DUMBARTON NOTEBOOK by BILL HEANEY
Journalism is facing a series of critical challenges. The economic foundations of the news industry have been ripped apart by powerful technology platforms.
Over the past two decades, hundreds of newspapers, including a number of Scottish weekly newspapers, which have been described as the glue that holds communities together, have closed or shrunk beyond recognition. They have soared in price to the extent that, for many people, they are unaffordable.
In their place, billionaire-controlled social media algorithms have flooded public discourse with misinformation. Millionaires are in the business of asset-stripping what remains of the industry.
At the same time, journalists are under growing political pressure. Here in Dumbarton, we have come up against this attack on local democracy.
The Dumbarton Democrat news and features platform is subject to a ban from West Dunbartonshire Council. They refuse to speak to us.
And neither the Scottish Labour Party nor the SNP, which have candidates in the Scottish Parliament election on May 7, have done anything about this.
From exclusion and censorship to harassment and violence, those of us who seek to hold power to account are being silenced.
Authoritarian and anti-democratic leaders in Church Street, including Amanda Graham, the Council’s Chief Press Officer, are working to weaken press freedom and take control of the information space.
This is not a distant threat. It is happening now, and it is happening here.
And it strikes at the heart of truth, accountability, and democracy.
We have stood on a few political toes from time to time, but we have done nothing to offend anyone to the extent that we have been reprimanded for.
Or anything which the council has had cause to challenge us in court. Or even apologise for.
If you believe in the critical importance of independent journalism, in a truly local media owned and edited by local people, then you can do something about it.
Amanda Graham
Amanda Graham’s decision to ban us was not approved by any council committee. It has been in place for an astonishing FIVE years.
This alone is a clear indication that it is unjust and anti democratic.
It is time the elected members of West Dunbartonshire Council acted to have this ban lifted and to ensure that in Dumbarton, we have an open, honest, and transparent local authority in place.
Top of page picture: A typical newspaper office with journalists at work.