“Deadline”, the next time I see a sweaty crumpled face in here concerned about a deadline, I’ll be sure to recommend that they watch the BBC The Papers documentary to see what a real deadline is.
A real deadline is when you have to produce totally original content by midnight and risk missing the last bus home.
A real deadline is when you have to cancel a holiday or cover sick leave to ensure that you arrive on thousands of doorsteps the next morning.
A real deadline is when you have to push yourself and your team beyond what you thought possible to make sure that the real facts are known, before some twisted version arrives, regurgitated from a cesspit of internet algorithms, fake headlines and click bait.
The newspapers, whatever their flavour, are our only reliable source of independent daily news independent journalism and true integrity.
We cannot lose them. Say no to the cesspit.
Subscribe!
Derek MacDonald, Newton Property Management
READ MORE: BBC's The Papers: Behind the scenes at The Herald
As a proud newspaper geek I was glued to the television watching the first episode of The Papers. It was a great insight into the everyday challenges of producing the Scottish press at a time of huge material change for the industry.
I was impressed by the passion and dedication of the reporters, editors and designers who put together venerable Scottish titles like The Herald and new newspapers like The National and Sunday National.
As a regular reader of all three titles I’m very grateful for the heroic efforts that go into each issue!
Alex Benchimol, Glasgow
The BBC programme, The Papers, increased our awareness of the rapid changes which have taken place within many occupations in recent years. None more so than in the ways by which news, whether domestic or international, is obtained and disseminated.
The challenge facing the newspaper industry was brought home clearly in the programme with editors balancing print and digital output. The reliance on freelance contributors was a further indication of the reduction in the numbers of those employed directly in the industry and it was clear that the remaining permanent staff were skilled at performing many roles. It was a sign of the times that the Editor-in-chief, Donald Martin, was responsible for overseeing the production of three titles.
While the time honoured expression “Hold the front page” was not recorded, it was clear that the pressure to produce a topical front page in time to meet the production deadline is just as much to the fore as in times past.
There seemed little scope for pursuing investigative journalism given the reduced level of funding, though it is possible that this aspect of journalism may be covered in the next episode.
In a changing world, the programme provided a valuable insight into how the newspaper industry is, of necessity, adapting to the ways in which we communicate.
It emphasised the responsibility which journalists have to maintain the high level of integrity in the industry in the face of others who would attempt to undermine the trust of readers through their attempts to spread “fake news”.
Malcolm Allan, Bishopbriggs
I’ve signed up and subscribed to Herald Scotland this morning as a direct result of the first episode of The Papers documentary, which I thought was fantastic.
I have been taking (stealing) news for free for years – but the programme made me clearly and deeply understand the importance of impartial news (which needs to be paid for) and the thought of losing this vitally important voice and resource would be incredibly damaging. It would be a profound loss.
It was a great programme, showing great people, doing important thinking and producing vital work.
Thanks, and I hope many people have realised the importance and value of paid for news – like I have.
Jeremy Hamilton, Glasgow
READ MORE: Staff still determined their mission matters - TV review, The Papers, BBC1
Loved tonight’s documentary and looking forward to the next edition.
Takes me back to the days of being a news reporter with the Scottish Daily News and, oh my goodness, was that a blast from the past when I spotted Ron McKay at one of the news conferences – he’s still scribbling I see!
Yes, I have been meaning to take out a subscription for some time and am doing so tonight. You are still picking up stories no other paper has. Keep up the good work.
So know how you feel about ink running through your veins. I’m still scribbling too though my main career has been in education since the Daily News days – give McKay my best regards.
Dorothy Connor, Rutherglen
I loved the TV coverage of the Newspaper tonight, and as soon as it finished I became a subscriber.
I have great admiration of your work. Well done folks you are all amazing.
Liz Wright
Why are you making commenting on The Herald only available to subscribers?
It should have been a safe space for informed debate, somewhere for readers to discuss issues around the biggest stories of the day, but all too often the below the line comments on most websites have become bogged down by off-topic discussions and abuse.
heraldscotland.com is tackling this problem by allowing only subscribers to comment.
We are doing this to improve the experience for our loyal readers and we believe it will reduce the ability of trolls and troublemakers, who occasionally find their way onto our site, to abuse our journalists and readers. We also hope it will help the comments section fulfil its promise as a part of Scotland's conversation with itself.
We are lucky at The Herald. We are read by an informed, educated readership who can add their knowledge and insights to our stories.
That is invaluable.
We are making the subscriber-only change to support our valued readers, who tell us they don't want the site cluttered up with irrelevant comments, untruths and abuse.
In the past, the journalist’s job was to collect and distribute information to the audience. Technology means that readers can shape a discussion. We look forward to hearing from you on heraldscotland.com
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