The Scotsman is to launch a new section of its newspaper for subscribing organisations to contribute content.
Organisations – not including individuals, companies, traders and political parties – are being invited to become Friends of The Scotsman for a cost of less than £300 a year. This price includes a subscription to the paper.
It is hoped that the Friends will contribute an article of around 750 words to the paper and website section at least six times a year.
Editor Ian Stewart said the paper would reserve the right to “pick who we will be Friends with to ensure it does not give us any unacceptable conflicts”.
He explained that organisations – “institutions, trade associations, professional bodies, societies, interest groups, charities and others” – can set the agenda of topics discussed in the section.
“And we go into this in the full knowledge that friends can be direct, critical, hold different views, fall out occasionally, sometimes don’t speak for a while – sometimes walk away and never speak again,” Stewart said.
“I think this is an exciting innovation for The Scotsman that will open up new channels of information and debate across Scotland and beyond, highlighting work and issues that currently struggle to get heard. I would appeal to you to get involved and support it.”
According to ABC figures, The Scotsman’s circulation was 32,435 in January – down 0.09 per cent month on month and 17.53 per cent year on year.
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