FOR the fourth, consecutive month, the year-on-year circulation in Scotland of The Times newspaper has increased, according to the latest official figures.
Says newspapers auditing body, ABC, the average circulation in Scotland of the paper during last month was 19,247 – up 3.8 per cent on the average of 18,542 during April last year.
An announcement from the paper says: “The sales increase follows the appointment of Les Snowdon as editor in January and the recruitment of new journalists, Kenny Farquharson, Alasdair Reid, Paul Forsyth and Michael Grant.
“They join our established and highly-respected stable of writers, including Magnus Linklater, Melanie Reid, Lindsay McIntosh and Michael Wade.
“In April The Times also launched a Scottish edition of its award-winning Bricks & Mortar weekly property supplement, with dedicated Scottish content and regular marketing support for the title.”
Read more, here.
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BEGINS Iseabail Mactaggart in yesterday’s Scotland on Sunday: “Thursday’s General Election triggered an important moment for broadcast and television production in Scotland.
“While the BBC’s charter renewal process will be primarily defined by the new Westminster dynamic, the Scottish Parliament will have a voice in that process for the first time, due to the Smith Commission provisions.”
Mactaggart is director of development and partnership at Gaelic media service, MG ALBA.
Read more, here.
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WRITES Iain Macwhirter, in yesterday’s Sunday Herald: “Now is the moment for all sections of the Scottish media and the political class to abandon crude stereotypes.
“The partisan attack journalism that has infected coverage of Scottish politics in the last three years. This has led to a breach of trust between voters and the fourth estate.
“Half of Scotland has simply stopped believing anything they read in the papers, even when it is true. This is not healthy. The media and SNP voters need to mend fences. The press must return to the job it is there to do: which is to hold government to account not issue propaganda.
“Now that the Scottish National Party dominates both in Holyrood and in Westminster elections this scrutiny role is going to be more important than ever. No matter how moderate and democratic their leaders may appear, all political parties succumb to the arrogance of power.”
Read more, here.
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THE Edinburgh-based production company that produces short news and interview items for a Scotland arts website has been commissioned to undertake similar work in the Republic of Ireland.
The Institute of Local Television – which produces work for www.artinscotland.tv – has been taken on by the Irish Arts Council.
Read more, here.
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THIS evening sees the first broadcast of a TV advert made by Edinburgh-based creative agency, The Leith Agency, on behalf of ferry operator, CalMac.
The campaign gives – says Leith – “real islanders [from the destinations served by CalMac] the opportunity to reach out a welcoming hand to their fellow Scots and visitors from further afield”.
In an announcement issued by Leith, CalMac head of marketing, Peter Griffiths, is quoted, as saying: “We have literally put this year’s campaign in the hands of the communities we serve.
“There was no need to cajole anyone, they were really excited about it and we got a great response. The finished article is both fun and powerful. And, more importantly, completely genuine.”
The advert is being screened during Coronation Street, on STV.
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SCOTS actor, Ken Stott, last night missed out on picking up a BAFTA TV Award.
For his role in the BBC drama, The Missing, he had been nominated in the Supporting Actor category.
Read the awards winners, here.
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BEGINS Brian Ferguson, in today’s Scotsman: “It seems ridiculous to write it, but this month marks the second anniversary of a ‘film studio delivery group’ being set up by the Scottish Government.”
Read more, here.
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BBC Scotland is looking for a poet-in-residence to “help bring poetry to audiences across the country”.
Says an announcement issued this morning: “A collaboration between BBC Scotland and the Scottish Poetry Library, the initiative, a first for BBC Scotland, is being launched today, by broadcaster, Janice Forsyth, on her Radio Scotland afternoon show.”
Read more, here.
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