The Scotsman

The Scotsman
source
Type	Daily newspaper
Format	Compact
Foundation	1817
Political	Centre-right
Headquarters	Orchard Brae House, Edinburgh
Publisher	National World
Language	English

The Scotsman. It is a Scottish compact daily newspaper, first published in 1817 in Edinburgh. Owned by National World since 2022, it is considered a newspaper of record for Scotland and has historically held a centre-right editorial perspective. The publication has undergone significant changes in format, ownership, and editorial direction over its two-century history, while maintaining a focus on Scottish, UK, and international news.

History

The newspaper was founded by William Ritchie and Charles Maclaren in 1817, with its first office located on North Bridge in the city. Initially a weekly, it became a daily publication in 1855 following the abolition of the newspaper stamp tax. For much of the 20th century, it was owned by the Thomson Corporation, before being sold to Sir David and Sir Frederick Barclay in 1995. Under their ownership, the paper moved from its historic home at North Bridge to new premises at Holyrood in 1999 and controversially switched from broadsheet to tabloid format in 2004. It was later acquired by Johnston Press in 2005, and subsequently became part of JPIMedia, before its current owner, National World, purchased the group's assets in 2022. Key historical moments covered by the publication include the Disruption of 1843, the First World War, and the debates surrounding the Scottish devolution referendums of 1979 and 1997.

Content and editorial stance

The newspaper provides comprehensive coverage of Scottish politics, with significant reporting on the Scottish Parliament, the Scottish Government, and parties such as the Scottish National Party and the Scottish Labour Party. Its editorial stance has traditionally been unionist and economically liberal conservative, often endorsing the Conservative Party in UK general elections, though this has shifted at times, including support for Better Together during the 2014 Scottish independence referendum. Regular sections include Scottish and UK news, international reporting, business under the Scotsman Business banner, sport with a focus on Scottish football and rugby union, and features on culture. Its opinion pages, including the "Scotsman Conferences" section, feature commentary from a range of political figures and columnists.

Circulation and readership

The newspaper's circulation peaked in the late 20th century but has since declined in line with industry-wide trends. The Audit Bureau of Circulations reported a daily circulation of under 20,000 copies by the early 2020s. Its readership demographic has historically been perceived as older, professional, and affluent, with a strong concentration in the Central Belt of Scotland, particularly Edinburgh and the Lothians. The paper competes with other Scottish titles including The Herald, the Daily Record, and The National, as well as UK-wide publications like The Times and The Daily Telegraph.

Notable contributors and staff

Throughout its history, the publication has employed many distinguished journalists and editors. Notable editors have included Alastair Dunnett, who later headed the Scottish Development Agency, and Magnus Linklater, former editor of The Sunday Times Scotland. Famed foreign correspondent John Pilger wrote for it early in his career. Literary figures associated with the paper include poet and critic William Power, novelist and columnist Allan Massie, and author Muriel Spark, who once worked in its intelligence department during the Second World War. Notable political editors and columnists have included George Kerevan and Brian Wilson, a former Labour Minister of State for Scotland.

Digital presence and operations

The publication launched its website, scotsman.com, in the late 1990s. It operates a digital subscription model, offering some free articles alongside premium content. Its online operations are integrated with other former JPIMedia titles under the National World portfolio. The digital platform features breaking news, live blogs, video content, and expanded digital-only sections for sport, business, and lifestyle. Social media engagement is pursued actively through platforms like Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. The newspaper's headquarters are currently located at Orchard Brae House in Edinburgh.

Category:Publications established in 1817 Category:Newspapers published in Scotland Category:Edinburgh