SNP council leader Jonathan McColl and Chief Executive Joyce White need to come into the 21st century and embrace democracy.
By Democrat reporter
West Dunbartonshire Council may well refuse to recognise the digital news platform that is the Dumbarton Democrat, but these old fuddy duddies are so last century require to wake up to the fact that our cutting edge, completely free local news and information service is the coming thing.
David Donald in today’s Scottish Review has a message for fogeys such as the council chief executive officer Joyce White, and the political leader cum puppet master, the SNP’s Jonathan McColl.
And so too has Bill Heaney, the Dumbarton Democrat’s owner, editor and publisher.
Heaney, who has been in newspapers and media for more than half a century, said: “It’s time to shake off the past, bury your deeply held prejudices and embrace democracy.
“Open, honest and transparent is what you keep telling the public you aspire to, but you’re nowhere near it – far from it in fact.
“If you are serious then all you have to do is answer the questions we put to you from time to time about your policies.
“And bare your chest and take legitimate criticism like a man (or a woman, of course). The 21st century has been tough, but it’s time you stepped into its environs and embraced the principles of Freedom of the Press.”
Today’s Scottish Review contains this valedictory message about the printed press in Scotland.
You know the one. That’s local papers like the Lennox Herald and Dumbarton and Vale of Leven Reporter, which have hemorraged sales and shut their local offices.
David Donald wrote: “As we all look forward, excitedly, to the prospect of a General Election and, possibly, an independence referendum next year, it seemed relevant to reflect on the factors that might influence the results. Regrettably (as a former print journalist), it will not be the printed press.
“Those with memories will know about the heady days of headlines like It’s The Sun Wot Won It. Or the vital importance to politicians of securing Rupert Murdoch’s approval… and their very real fear of his thumbs down. The era when newspaper proprietors were beasts with real political clout. Newspapers sold millions of copies every day and Sunday circulations were in the stratosphere.
“Now they do not matter a jot. In Scotland, every newspaper with exception of The National, opposed the SNP, sometimes crazily. Remember the Scottish Daily Mail headline SNP In Meltdown? In England, Boris Johnson was hardly flavour of the month. From Jennifer Arcuri to Carrie’s No.10 redecoration, the press left few stones unturned.
“The SNP romped home, failing, by one seat, to defy an electoral system specifically designed to create co-operative governance. Boris turned over red wall Hartlepool, won council seats widely, and sent the Labour opposition into a spin of self-harm. The printed word had had no effect. ”
He added: “While television news channels are hardly blooming with viewers, one wonders if anyone would care if they stopped broadcasting nightly newspaper reviews. Few people have papers delivered to their homes. Our family extends from the US to the Isle of Man. None of them read printed newspapers.
“The Scotsman trumpeted recently that it was now the fastest growing news brand in the UK. The Publishers Audience Measurement Company reported that ‘the brand’ had a monthly reach of 5.8 million people online and print. (The last official printed circulation was just over 10,000 copies a day.) They may be reaching but there is no evidence they are influencing.
“Sadly, future elections will be dominated by the internet with all the problems that creates. The dear old printed newspapers will be onlookers. Hands up for volunteers to explain this new normal to the horde of political reporters, sketch writers, pundits, and columnists littering offices across the Kingdom. The old adage about fish and chips wrapping will be little comfort.”