Daily Scottish newspapers, much like most of the national newspapers in the UK, haven’t been having an easy time on the newsstand. Last November, the circulations of the Herald, Scotsman and Daily Record fell by 9.6%, 9.3% and 10.8% compared to November 2008.
So it’s quite a surprise to find out that a former editor of the Scotsman is planning to launch a new newspaper in Scotland.
The difference with this new title is that it will primarily be an online publication, with a newsprint version published not on a daily or weekly basis, but in “innovative, unexpected ways”.
More details on the title are yet to transpire, but when it does launch, I wonder whether it will invigorate interest in the national newspaper market or simply make life even harder for those dailies already on the newsstand in Scotland.
Angus J Stewart
25/01/2010
It’s “off the ground!” Click on http://caledonianmercury.com/2010/01/22/welcome-to-the-caledonian-mercury/00839
It will probably be welcomed by the current online readers of the other Scottish titles if it really is what it says on the packaging. It may well have the benefit of not being tied to the political strings of multi national ownership – which will make it a refreshing read of the Scottish political scene. However, time will tell.
Despite that, I am not convinced it will have a huge impact on retail sales of newspapers, at least in the near future. Plus there is talk of the Caledonian Mercury (or Caley Merc as it is affectionately being called already) having a print spin-off in 3 months time. Don’t know yet how that is going to work. Even if it does nothing else, if it wakens the current Scottish print titles up from their present stupor – so much the better for newsagent’s tills.
You have to read Scotland’s press regularly to realise just how awful it has become and why so many people can’t be bothered to buy any of it. Meantime we watch with interest.