
But there’s a balance to be struck. Because we’re a newspaper that is interested in seeing a thriving, independent Scotland, this is also a space that’s ideal for those debates about what changes we can make.
And that’s what this series will do. Solutions For Scotland identifies areas where Scotland needs to see a shift and presents tangible ways that can happen.
READ MORE: A new approach to housing in Scotland could stop evictions
The Ferret is made up of a top-notch group of investigative journalists and regular Sunday National readers are well familiar with their copy, as it’s been a regular feature since our launch.
This new partnership takes that up a notch. We want to arm our readers with the facts – creating a space for informed debate.
It can only strengthen the independence movement because where is the opposite happening? Where is the serious discussion about what can change with the Union to deliver for Scotland? If Gordon Brown makes some recommendations and no-one is around to read them, do they make a sound?
If you prefer newsletters like this one, you can sign up at thenational.scot/newsletters to receive Solutions for Scotland directly to your inbox. You can click the banner above to be taken to our newsletter page.
So, pick up your Sunday National this weekend and enjoy the first in our Solutions For Scotland series.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
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.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
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