Scotland’s first pro-independence newspaper has launched with an attack on the London-based media.
The mid-market weekly Scottish Standard made its debut on Wednesday with a 48-page full colour issue and a 70p cover price.
In
a front-page story, the Standard claimed it was “A truly Scottish
newspaper – written, edited, printed and owned in Scotland. That makes
it unique.
“For too long, the London press have dominated the Scottish newspaper market with their tartanised editions”.
The
Standard accused the London media of “draining Scotland of profits
while reducing Scottish employment on these newspapers to a husk.”
In
its first edition, the Standard carried columns by SNP leader Alex
Salmond; Colin Fox, the convener of the Scottish Socialist Party; and
former SNP MSP and freelance journalist Dorothy-Grace Elder.
Although the Standard launched with a print run of 50,000, it is understood the paper will break even on weekly sales of 30,000.
Staffing costs have been kept to a minimum with only 11 editorial staff.
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