Flagship Scottish daily The Scotsman has unveiled a new responsive website with four new channels as part of a major print and online relaunch.
The Johnston Press title revealed a beta version of its new-look website today, allowing it to be accessed more easily on tablet and mobile devices.
Changes have also been made to the print edition of The Scotsman, including a “subtle tweak” to the masthead and a revamp of the layout.
The relaunch has also seen four new digital channels launched on the site, called Future Scotland, We Know Scotland, Giving Back and a new Heritage channel.
The Scotsman’s new-look website.
The new look for the title was announced last week but coincided with news of a fresh round of job cuts, which is said to have put 12 of the 32 production staff at risk at The Scotsman, Scotland on Sunday and the Edinburgh Evening News.
The jobs cuts announcement has been criticised by the National Union of Journalists which will hold a ballot for industrial action.
In a piece about the relaunch, editor Ian Stewart wrote: “Today sees a new Scotsman and a new scotsman.com that will cement our place as Scotland’s national newspaper, but also build on it, ensuring our place at the forefront of the digital news revolution we are living through.
“The Scotsman will continue to have top-quality and comprehensive news and sports reporting alongside our leading commentators and analysts, and our wide range of features, but there will be more.
“The new Scotsman, both in print and on screen, has a great modern look that will also help our readers get the information and the enjoyment they want. This includes a fully responsive website that will give a great experience whether on a phone, tablet or desktop. There is also a new Scotsman app.
“There will be a radically updated modern new content mix that will better reflect the changing, growing, vibrant Scotland we live in including innovative channels to broaden out what we write about and report, and bringing many new voices to the fore.”
The first edition of The Scotsman is pictured following its revamp.
Announcing the new channels, Ian said that Future Scotland would champion the country for “innovation, creation and growth”, while We Know Scotland aimed to be “the go-to place” for Scottish national information on subjects including the economy, families and health.
The Giving Back site aims to recognise good work by community groups, companies and individuals and the Heritage channel will showcase historic images and reports from Scotland through the centuries.
The new channels aim to build on the success of a food and drink site launched by The Scotsman in the spring and an enhanced lifestyle section.
The Scotsman is also strengthening its business coverage as part of the relaunch.
Added Ian: “The Scotsman is one of Scotland’s oldest and best-known news brands, next year it will begin celebrations to mark 200 years since it was founded.
“But in this fast-moving modern world nothing can afford to stand still.
“So this is the next stage in our evolution, a step-change in what we do to better reflect modern Scotland and by doing so continuing our place as part of the fabric of this nation.”
The redesign at the Scottish daily will herald similar changes at other JP titles in the coming months.
The Scotsman’s old website, which is still operational.
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A stunning video has been produced to support the Scotsman refresh – take a look:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=6&v=H06gIm78WE4
Great work by all concerned.
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Very good video, wouldn’t have come cheap. JP seem to be throwing lots of money at The Scotsman, a paper that is dead with a circulation of less than 25,000 (10% of those are given away). They spent lot of money on THE Yorkshire Post revamp, which resulted in a 15% drop in circulation this year.
Share price says it all, down 15% today to 80p, when I just checked (some websites said 82p, not that it matters). Shocking when you see the companies value is now £85m. An all time low. Time for a new leader, shareholders need to revolt.
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Yes. New leader required. Somebody who can get back to basic values and motivate people instead of dumping them on the dole.
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I genuinely feel for all those hard working and dedicated JP staffers who have seen their own titles relaunched on a recycled shoestring. I do however wish The Scotchman (it’s JP in India so bound to happen) all the best
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12 of 32 production staff at risk? Expect another cut after this one, then another, then another…..
If that sounds gloomy, check numbers at other JP titles.
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It’s a brand ‘john’ (John who?) not just ‘a paper’ and the brand is far from dead. As for The Yorkshire Post, I don’t recognise any of your assertions and no money spent resulted in anything of the sort. Happy to discuss facts with your source if they’d like to email me.
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Yorkshire post had a six-figure poster campaign for their relaunch
http://www.holdthefrontpage.co.uk/2014/news/name-change-for-flagship-daily-in-relaunch/
Yorkshire Post sales down 16% to 20,093
http://www.holdthefrontpage.co.uk/2015/news/abcs-all-the-figures-for-regional-dailies-2/
My sources are articles published on this website. Only repeating what I have read
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Good luck to everyone at The Scotsman, it’s a great paper. But what actually has triggered the share price crash this week?
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