Tale of Two Media

But it is important to highlight last month’s disastrous ABC circulation figures for both The Herald and The Scotsman. For the first time, The Scotsman fell below 20,000 (including free giveaways) and The Herald tumbled to below 30,000 – both publications yet again enduring a gruelling year of double digit percentage losses.

In contrast, we are pleased to report that in the same period, the circulation of Scottish Legal News increased by just over 20 per cent to 11,755 daily subscribers. Readership of the website is around 30,000 and our Twitter following also continues to grow and currently stands at 7,928.

The collapse of the traditional press in the USA has already led to growing municipal and corporate corruption as a layer of scrutiny and accountability is stripped out of civil society. It has also led to the flourishing fake news phenomenon with toxic political consequences.

There are consequences for lawyers in Scotland too. Justice must be seen to be done, but the failing press no longer has the resources to staff sheriff courts – or the space to cover proceedings.