How can we revive Scotland's press?

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Pondering at Holyrood.

Scotland Tonight, STV's relatively new and popular current affairs programme, posed the following question on Twitter tonight:

From STV's Scotland Tonight Twitter timeline

It is in the country's interest to ensure that our broadcast and print media is in as healthy a condition as possible. Anything less than that is bad news for our democracy. And I'm not even necessarily talking about politics, but a strong Scottish media matters to everyone in Scotland. Scottish life is reflected in many different areas, industries and public life in general. A few people on Twitter tonight, in response to the main question featured above, have indicated that the use of the Internet has changed the way they receive their news or even has always been a major way of receiving their news.

A healthy Scottish media especially matters for next year. The nation will face it's biggest decision in it's entire history. And regardless of what stance anyone takes on the referendum, it's in everyone's interests to ensure we are all enlightened with all the facts and figures about Scottish independence and Scotland's future in the United Kingdom.

Because when a voter goes into the polling station next year to cast their vote, then they want to be certain that the decision they take will be taken whilst all the arguments and facts have been absorbed and taken into consideration.

The news this week that as many as thirty jobs could go at The Scotsman and Scotland on Sunday is very worrying. That's as many as thirty livelihoods at risk. I know that might sound very potent but any job loss is damaging, not just to the individual involved but to the economy as well and even more importantly, it is damaging to the media industry in Scotland.

There is no doubt that the Internet has revolutionised the way we receive our news. Most content from newspapers are now available for free with just a couple of clicks. Some newspapers have even installed a paywall to ensure a stream of revenue flows from the readership of their publications. But according to The Wall Blog, The Times readership has dramatically fallen since their paywall was installed, whilst The Guardian and The Telegraph have higher figures.

Some people even have come to the conclusion that the newspaper industry is beginning to decline terminally. But I think that's a little harsh. Alternative ways of running newspapers will have to be sought. For example, the London Evening Standard is now available for free with a focus that has now shifted to increasing revenue from advertising. Will Scotland's newspapers have to adopt a similar model in order to survive or even revive themselves?

Also, events at BBC Scotland are a cause for concern as well. Despite mainly focusing on the newspapers in this piece, I primarily take an interest in broadcasting as far as journalism is concerned and it would be very unfair to forget about what has been happening at Pacific Quay. They will play an equally important role in delivering essential coverage of events surrounding next year's independence referendum and any potential job cut is enough to cause concern. There is no doubt the world faces an economic crisis, but it is people who make the world turn around and bring economic success and the broadcast and print media are of huge value and importance.

And there is no one right answer to how to solve the problem of reviving readership of newspapers. This is an issue that will only get bigger and creative solutions are now becoming more essential than ever before. But having said that, everyone surely must agree that it is in a democracy's interests to ensure that a free, diverse and healthy press flourishes and that applies to both broadcast and print media.

Is love pointless?

Image courtesy of thanunkorn / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Tonight I'm in a pretty dark mood. So, brace yourself.

Being in your 20's isn't easy. Particularly when you are lonely. Its a good thing I'm a media junkie and have a television to keep me entertained. With live sport, STV's Scotland Tonight and maybe even a cheesy late night documentary or film on before the early hours, what have I to complain about? Why do I even need to give up being single?

This last week I haven't kept my mouth shut about graduate unemployment, particularly within my profession. Which really means I have to prioritise my career and professional life over many other things in life particularly, for example in my own case, where you are stuck in the gravel trap and want to get yourself back onto the track.

I frankly cannot afford to even contemplate the idea and luxury of having that special person in my life to talk to when I'm at my most vulnerable emotionally. Nobody's interested in someone who isn't even remotely interested at all in romance when frankly, virtually nobody else is. And its not just me but an increasing number of people everywhere.

A Guardian article last March showed that a market research firm called Euromonitor International found that the number of singles worldwide had almost doubled in fifteen years between 1996 and 2011. And, according to the very same article on The Guardian website, over a third of households across the United Kingdom had only one person living in them. 

Sadly, this is an inevitability. We've become too interested in our own selves rather than other people. And yes sadly that's me included. Its not something I'm particularly proud of. But in a volatile economic world and after so many years of hard work, fighting to keep your career floating above water, is it any wonder that people my age have bigger and bolder priorities? The fact it, life has changed.

And not necessarily for the better. I believe some people can live alone and feel happy. But for the rest of us, its a status we don't really want. I posed the question a few weeks ago whether singles were hated? People tend to think slightly less of us when they learn of our martial status.

Which is a shame, because actually its not really our fault. Its just that...life has radically changed for many of us. And its not really benefiting us in terms of increasing our happiness. Living healthily and happy is the key and I believe a strong and stable love life is key.

But modern life has made achieving such stability too complicated. Its so expensive and when you're in major difficulties yourself then it feels almost impossible to find the person of your dreams.

Which is why, sadly, at times you inevitably ask yourself - what is the point?