THE Scottish Beacon’s campaign for a Scottish Local News Fund has gained support from MSPs across political parties, with a motion lodged in the Scottish Parliament, a written parliamentary question and MSPs writing directly to ministers.
The developments come as an open letter launched by The Scottish Beacon has passed 100 signatures, bringing together independent publishers and journalists with academics, charities, community organisations, campaigners and people working across culture, human rights, climate action and rural Scotland, as well as members of the public.
The campaign was launched after Scottish publishers were excluded from the first year of the UK Government’s new Local News Fund, worth up to £12 million in total. There its no guarantee that Scottish news publishers will be included in the second year of the fund as this policy area is devolved.
The open letter calls for a dedicated Scottish fund, greater investment of public advertising in independent local news and funded journalism placements accessible to independent publishers.
Call reaches the Scottish Parliament
Scottish Labour MSP Katherine Sangster has lodged a motion formally recognising The Scottish Beacon’s campaign and calling on the Scottish Government to establish a Scottish Local News Fund.
The motion states:
“That the Parliament recognises what it sees as the vital role of local journalism and the growing financial pressures facing local news providers across Scotland; notes reports that, while the UK Government’s Local Media Action Plan includes a £12 million Local News Fund, no equivalent scheme has yet been established in Scotland; recognises the Scottish Beacon’s campaign for the establishment of a Scottish Local News Fund, and calls on the Scottish Government to establish such a fund to support the long-term sustainability of local journalism in Scotland.”
The motion has so far been supported by Jackie Baillie (Scottish Labour), Miles Briggs (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party) and Paul Sweeney (Scottish Labour).
Speaking about why she had launched the motion, Katherine Sangster MSP said: “Local journalists and news providers are an invaluable part of our communities. It is vital that the Scottish Government recognises this and puts a fund in place to support this thriving industry.”
Orkney’s Liberal Democrat MSP Liam McArthur has also lodged a written parliamentary question asking what consideration the Scottish Government has given to establishing a local news fund providing financial support for “local, independent and hyperlocal news publishers”. A response is expected by 31 August.
The issue had already been raised at Holyrood by Scottish Green MSP Ross Greer, who lodged a question on 17 July asking what plans the Scottish Government has to establish an equivalent to the UK Government’s Local News Fund for England and Wales.
Jackie Baillie MSP has also written to Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Local Government Jenny Gilruth calling for the Scottish Government to establish a fund.
Responding to Scottish Beacon members, Baillie said she was “all too aware of the crisis facing local journalism” and confirmed that she had both written to the Deputy First Minister and supported Sangster’s parliamentary motion.
And earlier this week, we received a copy of a letter SNP government minister and MSP for the Highlands and Islands Maree Todd had written to cabinet secretary Màiri Allan enquiring whether the Scottish Government is actively considering the establishment of “a dedicated Scottish Local News Fund, and whether any discussions have taken place with local news organisations regarding the support they require to sustain and develop local journalism”.
More than 100 people add their support
Support for the campaign has also continued to grow outside parliament.
Signatories to the open letter now range from editors and publishers at local titles including Scottish Beacon founding member Shetland News, The Bellman, The Orcadian, Clydesider and the West Highland Free Press, to representatives from organisations including the Public Interest News Foundation PINF), press regulator Impress, the Human Rights Consortium, Scottish Rural Action, Scottish Community Alliance and Creative Lives.
The full list also includes academics, investigative journalists, community media, campaigners and local residents.
Supporters are invited to sign the letter here.
Many have also shared why they believe action is needed.
Artemis Pana, National Coordinator at Scottish Rural Action, said: “Local news is critical to the wellbeing, participation and sustainability of our rural and island communities.”
Ellen Ormesher, investigative reporter at DeSmog, said: “In this moment of AI supercharged misinformation and political division, strong local journalism is desperately needed to keep communities informed and to foster a healthy information ecosystem.”
Murray Dawson, Chief Executive, Station House Media Unit said: “Trusted local journalism is essential to ensuring that communities can share their own stories, amplify lived experience and hold decision-makers to account.”
And Alan Weatherstone, Editor of the Eskdale & Liddesdale Advertiser, put the financial pressures facing some local publishers more starkly, stating: “We won’t last much longer without appropriate funding.”
The original letter argues that Scotland should not be left behind while other parts of the UK invest in local journalism. Welsh publishers are eligible for the UK Local News Fund while Wales also has its own £210,000 Local News Fund. Scotland currently has neither.
The Scottish Beacon and its members, including Shetland News, is continuing to invite publishers, journalists, organisations and members of the public to add their names while awaiting a response from the Scottish Government.
Read the open letter and add your name.
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