Our first exclusive stories have included uncovering a secret police report on the state of Scotland's CCTV system and revealing attempts by oil tycoon Algy Cluff to pressurise the Scottish government to allow undersea coal gasification, a technique SNP MP Tommy Sheppard told us was "more problematic than fracking".
There are now LESS THAN TWO WEEKS left, and with extra funds raised we can promise to investigate further areas, which could potentially include challenges faced by people seeking asylum, NHS cuts or the justice system in Scotland.
One hundred and sixty people have already supported us (find out who some of them are) to investigate fracking after the issue topped our public vote last month, taking 37 per cent of ballots cast.
The underseas coal gasification article is not part of the fracking package we have promised backers, but a bonus story.
Billy Briggs, one of The Ferret’s founders, said: “We are extremely grateful to everyone who has backed The Ferret and delighted to have raised over £5000. The more money we raise, the more issues we can investigate. We hope people will continue to donate to our crowdfunding campaign. The team at The Ferret is excited about the future and we are working hard on your behalf to hold power to account. We are already nosing up the trousers of power.”
The launch of The Ferret prompted much media interest and led to a number of articles being published. They included reports by The Guardian, the Press Gazette, journalism.co.uk, the Global Investigative Journalism Network, Through The Cracks and the Pakistan Telegraph, as well as much social media interest.
The Ferret’s Peter Geoghegan was interviewed by BBC Radio Scotland’s Good Morning Scotland and STV’s Scotland Tonight, and Rob Edwards has been on BBC Good Morning Scotland to talk about the Ferret's first stories.
Please stay tuned, help spread the word and we look forward to ferreting hard on your behalf.
We need your help to investigate the stories that matter - like fracking.
Investigative journalism is suffering in
Scotland. The advertising revenues that have traditionally funded journalists
to uncover scandals are being swept away in the whirlwind of the Internet revolution.
We believe that something must be done. In a democracy like ours, few things
are more important than a free, fair and independent media, holding the
powerful to account. Without serious, fact-based journalism in pursuit of the
public interest and beholden to no-one, Scotland would be a darker place.
Why The Ferret?
That is why a group of highly experienced
journalists have founded The Ferret, Scotland’s first investigative
journalism platform. The Ferret will not be owned by some distant corporation:
it will be owned by its members and run as a not-for-profit cooperative. The
Ferret will not be aligned with any political party or any vested interest. The Ferret will be both challenging
and irreverent, taking its stories seriously without taking itself too seriously. We
want to nose up the trousers of power, on your behalf.
Who’s involved?
The team at The Ferret comprises of journalists Billy Briggs, Rob Edwards, Peter Geoghegan, and Rachel Hamada, as well as designer Jo Skinner. (Find out more about the Ferret team. Samples of some of our recent stories are on our front page.) We also have some great supporters, such as photographers Simon Murphy and Angela Catlin; journalists Mei-Ling McNamara, Tom Allan and David Eyre; James Mackenzie and Edd McCracken.
What they're saying about us:
Irvine Welsh, Author - "Democracy thrives in the light, and part of the reason it has become so sick in the west, is that the mainstream media with its wealthy proprietors now act solely as mouthpieces for the interests of an international elite. Such people are seen as beyond reproach or investigation, while, paradoxically, the activities of ordinary citizens become more and more proscribed. A fledgling, emergent democracy like Scotland needs to develop the highest standards of investigative journalism to protect and nurture itself."
Karine Polwart, singer and songwriter - "Collectively we can't take responsibility for governing ourselves in a just and sustainable manner if we're unaware of the stories, the science, the values and vested interests that underpin what's happening in the world we inhabit. The kind of in depth independent investigative journalism that The Ferret promises has never been more essential. And it's ours to own and support together."
Iain Macwhirter, political columnist for The Herald and the Sunday Herald - "The Ferret is just what Scottish journalism needs: independent, investigative, intelligent - and up the trouser leg of the establishment."
Paul Wood , Managing Director, West Highland Publishing Company Limited - "We need more independent media asking the questions the powerful don't want to answer. We need that media to be independent and we need it to thrive. All at the West Highland Free Press wish The Ferret every success; it's vital they succeed."
Nicole Kleeman, Executive Producer, Firecrest Films - "Scotland is crying out for a dedicated outlet investigating what is really going on, without political slant or pressure to hit sales targets and viewing figures."
Please help fund our first investigation.
The Ferret will listen to and involve its
readers. You have already helped us choose our first investigation, which will be into FRACKING, after it
topped our recent public poll with 37 per cent of the vote.
Why is fracking important?
Well, the Scottish Government has announced
a temporary moratorium on onshore gas exploitation, including fracking for
underground shale gas and drilling for coalbed methane. The public are to be
consulted and safety is to be studied but what does this really mean? What
deals are being done behind the scenes to protect the vested interests of
multinational gas companies and big landowners? What roles are key ministers
playing? Why does the moratorium not cover undersea coal gasification, which may
be more risky? What communities across Scotland are under threat? What are the
real risks – for health, the environment and the climate? Please fund us so we
can provide some answers.
What do I get?
You get to be part of an impartial and
fearless new journalism project, created for the people, not for politicians or
media tycoons. And, depending on the reward level you choose when you invest, you can
get your hands on some extras...
How will the money be used?
Your investment will fund an investigation
into fracking and cover the costs of our specialised reporting team. We will
account for every penny by publishing details of all costs and payments on our
website. None of our team or contributors will be paid above the average wage in Scotland for
their time, but they will be paid fairly. Our draft proposed budget is:
Paying freelance journalists for their work:
£1,800
Multimedia: £700
Web and administrative support: £500
Travel and expenses: £300
Indiegogo percentage: £152
Contingency: £348
TOTAL : £3,800
If the public is generous enough to support
us beyond this target, you will allow us to explore other subjects, for example
the challenges faced by people seeking
asylum in Scotland; cuts to the NHS, which also proved popular in our
public vote; or any other timely stories that need investigating.
Why a not-for-profit cooperative?
Most of the news media in the UK is owned by
a handful of proprietors or corporations, often with strong political biases. The
Ferret will be owned by its writers and readers, resulting in a more democratic
form of ownership, with members having a say in its running. The Ferret will be
accountable to you, our readers, ensuring that we always report in your
interests.
And because we are a cooperative, all profits will be
reinvested into The Ferret so we can build and continue to pursue stories in
the public interest.
"We want to afflict the comfortable and comfort the afflicted."
