Newsbrands Scotland November newsletter
News about Scottish news publishing
Historic change to media and
defence advisory system approved
Counter terrorism policing has been added to the UK’s defence and media advisory system in a historic decision after four years of discussion.
Members of the Defence Security and Media Advisory (DSMA) committee unanimously agreed to extend the system to cover counter terrorism policing, following a review initiated by Counter Terror Police (CTP) in 2019 to examine how it might improve its communication of key national security information.
A further study by the Royal United Service Institute in 2021, with major contributions from the head of UK CTP and the Society of Editors, recommended that CTP should explore options to join DSMA Notice system.
However, in extending the 112-years-old system to civil police, members also agreed important caveats, specifically that the system will not include routine policing, and it does not impact on media organisation’s relationships with individual constabularies or customary crime reporting.
Newsbrands Scotland director John McLellan, a member of the DSMA Committee, said: “It is a big step to extend the system to civil policing, but as counter terrorist police work hand-in-glove with the intelligence services and special forces, there will be occasions, thankfully rare, where the advisory system will be needed where there are potential risks for national security or danger to life.
“And it cannot be forgotten that the system is a means to obtain advice, not to prevent publication.”
Details of the system are available here.
Political leaders vie for top
award at Herald’s gala event
The great, good and not-so-good of Scottish politics, media and business will gather at Prestonfield House in Edinburgh this Thursday (November 21) for The Herald’s annual Scottish Politician of the Year awards.
Organised in association with ScottishPower, the event recognises the politicians and campaigners who have made a significant mark in the past year, with First Minster John Swinney and Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar vying for the top award.
Keith Anderson, CEO of ScottishPower, said: “Once again we have a strong set of nominees across all the categories for the Scottish Politician of the Year Awards.
“Each year we get an opportunity to shine a light on the hard work being undertaken by so many and spotlight those who are going above and beyond for their communities – something we strive to do here at ScottishPower. We’re really looking forward to the night and celebrating everyone’s achievements.”
Read the full shortlist here and details of the event are here.
Sunday Post to reveal short
story competition winners
The member’s library of the Royal Scots Club in Edinburgh will be the venue as winners are announced in the latest instalment of the Sunday Post’s annual short story competition.
Now in its second year, the event has attracted entries from all over the UK and further afield.
Three of Scotland’s top writers - Sir Alexander McCall Smith and the founders of the Bloody Scotland Crime Writing Festival, Alex Gray and Lin Anderson – will be present to hand over the prizes including a 12-month Gold Star membership to Writers' HQ, which includes access to online courses and workshops, plus three one-day writing retreats in Edinburgh, Birmingham, or Brighton and various book tokens.
All winners will also have their stories published in The Sunday Post's P.S. Magazine on Sunday, November 24.
Sunday Post editor Dave Lord said: “The contest, overseen and organised by our features writer Sally McDonald, is already establishing itself in the nation’s literary calendar. Having a stellar judging panel certainly helps – well done to all the entrants and, of course, the winners”
Scotsman backs new
St Andrew’s Book Festival
The Scotsman is delighted to be supporting the inaugural St Andrew’s Book Festival, a week-long celebration of Scottish literature taking place in London this autumn.
Sir Alexander McCall Smith, Andrew O’Hagan, Sir Ian Rankin, Ann Cleeves, Chris Brookmyre, Lorraine Kelly and Judy Murray are among those taking part at venues around central London from November 25 until December 1, coinciding with St Andrew’s Day on November 30
Read more here.
Barclays hosts Times Scotland
breakfast seminar
The latest Times Scotland event held in partnership with Barclays took place over breakfast at the bank’s Glasgow campus on November 5, with more than 50 guests in attendance.
Hosted by Jamie Grant, the head of corporate banking in Scotland, Scottish business editor Greig Cameron and William Hobbs, the head of multi-asset wealth at Barclays, gave the audience their views on a range of topics including the UK budget, the forthcoming Scottish budget and the American elections.
Further events are taking place around the UK.
New Scotsman merchandise
range launched
The Scotsman has launched a new range of merchandise includes clothing, homeware and accessories. Featuring quality illustrations, humorous slogans and the iconic Scotsman thistle masthead, the range includes enamelled mugs and wall art.
See what’s on offer here.
Sunday Post renews women’s
football awards sponsorship
The Sunday Post is once again media partner for the Scottish Women’s Football Association awards, with the ceremony due to held at Hampden Park in Glasgow on November 30.
The categories include the Sunday Post volunteer of the year award.
Details can be found here.
New appointment
Carla Jenkins has been promoted to audience editor of The Times and Sunday Times in Scotland. Carla, who is also a regular contributor to the Jeremy Vine Show on Channel 5, was previously a social media and platforms journalist with the titles.
