Newspapers political positions since the 1960s

Scott2006 · Newspapers political positions since the 1960s

Newspapers are part of a seemingly dying media - the readership is getting older and the influence of news titles is diminishing.

Readership habits and political affiliations and viewpoints have helped to shape the political discourse throughout the nation since the days of press barons Beaverbrook, Lord Thomson and D.C. Thomson.

In 1967 at the Hamilton by-election the Scottish Daily Express called on its readership to vote for Winnie Ewing - but that was a one off in support.

By the time of the 1970 election - the newspapers and their views were

Scottish Daily Express Conservative (1973 circulation 565,000)
Daily Record Labour (1973 circ. 569,000)
Courier and Advertiser (Dundee) 'Anti-socialist' (pre-1973 circ. 122,657)
Press and Journal (Aberdeen) Vaguely SNP, or Conservative (1973 circ. 107,910)
Glasgow Herald Conservative (no explicit recommendation on how to vote) (1973 circ. 85,141)
Scotsman Liberal/SNP (1973 circ. 80,113 2008 circulation 50,200)
Evening Times (Glasgow) Liberal/non-committal (1973 circ. 181,056)
Sunday Post 'Anti-socialist' (1973 circ. over 1,000,000)
Sunday Mail Labour (1973 circ. 753,880)
Scottish Sunday Express Conservative (pre-1973 circ. 340,000)

The tabloid readership in Scotland has changed markedly when the Daily Record had in 1973 48% of adults in Scotland reading it compared with The Sun at only 6% Scottish readership and 26% of UK readers. Of course a case could be made for complete opportunism and lack of political principles in the rise of The Sun in the 90s.

In the 1980s with the rise of the Alliance the Herald moved leftward to support a Liberal/Social Democrat position. The high water mark for Liberal support in Scotland.

With the electoral collapse of one strand of unionism, Scottish Conservatism, the Scottish quality broadsheets have to varying degrees moved closer to the New Labour project.

What lessons can history tells as a growingly desperate newspaper industry searches for a purpose in the 21st century.

William_Cleland

Why on earth did the Express give up its Scottish edition when they had such high circulation? Can vaguely remember reading it as a kid and the failed attempt to resurrect it as the Scottish Daily News.

Scotland86

I think i remember a few people laughing at me for saying that the Scotsman was pro nationalist i think i see SNP next to the Scotsman yet again i get the last laugh

Scott2006

Scotland86

The Scotsman still to this day back the SNP over any other party hence why in the run upto the general election the Scotsman was one of a few papers backing the SNP when others were trying to scare voters to go Labour or Tory

Rinty

The Sun also supported scottish independence in the early 1990s

But I think you need to watch that you dont confuse left/right with unionist/nationalist.

Plenty of right wing publications and people support indepndence movements across the world

Scotland86

I aint confusing the 2. I am just saying that the Scotmans is a pro nationalist news paper.

William_Cleland

Pre-Andrew Neil it was by tradition always pro-self government in its editorial line. Think nationalist would be pushing it a bit if it implies being pro-independence.

Rinty

Sorry, I didnt measn that you are confusing the two. In Scotland the press would come down that way, a pro-independence paper, if one existed, would be left of centre.

What I meant was the "we" shouldnt make those assumptions if talking about possible future press and/or in general re independence movements. I meant if this thtead develops into a wider discussion we shouldnt assume that scotlands situiation applies elsewhere or will apply i the future.

In fact, probably the only way to see a majority for independence would be for a strong right pro-independence party, movement or constituency to emerge.

Scotland86

William me saying that the Scotsman is pro nationalist didnt mean that they were pro independence. I aint entirely sure where they stand on that matter to be honest.

Holebender