Festival of Politics – Do Newspapers Have a Future?

Dianne Abbot by Norrie Stewart

Venue: Committee Room 1, Scottish Parliament Running time: 60minsProduction: In Association with the Cross Party Group on Culture and Media.

Can newspapers survive the internet? Most are available free on the web, but compete there with broadcast media websites like the BBC. Their traditional advertising revenue is threatened by government portals, and the use of websites such as eBay and Gumtree. As blogging, citizen journalism, and social networking grows, will good journalism be supplanted by content providers?

The Panel

• Dianne Abbot MP for Hackney North and Stoke Newington
• Jim Raeburn, Director Scottish Newspaper Society(SNS)
• Paul Holleran, National Union of Journalists Scottish Organiser.
• Chaired by Ann Henderson, Scottish Trade Union Congress Assistant Secretary.

Paul Holleran, Ann Henderson, Dianne Abbot MP

Jim Raeburn‘s view was that the question assumed a general decay in newspaper circulation but the situation was worse “South of the Border”. He name-checked the ”Where Do Young People Get Their Political News?” event just finished in Committee Room 1. Young people “don’t use printed media. They read free news content online but good content must be paid for”. He did support Rupert Murdoch’s plans to charge for content on The Times and Sun newspapers. “Murdoch has also just invested £600 million in new printing presses”.

The SNS is lobbying against plans to remove public information notices from newspapers. “But we don’t want a public subsidy”

Jim also regarded the relationship between local newspapers and the public as vital to a healthy civic community; court and council reporters hold the authorities to account.

Paul Holleran can already see a reduction in the quality of newspaper content as managements attempt to cut costs by downsizing editorial staff. Hundreds of jobs have already gone and he claimed that new editorial management software brought in at the Daily Record, The Herald and The Scotsman to save further editorial costs was faulty leading to even more content quality issues. Evening Times coverage of the Jimmy Reid funeral had showed-up poorly against the BBC material. Paul was also concerned at the quality and accuracy of online content which was leading to defamation; regulation of internet content was therefore necessary.

Dianne Abbott‘s first job was in journalism working for local TV in London. “It was in the dark days before the internet. I had to trawl through all the papers looking for stories. Today I still go through the papers; but online now. People still buy newspapers for big stories, The New York Times sold out on the day of Obama’s election win.” Dianne referenced the MP expenses story that had needed a project team of experienced journalists at the Daily Telegraph to produce the evidenced copy. “Today we see the rise of literary festivals but also the switch to E-book readers. Quality content is the answer” said Dianne supporting the position of Paul Holleran.

Review

• The panel illuminated the main issues facing the print media and from predictable entrenched positions.
• Jim Raeburn wants no `official` public subsidy but is lobbying to retain exclusive access to the advertising money from public notices.
• Paul Holleran is embarrassed at the collapse in content quality at the Scotsman titles and also keen to protect journalists from harassment and defamation threats by online posters through regulation (censorship to you and me) of the internet. Google and Youtube should also be taxed somehow to help pay for quality content.
• Jim Raeburn regards Google and Youtube as “Quasi Publishers” but prefers a `publish unedited first` system, only removing disputed content afterwards if necessary.( Showing little understanding of the internet…once posted, all media material has gone public).
• “Government ministers read too many Daily Mail editorials and this leads to faulty law and order policies” said Dianne.

The Cross Party Group on Culture and Media meets regularly at Holyrood. It includes MSPs, professionals and the general public.

See list..http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/msp/crosspartygroups/list.htm

Tags

• Festival of Politics

Deputy First Ministers Questions from Holyrood 16th September 2010

Deputy First Ministers Questions from Holyrood

16^th September 2010

The Pope’s visit to Scotland again shaped First Ministers Questions (FMQs) with Deputy First Minister (DFM) Nicola Sturgeon standing-in for First Minister Alex Salmond who was over in Holyrood Palace with the rest of the Scottish (and some from beyond) establishment to meet Pope Benedict.

It was clear that senior opposition leaders had also all gone to meet the Pontiff and the stand-ins had the opportunity to blossom in the temporary limelight. Sturgeon demonstrated her qualifications to replace Alex Salmond at the “despatch box” with a strong performance and an easy grasp of the issues.

Responsibility for the recession. The “Salmond slump”.

The rise in unemployment announced on Wednesday ( Scotland’s unemployment rate is now 8.9 per cent compared to 7.8 per cent across Britain as a whole ) provided the background to Labour leader stand-in Johann Lamont’s questions.

Lamont opened questions as a constituency MSP, welcomed the Pope, and invited everyone to her constituency, Bellahouston Park, to see the Pontiff.

As Labour spokesperson, with an eye for the headline writers, she then claimed that the increased unemployment was the Government’s responsibility, saying “The Salmond slump is hurting families across the country” to a chorus of groans.

She also claimed that the gap between Scots and UK rates was a “ clear sign of SNP failure” before challenging the DFM to accept responsibility.

Sturgeon claimed the moral high ground by reminding the chamber that the lives of real people “were behind the statistics and our political sparring” before then hailing other economic indicators as proving that “Scotland was doing marginally better”.

She then delivered her rehearsed rejoinder that the main risk to economic recovery was “the massive cuts in capital spending planned by Labour “… “to be continued by the new coalition” and the ”reason why this parliament needs full economic powers”.

Lamont continued her attack on the Government economic record backed by desk banging from the Labour seats ( yes, bad behaviour is back), claiming money had been squandered and jobs lost.

We then had an exchange of statistics with each blaming/claiming the other for teachers/NHS job losses/rises and/or class sizes.

Lamont “different Minister, same approach, it wisnae me”. Sturgeon then asked Labour “to take any responsibility for the economic downturn”.

Finishing up with parochial matters, Lamont blamed Sturgeon for Glasgow job losses.

Sturgeon closed by repeating the SNP desire for full economic powers.

Bonfire of the quangos. Cutting the cost of the quango state.

Conservative leader stand-in Murdo Fraser decided to follow the example of his leader by opening with a joke at the expense of the First Minister. Referring to the flag waving crowds outside welcoming the Pope he said “ I hope the First Minister won’t be too disappointed to find out that there not there for him”

Fraser, quoting the First Minister’s definition of a bonfire of the quangos as a smaller, fitter and better government, asked “When is the First Minister going to cut the cost of the quango state?”

He claimed that there were 3,000 fewer teachers but 1,400 more administrators over the course of the SNP Government and that quangos now cost £600 million more.

Sturgeon, disagreeing with Fraser’s statistics, responded with alternative figures claiming to show the Government was 25% more efficient, that most of the apparent increased posts were merely transfers from other agencies and that there were now fewer Minister whose salaries were now frozen.

North East being let down. Rating your leader.

Lib Dem leader stand-in Mike Rumbles listed five North East transport issues that Alex Salmond had promised to address if elected to power and then asked Sturgeon to rate the FM on that list.

The DFM avoided “the pitfall” of replying to the challenge to rate her leader and instead listed Government achievements.

Rumbles couched his second question with “now that the SNP is coming to the end of its term of office” , claimed the North East hasn’t been taken seriously when there was more money available in earlier years and again entreated Sturgeon to rate her leader.

Sturgeon replied “Mike Rumbles has come to this chamber today with the clear objective of making his leader look good”, to loud laughter, rated her leader highly and corrected Rumbles with “The SNP is coming to the end of its first term in office”

Upcoming spending review…the “too far and too fast policy”

The UK coalition government is to publish its spending plans on October 20^th. Severe cuts are anticipated.

In response to a clearly planted question from Brian Adam (SNP) seeking information on any trade union consultation as the SNP Government prepared for the 2010 spending review Sturgeon confirmed active consultation with the unions and agreed with Adam that the cuts were “too far, too fast and too deep”. Rehearsed, Sturgeon took the opportunity to attack Labour as responsible for two thirds of the cuts and causing the economic recession.

David McLetchie (Con) asked what cuts would not be too far and too fast and also blamed Labour for the recession.

Sturgeon, again sounding rehearsed, claimed International Monetary Fund support for the “too far and too fast” statement.

Jeremy Purves (LibDem) claimed he could see a policy difference between the FM and John Swinney, Finance Minister. Sturgeon denied this and pointed out that the Lib Dems also supported the too far and too fast policy.

Public sector redundancies

Again referencing anticipated spending cuts John Park (Lab) sought assurance that the Government would maintain its policy of no compulsory redundancies. Sturgeon, polite and complimentary about the tone adopted by Park, confirmed no change of policy.

Alcohol Minimum Pricing. The Starbucks question.

Last report I said to expect alcohol pricing to return and only a week later its back. It appears that due to restricted powers, the parties fight proxy battles over relatively minor issues. All agree that alcohol is a serious issue but argue like cats about solutions, and from no obvious standpoint. If the SNP propose then the opposition oppose. On Wednesday the health committee had taken evidence from experts.

Richard Simpson (Lab) added caffeine into the mix seeking Government policy and demanding legislation on alcohol plus caffeine pre-mixed drinks. (Code for Buckfast Tonic Wine). The experts evidence to the health committee was hotly disputed and Sturgeon (also Health Minister) quoted a police experts evidence “We don’t attend many violent incidents outside coffee shops” and pointed to European Law demanding evidence before legislating.

Nanette Milne (Con) was assured that the Government remained committed to the policy of free personal care for the elderly in the face of cuts and the DFM agreed with Ross Finnie (LibDem) that combining health and social care services appeared to be a good plan.

Summary

Only about 70 of the 129 MSPs were present. Johann Lamont and Mike Rumbles both failed take the opportunity to demonstrate leadership qualities and instead focussed on constituency matters. Murdo Fraser held to the safe Tory concerns of reducing the cost of government.

Immediately prior to FMQs, during general questions to ministers, John Swinney had squirmed and evaded giving clear answers about any responsibility for the Edinburgh trams fiasco when questioned by Malcolm Chisholm and Margo McDonald.

The Deputy First Minister had a good day.

Performance scores

Johann Lamont 4*(delivered the Labour headlines but barely laid a glove on the DFM)

Murdo Fraser 6*(witty and safely avoided censure as a ConDem member)

Mike Rumbles 4* (would have been 5 but was cautioned)

Nicola Sturgeon 8*(safely delivered the rehearsed lines )

I`m an Evangelical Aetheist

I was going to hold my counsel but in the face of the bile coming my way…

“The notion that it was the atheism of Nazis that led to their extremist and hateful views or that somehow fuels intolerance in Britain today is a terrible libel against those who do not believe in god. The notion that it is non-religious people in the UK today who want to force their views on others, coming from a man whose organisation exerts itself internationally to impose its narrow and exclusive form of morality and undermine the human rights of women, children, gay people and many others, is surreal.”
British Humanist Society

BBC weather maps shrinking Scotland – Alternative views

I get fed up seeing Scotland portrayed as the size of East Anglia on BBC weather maps. Any forecast covering the whole of Scotland is guaranteed to be wrong given the size of the country.

BBC version of Scotland & the other bits

As we are an island nation we should always display the map that includes all of our islands. Look at the difference that makes to the image.

UK including territorial waters

Greece including territorial waters

Scotland showing territorial waters

Traditional Map of Scotland

First Ministers Questions from Holyrood 9th September2010

Sink or Swim by Norrie Stewart

The upcoming visit of the Pope to Scotland added colour to First Minister’s Question Time yesterday (9 Sept 2010). Cardinal Keith O’Brien and Sir Tom Farmer were in the VIP gallery and all four main party leaders sported a special tartan commissioned for the visit. First Minister Alex Salmond formally welcomed next weeks visit.

It was the first FMQs at the Scottish Parliament after the summer break and a pent-up energy buzzed around the chamber. The main questions were about aircraft carriers, the independence referendum, funding-for-training cuts and minimum pricing for alcohol. The First Minister, well briefed on all the issues, gave one of his bullish performances.

Aircraft Carriers

News today of the possible contract cancellation of the aircraft carriers currently being built on the Clyde and Forth brought a strange bout of unity between Official Labour Opposition Leader Iain Gray and First Minister Alex Salmond.

Gray requested unity on the issue during each of his three questions and eventually Alex Salmond, tired of being asked to agree again, said “lets not get to the point where we disagree”. Gray focussed only on the threat to the carriers contract but Salmond insisted on discussing the broader Strategic Defence Review by the Ministry of Defence that also included possible closures of three air bases in the North East. Salmond also insisted that the Trident base on the Clyde should be included in any defence review.

The loss of the carriers contract could endanger Scottish shipbuilding, engineering and any future renewables industry said Gray and Salmond agreed (again). Total cross party unity on any defence cuts was unlikely, said Salmond, looking across at the Lib Dem and Conservative benches.

Independence Referendum

On Wednesday the Scottish Government had announced the cancellation of a planned independence referendum in the face of certain defeat by the combined votes of the opposition Unionist parties. Salmond had clearly anticipated the question.

Tory Leader Annabel Goldie crowed at the ”humiliating climbdown of the Government”. Goldie focussed on the referendum preparation costs, “paying for SNP propaganda with taxpayers money”. Disagreeing with Goldie on the precise preparation costs of the independence referendum (either £2 million or £400 thousand), Salmond teased her, comparing that cost with the £90 million budget set aside by the UK coalition government for a referendum about a change to an AV voting system; a referendum the “Tories didn’t want, about a system they didn’t agree with and one they were planning to oppose”.

Goldie had opened with a homily of sympathy to Prime Minister David Cameron on the sudden death of his father. Perhaps she anticipated some reciprocity after that opening. She got none from Salmond.“The independence referendum bill will be published and the issue taken direct to voters in 2011”.

Goldie insisted.“There must be no more spending of taxpayers money on an independence referendum” Salmond retorted that many opposition MSPs secretly supported an independence referendum. The silence following Salmond’s revelation said it all.

Training Apprentices

Lib Dem leader Tavish Scott, in a smart dark suit, launched into a rehearsed but convoluted question about the funding-for-training of an anticipated 20,000 new renewables jobs in engineering.

Specifically Scott claimed that re-structuring of training by the Government was putting at risk a course at Carnegie College in Fife and that renewable engineering training “would be lost to Scotland”.

Salmond blamed any future cuts on UK coalition policies and Scott delivered his rehearsed line that “Salmond says it wisnae me”. You could feel the groan across the chamber.

Emergency Issues

Before regular questions from backbenchers are taken, contemporary issues get slotted-in as emergency questions. There were two.

Job losses at bankrupt services company Connaught were raised by Elaine Murray(Lab). Salmond assured Murray that Alex Neil, Minister for Housing and Communities , had the problem in hand.

Alistair Morgan (SNP) was exercised by the removal of funding by the UK Border Agency for officers to police the Irish ferry ports in south west Scotland. “Its now an open border” he declared. Salmond was sympathetic but as the border was an issue reserved to London any policing costs would now be borne by the Dumfries & Galloway Police.

Alcohol Minimum Pricing

Question topics from the main party leaders can only be guessed-at by Salmond’s team. However backbencher questions are all submitted in advance.

The Government’s plans to tackle problem drinking by setting a minimum price for alcohol of 45p/unit was recently announced and many MSPs were keen to voice their positions.

Essentially, opposition MSPs complained with rehearsed questions; Murdo Fraser(Con) said “the Sheffield University report has no greater currency, authority or standing than a weather forecast”. Salmond outlined the Government position in a prepared statement “its encouraging that the opposition parties have finally accepted that pricing intervention has a part to play in reducing consumption and harm”.

Expect questions about alcohol pricing to return to FMQs.

Mackerel Fish – Iceland and the Faeroes

Iceland and the Faeroes have unilaterally announced hugely extended fish quotas for mackerel in their waters. Scottish fishermen are up-in-arms.

Karen Gillon (Lab) attacked the Iceland government, “once lauded by the SNP government”, for “irresponsible action”. As a political point-scoring question it failed to arouse the chamber.

Salmond responded that he had met with the Foreign Minister of “independent Norway”, and had agreed with him that a strong united response was needed by Norway and the European Commission. He added that in fishing matters the Scottish devolved administration could do little more than act as a lobbying organisation whereas the independent government of Norway was much more effective and a powerful ally of Scotland on the issue.

Ferry Subsidies

Opposition MSP have complained that some Scottish Islands where the SNP is strong have received favourable ferry subsidies.

Liam McArthur(LD) claimed that subsidies for Northern Isles ferries were unfairly being cut.

Salmond took the opportunity to blame future UK coalition Government cuts for likely reductions in support for all transport projects in Scotland, citing published Transport for London spending cuts as evidence.

It was a subdued FMQs with hardly any desk banging or shouting. When the Presiding Officer did intervene it was to hasten the First Minister’s responses to Iain Gray’s appeals for unity. Was Lord George Foulkes (Lab) at Westminster?

Preview: Sixth Festival of Politics 2010

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The Festival of Politics (FOP) , in its 6th year at Holyrood, is more than just another Edinburgh festival. According to the Presiding Officer, Alex Ferguson, it’s also another of the innovative ways the Scottish Parliament engages with the public.

The FOP is certainly not shy of tackling the crucial issues of the day and this year sees the return of the ever outspoken Annie Lennox plus comedy stalwarts Kate Copstick and Simon Fanshawe adding a celebrity shine.

The World Press Photo exhibition runs from the 3rd to the 28th of August, but most of the performers strut their stuff in the debates from the 17th to the 21st in both the Main Chamber at Holyrood (£6) and the Committee Rooms (£0).

Issue highlights this year include Scottish Football, Direct Action, the Crisis in News Media..’Do newspapers have a future?’, the Sources of Young Peoples Politics and Freedom of Information.

The names list should read like one of those web hit graphics, making the popular names BIGGER and the almost ignored names tiny. But with only a keyboard I’ll jumble the celebs with the heavyweights….Lord John Prescott, David Coltart, Malcolm Rifkind, Lesley Riddoch, Mark Thomas, Martin Bell, Iain Macwhirter, Jack McConnell, Brian Taylor, Joan McAlpine, Austin Lafferty and Kevin Dunion, and on and on.Edinburgh Festival of Politics