Johnston praises Government for public sector notice consultation verdict
Johnston praises Government for public sector notice consultationMichael Johnston, president of the Scottish Newspaper Society has praised the decision by The Scottish Government to retreat from its plans to move public sector notice spend from newspapers to a bespoke, online platform.
Johnston spoke to The Drum following yesterday's announcement by The Scottish Government not to pursue its controversial plans to withdraw spend from newspapers to publicise public notices, in favour of exclusively using its own online platform.
The consultation included a summit meeting held by Jim Mather, minister of enterprise, energy and tourism for Scotland who met with representatives from the Scottish newspaper industry to discuss the issues it faced.
“I do believe that the Scottish Government entered into the consultation process wholeheartedly and that this was the correct outcome, particularly following the reaction by the MSP’s in support of the Scottish Regional and indigenous press," Johnston said.
"That meant that the Government was forced to sit up and take notice of a proposal which was deeply flawed,” added Johnston, who had all along said the industry was fighting the motion to ensure the democratic rights of people to have open access to public notices and maintain a “transparent and informed process".
Asked whether the widely spread claim that this was the newspaper industry fighting to save another revenue steam from being removed had been put to him by the Government during the debate, Johnston replied: “To be fair to ministers, that allegation was never made to me directly, although I have noted John Swinney’s comments on value for money.”
He added that he was "extremely concerned" with the Government’s plans to "0put all of its eggs in one portal" rather than openly convey public notices through more than one platform and called for an independent audit of the COSLA project, involving public sector recruitment being moved online - a consultation he claims First Minister Alex Salmond had agreed to in person, before reneging.
“I don’t think that this portal is the right way forward for public sector jobs advertising,” Johnston said.
He added that in his role as president of the Scottish Newspaper Society, he would now look to embark on further conversation with the Government in a bid to promote the Scottish newspaper industry, which he described as "one of the finest in the world".
“It is now more pressing than ever that Scotland has a diverse and vibrant press which is something I will work hard to do.'
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Comments
Aye right? he's not fooling anyone, This is a blatant U turn in policy that will cost tax payers. Right now the Scottish newspaper industry is categorically not one of the the finest in the world. Yes we have a fine tradition, but one that is being dumped on at every cost cutting opportunity.In fact, the quality of our press has reached an all- time nadir. Will the money they make from public sector advertising stop them cutting costs and therefore quality? I think we all know the answer to that.
What with the Government bailing out a substandard press and supporting STV's naff programming, could this be a sinister plot by Scottish Government to gain some support from the media as it's certainly lacking anywhere else?
This whole public notice / recruitment thing has dragged on for years now and cost the tax payer a small fortune for zilch.
No doubt kept someone busy.
Why do we have to sub an old fashioned newspaper?
Let it die.
Michael Johnston, SNPA president, divisional managing director, Johnston Press Scotland said "how can anyone think that I am lobbying on behalf of my own group of companies, this is about accessibility and freedom of information and an improved service for our sad readers, it is not about self interest or money. It is also about free journalism as we can often glean a lot of information by reading these notices before we even publish them and sniff out a bit of controversy that we can create and fill our pages by stirring, thereby appearing independent by playing both sides of the field to our own advantage. And that must be worth lobbying behind the scenes to retain. It was never about money – it was about principles.
OK I admit that I made this quote up, just like a journalist might.
er.....let stick the point in question here........ if Public Notices are not in the local press where will they be displayed, who will have access to them and who will read them? It's important that they are visible and accessible to the man in the street. Unlike all you luvvies in the media world a lot of people don't have access to the internet or have computers.
62% of the Scottish population have access to the internet , this story is appearing on well the internet - every newspaper has its own website - and non of this mentions the freedom of using the wonderful mobile phone !
And now he thinks that jobs shouldnt be online either - fair enough - Then come up with a cost effective medium that drives response at the same cost and quality as recruitment websites and you might have an argument ! You didnt seem to worry about that when you were cash cowing the money in your recruitment sections for years !
So 38% don't and I think people would really love to recieve public notices to thier mobile phone.......... ha ha that's a cracker.
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