iainmac1 Posted January 31, 2015 Share Posted January 31, 2015 That is the reason why we need one that supports independence. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
biffer Posted January 31, 2015 Share Posted January 31, 2015 I get the National occasionally to try and support it, but it's not much cop tbh. I'd like to see a lot more critical analysis (there are occasions where it reads like the SNP house paper), but hopefully as time goes on it'll improve as it becomes a more sustainable business proposition. No doubt someone will say 'but all the other papers are like the house rag of party X' but we're trying to prove things can be different, so just parotting what the other parties do with a different position is playing into their hands. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
exile Posted January 31, 2015 Share Posted January 31, 2015 (edited) I get the National occasionally to try and support it, but it's not much cop tbh. I'd like to see a lot more critical analysis (there are occasions where it reads like the SNP house paper), but hopefully as time goes on it'll improve as it becomes a more sustainable business proposition. No doubt someone will say 'but all the other papers are like the house rag of party X' but we're trying to prove things can be different, so just parotting what the other parties do with a different position is playing into their hands. Of course the trick the other papers pull off is to give the impression they are telling things straight, and reflect a range of opinions, although ultimately leaning towards left/right/unionism etc. But 'nationalists' still read them for a source of info on 'neutral' topics and to get a flavour of the debate. What do other Scots think? You can read the Herald and find out. So the paper is reaching nationalists while framing the debate its own way But is the National reaching any unionists or undecideds? If you were a would-be pro-indy media mogul you might be better buying an ailing unionist title and subtly reframe the debate for an existing broad readership and pursue independent journalism (which could itself help reframe the debate). Edited January 31, 2015 by exile Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toepoke Posted March 2, 2015 Share Posted March 2, 2015 It's finally got a TV guide - yay! And sudoku too, even my missus might approve of it now... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Auld_Reekie Posted March 2, 2015 Share Posted March 2, 2015 To be honest, it is hugely important they are critical of the SNP. If it's to serve a purpose at the next independence referendum, it needs credibility and it does that by holding the SNP to account. If it does that, it makes it harder to ignore when the referendum does come around. I'm happy to give it some freedom in the short term as it needs to get some critical mass. That is difficult in a market where people either dont buy papers or are unlikely to leave their established rivals, but they need to flesh it out, get senior staff on board and start getting itself respected. I have no problem with them being critical of the SNP because they have a unique opportunity to start digging properly on Labour, and that is a relatively untapped resource right there. I want to read news and I want to pay for good journalism - I'm not getting that from the Scotsman, Daily Record et al so Im paying for The National in the short term. It's up to them to keep my custom. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scotlad Posted March 2, 2015 Share Posted March 2, 2015 The National, to its credit, is by no means an SNP propaganda pamphlet. It has run several articles which challenge current Scottish Government policy and has regular columnists who have no affiliation to the SNP, like Patrick Harvie and Carloyn Leckie. I buy it fairly frequently and you get pretty good news and foreign affairs coverage for your 50p. Its sports section still needs improvement, however, and its current content is unlikely to win over anyone who isn't already interested in politics. Also, its letters page has, at times, led to me ponder that perhaps the number of utter loonballs who support Scottish independence is quite a bit higher than I had first imagined (I should probably have deduced that long ago, thanks to the amount of time I spend on this forum and Twitter, but I do tend to be a bit slow on the uptake). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scunnered Posted March 2, 2015 Share Posted March 2, 2015 Also, its letters page has, at times, led to me ponder that perhaps the number of utter loonballs who support Scottish independence is quite a bit higher than I had first imagined (I should probably have deduced that long ago, thanks to the amount of time I spend on this forum and Twitter, but I do tend to be a bit slow on the uptake). An unsettling amount. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toepoke Posted March 2, 2015 Share Posted March 2, 2015 Haven't read all the lead article today but they were bringing up the argument for further nuclear power which clearly goes against SNP policy... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest flumax Posted March 2, 2015 Share Posted March 2, 2015 Noticed new website looks pretty decent Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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