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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| The readers' editor on… coverage of the Scottish independence debate | The readers' editor on… coverage of the Scottish independence debate |
| (5 months later) | |
| Criticism of the Guardian's coverage of parts of the UK that are not England – even parts of England that are not London – is a constant theme in complaints to the office of the readers' editor, often fairly. | Criticism of the Guardian's coverage of parts of the UK that are not England – even parts of England that are not London – is a constant theme in complaints to the office of the readers' editor, often fairly. |
| As the evolution of devolution has continued, London-based reporters and editors have not always been quick to grasp the different roles and responsibilities of the constituent parts of the UK in the not so new order. | As the evolution of devolution has continued, London-based reporters and editors have not always been quick to grasp the different roles and responsibilities of the constituent parts of the UK in the not so new order. |
| Most concerns, which are largely about the lack of coverage, are expressed in an irritated and exasperated style, whether in an email or as an online comment. Only rarely is there real anger. However, now that the discussion about the coverage of Scotland includes the referendum on independence, there is a new, harsher tone to criticism of the Guardian. | Most concerns, which are largely about the lack of coverage, are expressed in an irritated and exasperated style, whether in an email or as an online comment. Only rarely is there real anger. However, now that the discussion about the coverage of Scotland includes the referendum on independence, there is a new, harsher tone to criticism of the Guardian. |
| This is one recent example: "Your coverage of the Scottish independence debate fails to live up to your own editorial code and the Guardian's values in general. Your coverage is not providing readers with a fair representation of both sides of the independence debate." | This is one recent example: "Your coverage of the Scottish independence debate fails to live up to your own editorial code and the Guardian's values in general. Your coverage is not providing readers with a fair representation of both sides of the independence debate." |
| The reader then lists nine points, which include wrongly presenting Alex Salmond, Scotland's first minister, as the leader of the Yes campaign; overplaying positive No campaign news and polls, as well as negative Yes campaign news and polls; and writing "scaremongering, stories about life in Scotland after independence (how ever do other countries cope!)". | The reader then lists nine points, which include wrongly presenting Alex Salmond, Scotland's first minister, as the leader of the Yes campaign; overplaying positive No campaign news and polls, as well as negative Yes campaign news and polls; and writing "scaremongering, stories about life in Scotland after independence (how ever do other countries cope!)". |
| The writer continues: "Most of all, your coverage of Scotland (and the SNP – a social democratic party with a political and social outlook that is completely aligned to the Guardian's position) contradicts what the Guardian claims to stand for – support for social democratic, progressive politics …" | The writer continues: "Most of all, your coverage of Scotland (and the SNP – a social democratic party with a political and social outlook that is completely aligned to the Guardian's position) contradicts what the Guardian claims to stand for – support for social democratic, progressive politics …" |
| In terms of "scaremongering", a reader felt that a story published on 11 February 2013, suggesting that the SNP's goal of meeting 100% of electricity demand by renewables would be at risk if Scotland gained independence, was "a fairly typical, cynical piece of journalism that is becoming more evident in your newspaper". | In terms of "scaremongering", a reader felt that a story published on 11 February 2013, suggesting that the SNP's goal of meeting 100% of electricity demand by renewables would be at risk if Scotland gained independence, was "a fairly typical, cynical piece of journalism that is becoming more evident in your newspaper". |
| He wrote: "A newspaper like the Guardian which aims to appeal to open-minded readers should surely be focusing upon more positive aspects of the debate. If anything, pieces like this push readers to favour support for an independent Scotland as the vast majority of what we hear from the UK press is cynicism about Scotland and the SNP in particular." He said it was "evidence of the contemptuousness of the UK government/media in regards to Scottish politics". And this is from someone who says he reads the Guardian because of "the high quality of content and depth of analysis in articles". | He wrote: "A newspaper like the Guardian which aims to appeal to open-minded readers should surely be focusing upon more positive aspects of the debate. If anything, pieces like this push readers to favour support for an independent Scotland as the vast majority of what we hear from the UK press is cynicism about Scotland and the SNP in particular." He said it was "evidence of the contemptuousness of the UK government/media in regards to Scottish politics". And this is from someone who says he reads the Guardian because of "the high quality of content and depth of analysis in articles". |
| The Guardian sells on average 10,700 print copies a day in Scotland and has 1,607,000 monthly unique browsers as of March 2013, which constitutes 6% of UK traffic. | The Guardian sells on average 10,700 print copies a day in Scotland and has 1,607,000 monthly unique browsers as of March 2013, which constitutes 6% of UK traffic. |
| I haven't analysed all the coverage – in the past 12 months there were about 1,500 stories with Scotland in the headline and the first paragraph in the newspaper – but I did read the renewables story of 11 February, which I found to be a straightforward report of an important matter in the public interest. Severin Carrell, the reporter, who also writes a blog on Scottish independence, was summarising the report from a group of energy specialists from four universities. That one instance does not mean that I think our coverage is adequate but the fundamental problems are not Carrell's. | I haven't analysed all the coverage – in the past 12 months there were about 1,500 stories with Scotland in the headline and the first paragraph in the newspaper – but I did read the renewables story of 11 February, which I found to be a straightforward report of an important matter in the public interest. Severin Carrell, the reporter, who also writes a blog on Scottish independence, was summarising the report from a group of energy specialists from four universities. That one instance does not mean that I think our coverage is adequate but the fundamental problems are not Carrell's. |
| The Guardian has looked at ways of trying to increase resources in Scotland – a course also urged by Carrell – but has never been able to make the economics work. | The Guardian has looked at ways of trying to increase resources in Scotland – a course also urged by Carrell – but has never been able to make the economics work. |
| Carrell, who suffers quite a lot of ad hominem attacks below the line on his blog, said the Guardian does not set out to cover Scotland as a unique or specific area of the UK, with a dedicated print edition; nor does it do so for any area, but he would like to see more coverage. | Carrell, who suffers quite a lot of ad hominem attacks below the line on his blog, said the Guardian does not set out to cover Scotland as a unique or specific area of the UK, with a dedicated print edition; nor does it do so for any area, but he would like to see more coverage. |
| The referendum in 2014 is a real challenge and an opportunity for the Guardian, but there is some deep-seated resentment to navigate. In a thread under a story about polls posted on 25 March, in which there is an early reference to "a patronising Englishman", jGordon21 commented in a separate post: "On these pages recently I've been called a 'miserable jock', a 'whinging Scot' and my personal favourite … 'Mr McTwat'. All abusive, all referring to my nationality." | The referendum in 2014 is a real challenge and an opportunity for the Guardian, but there is some deep-seated resentment to navigate. In a thread under a story about polls posted on 25 March, in which there is an early reference to "a patronising Englishman", jGordon21 commented in a separate post: "On these pages recently I've been called a 'miserable jock', a 'whinging Scot' and my personal favourite … 'Mr McTwat'. All abusive, all referring to my nationality." |
| • This article was amended on 18 April 2013. The original said that the Guardian sells on average 8,000 print copies a day in Scotland, rather than 10,700. This has been corrected. | • This article was amended on 18 April 2013. The original said that the Guardian sells on average 8,000 print copies a day in Scotland, rather than 10,700. This has been corrected. |
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