It’s no secret that a lot of newspapers have had a tough time over the past few years. The rise of the internet has brought new challenges and opportunities but there’s one area that’s been going from strength to strength and that’s the local paper.
These papers spread across the country are a hugely important part of the national dialogue in Scotland. Not only are they champions for local issues, they make government better. By holding both the government and the opposition to account they push us to remember that we represent every corner of this country.
When Highlands and Islands Enterprise came under threat of losing its dedicated board of governance, the Press & Journal leapt into action, joining the Liberal Democrats and local campaigners in coming to the defence of an institution that has served the region well for over 50 years.
Similarly, campaigns for a fair deal on energy and the Fight for Fort George show that no one knows their local region better than the local paper. These were important campaigns that shaped the political dialogue in Scotland and they wouldn’t be possible without hardworking journalists across the country.
In an era of fake news they cut through it all, true champions for the region.