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Public interest news institute to be launched in Scotland

Angus RobertsonAn institute for public interest news is set to be created in Scotland, government bosses have confirmed.

The Scottish Government has set in motion plans to launch the institute, which would be independent of its control, following a review into the future of journalism in Scotland.

The institute would have functions such as research, grant making, providing training and support, and promoting media literacy.

The launch of the new body comes after a similar proposal was rejected by the UK Government following the publication of the 2019 Cairncross Review into the future of news provision.

Work will begin on creating the institute this autumn, the Scottish Government’s Cabinet Secretary for Constitution, External Affairs and Culture Angus Robertson has confirmed.

Mr Robertson, himself a former BBC World Service journalist, said: “The Scottish Government wholeheartedly agrees that there is considerable merit in creating an infrastructure to sustain the sector in Scotland.

“It recognises the value a Scottish Public Interest Journalism Institute could have in supporting the resilience and sustainability of the sector through functions such as research, grant making, providing training and support, and promoting media literacy.

“The Scottish Government believes that such an institute should be independent of government, to ensure the clear separation of press and state, retain the independence and credibility of the sector, and maintain a well-functioning democracy.”

One of the recommendations of the review was that the law should be changed to help journalists buy their newspapers if they are in danger of closing.

Mr Robertson, pictured, pledged to investigate whether this was “an appropriate avenue to retain local news publications for their communities, and how best to take forward action if so”.

He has also revealed plans to convene industry experts to consider the best model for an institute and to transition the current Holyrood-commissioned Public Interest Journalism Working Group into a new Steering Group with a remit to consider how best to deliver the project.

Members of the working group include Shetland News owner Hans Marter, Scottish Newspaper Society director John McLellan, Independent Community News Network director Emma Meese, former Daily Record editor-in-chief Allan Rennie and ex-Record managing director Denise West.

The National Union of Journalists, which held three seats on the working group, has welcomed Mr Robertson’s backing of the new institute.

John Toner, NUJ national organiser for Scotland, said: “Scotland desperately needs an organisation to champion public interest news following more than a decade of year-on-year cuts and the continued threats to titles.

“The institute would be at the forefront of looking at new models of news delivery and funding and will foster media literacy.

“In the long term the working group envisages it as self-financing, but the minister must show his commitment to this body, which would be totally independent from the government, by looking at ways to provide funding to get it set up.”