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Regional daily breaks ‘independence bombshell’ on energy title’s website

Scotland’s biggest selling regional daily has used the web to break an exclusive it claims will be a “game changer” in the country’s referendum debate.

Aberdeen Press and Journal’s online title, Energy Voice, has published an interview with industry expert Sir Ian Wood in which he calls into question Scottish independence.

The Wood Group founder sheds new light on the North Sea oil industry that could have a substantial impact on the September 18 poll – when the country votes on whether it wants to split from the rest of the UK.

The website, an online extension of P & J’s monthly Energy supplement, spoke with Sir Ian who calls into question the oil reserve predictions with a decline in production felt as early as 2030.

Editor-in-chief Damian Bates, pictured below, said: “Sir Ian Wood’s interview with Energy Voice is a game changer and a massive coup for the title.

“In it he calls into question the Scottish government’s predictions for funding an independent Scotland and the future lifespan of the sector which is shocking to say the least.

“It’s clear that Energy Voice is the platform people are turning to for the big interviews.”

In his interview, Sir Ian said: “Based on the research and conversations within my review, and across the industry, I believe, that even with a more sympathetic tax and regulation framework, the likely best outcome, without new hydrocarbon regions being discovered, is between 15billion and 16.5billion barrels.”

He added: “However, much more relevant to Scotland’s independent debate is how long offshore oil and gas production will last.”

Energy Voice is publisher DC Thomson’s first and only freemium subscription site offering users a choice of free news, with the option of subscribing to a wide range of subscriptions for an annual fee.

5 comments

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  • August 20, 2014 at 5:17 pm
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    Publisher uses not bad story as massive plug for new paid-for website. Meanwhile canny readers will wait for copy to be reproduced elsewhere for free thus holing new paid-for website below waterline.

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  • August 20, 2014 at 9:19 pm
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    MTF obviously hasn’t much nous about what makes a story – the BBC described this as the biggest blow to the yes campaign.
    And, errrr, the story was completely free when I saw it and read it.
    Sour grapes MTF?

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  • August 20, 2014 at 9:48 pm
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    Did you read the story, MTF?
    It was picked up by all the national media and one leading expert claimed it the biggest blow to the yes campaign so far.
    And, errr, I suspect sour grapes. The story is free to view online at the site mentioned.

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  • August 21, 2014 at 10:08 am
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    MTF the story was free and the site is not new. It’s also been quoted in every major publication today.

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  • August 21, 2014 at 12:02 pm
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    That was my point. The interview was obviously placed on the P&J’s ‘freemium’ website in a bid to drive traffic and interest to the site – instead of being placed in the paper as would normally be the case.

    It was, as you point out, quickly picked up by other free-to-use media outlets and reported at length so exposing the fundamental problem with trying to maintain some kind of commercially viable paywall sites. Even though the Wood interview was free on the P&J’s Energy Voice website, it’s clearly the kind of thing they are looking at as the ‘premium’ bit of ‘freemium’.

    Not criticising the story, yes it’s very good, although I doubt Ian Wood’s interesting views will be responsible for deciding the fate of a nation. Plenty other big business hitters have already seriously undermined the Nat cause.

    The quote I found more disingenuous was: “It’s clear that Energy Voice is the platform people are turning to for the big interviews.”

    Well probably not actually. Wood didn’t ask for it to be on there, the P&J placed it there. And readers would have read it wherever it was – and probably after it had reached another site if we’re honest.

    Pat yourself on the back for getting a good exclusive, not for cutting and pasting it on to your new website.

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