PBN backs STV staff in bid to keep spotlight on Perthshire

Guaranteed regional news must remain

Perthshire Business News stands in solidarity with the journalists and staff of STV to ensure that Perthshire continues to get the coverage the region and other rural communities deserve.

STV bosses are planning to trim local news broadcasting, specifically STV North, with a more centralised approach to delivery from their offices in Glasgow.

This is a key departure from what makes STV unique as broadcaster, with programming covering the key local issues in specialised regionalised ‘opt-out’ editions.

Despite STV leaders stating that regional content would account for around 30% of a Scotland-wide bulletin, workers believe regional content, in reality, could drop from 30 minutes to just 3 minutes per day.

Work continuing at Pitlochry Tesco yesterday (21st Jan)

Loss of control

Editorial control would also switch from the north to the offices in the Central Belt, with potential consequences for Perthshire, Tayside, Fife, Moray, Aberdeenshire and the Highlands and Islands.

Ofcom is currently deciding on whether to accept STV bosses’ proposal and PBN readers have until 9th February to make their voices heard in a public consultation.

The consultation link can be found here: Consultation: STV licence change request

The First Minister has said the loss of dedicated regional programming would damage Scotland's media environment and viewer trust

Democratic function

At stake, as well as important jobs and the democratic function of holding power to account, is the principle of public service broadcasting and what it means for communities.

Those opposed to the change argue that the reduced 30% regional coverage would have to be shared with weather and sport, hugely impacting the extent of local analysis.

In addition, STV currently has a commitment to broadcast 5 minute regional news bulletins within its weekday 6pm programme.

The new proposals would remove this requirement, with potential consequences for regions like Perthshier which rely on this important public service.

With reduced advertising revenue, STV bosses have proposed the changes to reduce costs and to reflect changing viewing patterns.

‘damaging precedent’

On Wednesday, Scottish Government outlined its opposition to the changes; arguments that were cited in its consultation response to Ofcom.

First Minister, John Swinney, who is also MSP for Perthshire North, said: “The Scottish Government strongly believes that these proposals would not achieve the vital aim to ensure audiences are well-served with high-quality news across Scotland.

“Regional news coverage and bulletins are essential for democratic accountability and local representation, maintaining audience trust and engagement and supporting regional journalism and sustaining jobs.

“It is vital that high-quality, independent local bulletins are preserved, editorial centres outside Glasgow are maintained, and Scottish-based jobs and equitable news access across Scotland are safeguarded.

“We strongly urge Ofcom to consider the long-term implications for plurality, local democracy, and the health of Scotland’s media landscape before removing current public service obligations. Weakening these obligations would set a damaging precedent and accelerate the decline of public interest journalism in Scotland.”

Respond to the consultation here: Consultation: STV licence change request