School of Social & Political Sciences

A report from the School of Social and Political Sciences has called for a new strategy to support and strengthen the media in Scotland.

The report - Scotland’s Sustainable Media Future: Challenges and Opportunities – is based on extensive interviews drawn from civic society, the media industry, government and regulatory bodies.

It was written by academics from the Glasgow University Media Group and the Glasgow Centre for Cultural Policy Research at the University of Glasgow.

The report drew on consultations with representatives from the media industries, policymakers, regulators and other stakeholders to map out the challenges and opportunities facing Scotland’s media in anticipation of a potential independence referendum next year.  The report addresses the erosion of trust in media and decision-makers, questions of lack of diversity, and the sustainability of current funding models amongst other issues. 

Dr Catherine Happer, new Director of the Glasgow University Media Group, said: "Scotland has historically had a huge appetite for news – media contributes hugely to the economy and is essential to our national identity and supporting an informed electorate."

“There is no shortage of talent and energy. This new report is a way to open up a dialogue about ways in which media might be supported to produce quality Scottish journalism, and to facilitate a referendum discussion which does not have to rely on misinformation, half-truths and personality-led rhetoric.”

The report has attracted media coverage from The Herald and The Times. Catherine has also written a piece for The Conversation, 'Is Scotland’s media ready for the next independence referendum?' which was also published in The National. 

The launch of the report and the media workshop held in June also marks a new future for the Glasgow University Media Group with Catherine as Director. She noted the value of bringing together in a room such a "diversity and breadth of knowledge and experience to discuss these issues, and in seeing the common themes and priorities emerge.  It’s clear an analysis which sees media as embedded in political and social systems is really important and that is central to the work and perspective of the Group".  

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The report authors are:

• Catherine Happer, Director, Glasgow University Media Group and UofG Senior Lecturer, Sociology
• Philip Schlesinger, UofG Professor in Cultural Theory and Deputy Director of CREATe
• Ana Ines Langer, UofG Senior Lecturer, Politics
• Hayes Mabweazara, UofG Senior Lecturer, Sociology
• Dominic Hinde, UofG Lecturer, Sociology

The Glasgow University Media Group is an expert research group based in the subject of Sociology within the School. Its Director is Catherine Happer.

The Glasgow Centre for Cultural Policy Research is one of Europe’s leading cultural policy research groups, presently conducting research on media and communications regulation and the media industries alongside a wide range of work on cultural and creative industries policies.

This research has been wholly funded by the School of Social and Political Sciences. 

 

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First published: 19 October 2022