About Newsnet Scotland

Newsnet Scotland was launched in March 2010 to no fanfare.  There was, back then, little prospect of a Scottish independence referendum.  That changed in 2011 when the Scottish National Party won an historic majority in the Scottish election.

Fast forward to 2013 and Newsnet Scotland has emerged as the biggest non-traditional news and current affairs online site in Scotland.  Our unique readership has grown to over 120,000 unique visitors every single month.

But we need to grow further.  We need to reach out to those people who have yet to fully engage with the independence debate.  Those for whom the Daily Record, The Sun and the BBC are the main source of political news.

The Referendum And The Media

We are less than one year away from a referendum on Scottish independence.  The electorate will be asked if Scotland should be an independent country.

It's a huge decision and one that requires the arguments for and against to have been weighed up in a reasoned fashion.

Currently, Scotland's traditional media leans heavily towards Unionism.  This imbalance is unhealthy and distorts what little debate there is.  News stories are heavily weighted in favour of the No campaign, and even the BBC has struggled to retain its much vaunted impartiality.

What We Need & What We Plan

We have launched an appeal for £40,000 - a considerable sum.  This appeal will run up to the end of this year.

If we reach our funding target it will allow Newsnet Scotland to make a final push and increase our profile amongst those people who might never have heard of us.

The money will be used in three very specific ways:

• Expand Content
  
• Promote Newsnet Scotland
  
• Video and Filmmaking
  

Expand Content

Newsnet Scotland relies heavily on our small pool of volunteer writers - citizen journalists - and they will remain, come what may. 

However we also now regularly feature articles from professional freelance writers.  This is an area we aim to grow and with extra funding we will be able to commission more work from some of Scotland's best and most well known journalists.

Promote Newsnet Scotland

From next year we aim to co-ordinate a leaflet drive that will raise awareness of Newsnet Scotland right across the country.  Thousands of high quality leaflets will be posted through letterboxes and handed out in a move that we hope will increase our readership.

Video and Filmaking

Debates and events will take place the length and breadth of Scotland in 2014.  It is important that as many people as possible get to see these debates.  The BBC and STV will hold their own set-piece events, but we cannot assume these broadcasts will allow for mature and reasoned exchanges.

Too many of these TV broadcasts are allowed to descend into petty squabbling and partisan tribal ranting.  The undecided voter will turn away and switch off.

Newsnet Scotland has already an established relationhip with a professional filmaking team as those who have watched our series of 'We are Scotland' videos will know.  We aim to expand our filmmaking and bring important debates, that may otherwise remain restricted to their tiny local audience, to the attention of the wider public.

We also plan to continue our popular animation - Duggy Dug.

Voiced by Hollywood actor Brian Cox, wee Duggy Dug condenses some of the critical areas of the independence debate into enjoyable and entertaining two minute animated cartoons.

Duggy has dealt with oil and gas, borders and identity and work is currently underway on the next animation that will see Duggy sink his teeth into currency.

These animations are specifcally designed to grab the attention of those for whom politics is seen as something for others and not for them.  Far too many people in Scotland are excluded from the debate and, as a result, are hopelessly ill informed.  Duggy is intended to act as a bridge to these people, thus drawing more and more ordinary Scots across and into the great debate.

2014

On January 1st 2014 the bells will herald a new year.  On September 18th 2014 the referendum will herald a new Scotland.

We, all of us, can make an impact on the referendum debate. 

The team behind Newsnet Scotland have shown what we can do with the very limited funds at our disposal.  We can do so much more given your support and generosity.

You can also help this appeal by spreading the word.