Testimonials: 'The Scotsman isn't just a newspaper - it's a brand'

TESTIMONIALS from 50 of Scotland's leading newsmakers and personalities.

ALEX SALMOND
First Minister
Scotland's public life benefits greatly from a robust and independent press – just as the Scottish media is boosted by the existence of a democratic parliament, and a vigorous debate on Scotland's constitutional future.

The Scotsman has been reporting Scotland to itself since 1817. It is part of Scotland's journalistic tradition, which we all celebrate in these exciting, challenging and hopeful days for our nation.

WENDY ALEXANDER
Leader, Scottish Labour
Since it was launched almost 200 years ago, The Scotsman has been at the heart of Scottish life with its news reporting, political and business coverage, arts review and sports section. However, The Scotsman has always ensured it is never parochial with its UK and international coverage.

We live in interesting times politically and The Scotsman has been at the forefront of the devolution debate since the 1970s. Long may it continue to be so.

ANNABEL GOLDIE
Leader, Scottish Conservative Party
The Scotsman has a distinguished pedigree as one of the prominent contributors to quality Scottish journalism. Its well-informed, news-based reporting – together with analytical, at times polemical, but always reflective editorials – and features, make it a daily influential read for Scotland.

For many, the day does not start properly without a Scotsman on the breakfast table.

JOHN HALDANE
Professor of philosophy, University of St Andrews
Two centuries on from its foundation, The Scotsman continues to maintain (its vow of] "impartiality and independence". It is easy to proclaim virtue but hard to practise it and the best test of fidelity is time. By that measure, The Scotsman has been faithful to its ideals.

It remains the natural forum for Scotland's national conversations. If it didn't already exist, it would be a necessity to create it.

PATRICK HARVIE
Green MSP
In its first edition, the paper's founders committed themselves to "impartiality, firmness, and independence". Today's readers will recognise The Scotsman from that list of principles.

Increasingly, the paper has also been taking a lead on environmental campaigns such as Save Our Seas.

Politicians often complain about a partisan media, but this is an accusation that cannot be levelled at The Scotsman.

ANDY HORNBY
Chief Executive, HBOS
The Scotsman is more than a newspaper – it's a brand. Our experience at HBOS is that it's not only Scots who look to The Scotsman for news and thought-leadership. The paper's influence stretches far beyond Scotland itself.

Quite simply, The Scotsman is one of the most influential titles in the UK. For Scottish businesses like HBOS, having a recognised and trusted title such as The Scotsman on the doorstep is a real asset.

MENZIES CAMPBELL
Former Lib Dem leader
I probably lost my sporting amateur status because of The Scotsman. When Edinburgh hosted the Commonwealth Games in 1970, I was employed for the princely sum of £150, in breach of the amateur rules, to write a "colour" piece on the events in the Meadowbank Stadium.

The direction of the pages has not always been to my taste politically. But I still read it every day. How can you live in Edinburgh without it?

BRIAN LANG
Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the University of St Andrews
As an Edinburgh man, I am acutely aware of the value of The Scotsman in Scottish life. Through the depth and range of its coverage, not just of Scotland but nationally and internationally, the paper enriches our culture and enhances Scotland's reputation. I may not always agree with what I read in The Scotsman but I value the quality of the information and opinion that it provides.

COLIN MONTGOMERIE
Golfer
The Scotsman has been a Scottish institution for almost 200 years – not as long as the game of golf, of course, but long enough to be significant.

It's a newspaper which is an integral part of public life in Scotland and I'm sure all Scottish golfers value its thorough coverage of both amateur and professional golf.

JOHN DUNSMORE
Outgoing chief executive of Scottish & Newcastle
It is important that both shareholders – the owners of the business – and stakeholders, including employees, customers and suppliers, understand what you are doing and why you are doing it.

Of all the media, The Scotsman in particular is the "home town" newspaper for many of our UK employees. The Scotsman was, and is, a must-read.

MARGO MACDONALD
Independent MSP
After I started to take an interest in public policy, there was no way that I could avoid reading The Scotsman.

It's the first paper I turn to, to get a feeling of the day's agenda and to check reactions to the previous day's politics, gossip and insider news from Easter Road. I wish it supported Scottish independence, but freely admit that in the 40-odd years I've known it, no other paper has covered the constitutional question better.

LAURA MCGHEE
Singer/songwriter
As a musician I think the coverage in the music and arts section is one of the best in the country, including a diverse range of genres.

I particularly enjoy reading the SW section. It is great to see so many career-driven, successful women these days and having a section dedicated to "us" is a fantastic idea!

I think that The Scotsman reports in an accessible way which appeals to many readers.

SUSAN RICE
Chief executive, Lloyds TSB Scotland
It is vital that Scotland has quality media, reporting and reflecting not just what is happening domestically, but across the UK and beyond. The Scotsman plays an extremely valuable role in ensuring that Scottish stories receive an audience both at home and abroad.

I believe it is further enhanced by The Scotsman.com website, which provides a modern view of Scotland to a global audience.

MARY CONTINI
Food writer and owner of Valvona & Crolla
I have always read The Scotsman. It gives a balanced and thought-provoking insight into the most important issues of the day, national and international, from a Scots point of view.

It leads the debate rather than following it and the intelligent and thoughtful reader interaction gives an important voice to the population.

I especially enjoy the supplements: a great mix of trends, gossip and ideas.

ARCHIE STIRLING
Founder, Scottish Voice
The Scotsman is more than just a newspaper; it is interwoven in the fabric of the nation and is iconic in a way that other newspapers are not.

I especially admire The Scotsman's sense of fairness. While some papers allow their particular political preference to stifle opposing stances, The Scotsman has always encouraged a breadth of opinion within its columns. If ever a newspaper deserved its iconic title, it is The Scotsman.

CLIVE FAIRWEATHER
Formerly Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Prisons and a retired SAS colonel
When I was growing up, my policeman father always had his nose in The Scotsman in the morning.

He maintained that reading the "hatch, match and dispatch" sections followed by the editorial was essential to knowing what was going on in Edinburgh and the world. Fifty years on I still agree with him; the foreign coverage and letters pages continue to be quite excellent.

NICOL STEPHEN
Leader, the Scottish Liberal Democrats
The Scotsman is one of Europe's most influential daily newspapers. Since it was first published in 1817, it has engraved itself in the very fabric of every aspect of Scottish public life. It is a vibrant and valued part of our nation.

Now in the 21st century, new ideas and new technology are transforming the world of newspapers. The Scotsman is rightly determined to be at the leading edge of that change.

DR ALEX YELLOWLEES
Medical director, Priory Hospital, Glasgow
I read The Scotsman for a number of reasons. Firstly because I like its visual appearance – it simply looks good! It is a good size in its current form, easy to pick up, hold and read on a busy train.

The Scotsman is well put together in terms of the layout. It also gets to grips sufficiently with topical issues and news items without being superficial or too elaborate to read in the time I have available.

CECILE WISHART
Manager, Restaurant Martin Wishart
I like to read a Scottish newspaper that actively supports Scottish writers and businesses. I also find the information to be accurate with regard to the events in and around Scotland.

I particularly like the format the newspaper is in and the use of photography to help capture the moment. I have also started to recognise the writers and often enjoy reading their pieces.

MARTIN PLANT
Professor of addiction studies, University of the West of England, Bristol
I have greatly enjoyed reading The Scotsman for many years. I continue to do so whenever I can, even though I am currently based in Bristol.

The Scotsman provides a balanced and satisfying diet of news, comment and review. I can think of few better ways of beginning the day than reading The Scotsman while enjoying a big breakfast in a Highland hotel. Simply wonderful.

CHRISTOPHER WHATLEY
Professor of history and the Vice-Principal of Dundee University
Scotland needs The Scotsman. We need to know what's happening in Scotland, and ensure that the distinctive and diverse elements of Scottish society, including politics, our history and culture are given due weight; this is The Scotsman's forte. Broadcasters in Scotland seem to have abandoned in-depth scrutiny of Scottish public life.

LORD FOULKES
Labour MSP and peer
Under Eric MacKay's editorship, the paper was one of the most enthusiastic supporters of our 1979 devolution campaign. And although during my exile in Ayrshire and Westminster The Scotsman remained a critical friend, it was the support during my 18 months as chairman of Hearts that I appreciated most.

I wish The Scotsman well for many years to come, and look forward to continue close collaboration.

LORD STRATHCLYDE
Conservative peer
For as long as I can remember, The Scotsman has been well produced and full of good writing. The news coverage is first-rate and I like newspapers which stand up for their readers.

But what makes the paper special to me is that it has its finger on the pulse of real lives across Scotland. It's genuinely interested in people, not just celebrities, substance not spin.

I value The Scotsman as a powerful reminder of the larger world outside.

WILLIE GALLAGHER
Executive chairman of TIE Ltd, manager of the Edinburgh tram project
Building a world-class tram project for the city of Edinburgh means I have learned to share the enthusiasm of Alastair Dalton (transport correspondent] for the detail on transport issues.

The Scotsman has an Edinburgh focus and an insight into Scottish politics that in my job is paramount. It gives me the latest views on Scottish politics, news, lifestyle and sport.

ANGUS ROBERTSON
SNP leader at Westminster
Scotland is an exciting place at the moment with a real sense of optimism. As a leading domestic media institution, The Scotsman has an opportunity to reflect these new realities.

Public opinion overwhelmingly supports more decision-making in Scotland, which should sit comfortably with the historic position of The Scotsman as a pro-home-rule newspaper of record.

RONNIE SMITH
General Secretary, EIS
The Educational Institute of Scotland and The Scotsman have played a prominent part in the educational debate for over 150 years. While the EIS has not always shared the views of The Scotsman when it comes to education policy, The Scotsman's commitment to a dedicated education correspondent ensures the important issues for Scotland's nurseries, schools, colleges and universities never lack an appropriate forum for debate.

SANDRA BROWN, OBE
Author and founder of the Moira Anderson Foundation
A Scotsman reader for 20 years, I buy it to keep abreast of news, theatre events, books and cinema. The editorial is thought-provoking, and letters are always worth a look, and I enjoy columnists such as Robert McNeil and Janey Godley – their witticisms are off the wall. The greatest draw tends to be the Saturday Critique mag for me, as I'm a writer and in a book group.

STRUAN STEVENSON
Conservative MEP
The Scotsman is as much part of my breakfast ritual as having a cup of coffee. It is a cornerstone of Scottish life and, when I am away in Brussels or Strasbourg, I can read the main stories online to keep in touch with what is happening back in my constituency.

It has also supported many of my campaigns over the years.

I may not always agree with what I read in The Scotsman – but I can never ignore it!

RICHARD KEEN, QC
Dean of the Faculty of Advocates
Access to justice can be fully achieved only through an increased public knowledge of our legal system, which will allow people to become more aware of the full range of advice and representation available to them. With its continuing commitment to weekly law pages, The Scotsman performs a valuable role in keeping the public, politicians and the professions informed on a wide range of issues.

HUGH PENNINGTON
Professor and leading microbiologist
The Scotsman is a paper record about all things Scottish. I miss papers like The Scotsman when I go south. It covers national and international matters well, but in terms of coverage of the issues that matter in Scotland, it is a key source. You feel you are not missing out on anything important happening when you read it, which I think is crucial. Politics is important and the coverage is a real strength of the paper.

ANDREW RETTIE
Partner in Charge of Strutt & Parker's estate agency in Scotland
I read The Scotsman every weekday. My role involves knowing what is happening north of the Border – the movements of business leaders and performances of their businesses. I find The Scotsman enables me to keep a finger firmly on the commercial pulse of the country.

I like the fact The Scotsman is compact and I take particular interest in the property supplement on Thursdays.

KEN DALE-RISK
Law lecturer at Napier University
The Scotsman reflects its title by coverage across the whole of the country, with less obvious bias towards its city of origin. I read The Scotsman, particularly for high-quality national and international reporting. As a law lecturer, I go straight to the dedicated pages on Monday, especially given that they are often written by a former student. The sports pages demonstrate there are more football teams in Scotland than the Old Firm.

OWEN KELLY
Chief Executive, Scottish Financial Enterprise
The Scotsman is an essential read because it covers the business, government and social issues of the day, often setting agendas for others to follow. It has a strong team of writers in London and in Scotland, some of whom are very well informed indeed on financial-services matters. It carries a good mix of opinions, which can be labour-intensive for the journalist but are of real value to the reader.

BILL MCGREGOR
General Secretary of the Headteachers Association of Scotland
In an age of instant news through television, text and e-mail, a newspaper becomes the medium for comment and in-depth information. It requires to provide insights which are thoughtful and balanced. Add to this an editorial approach which is courageous, critical without becoming destructive and objective rather than party political;

I believe The Scotsman merits this description.

ALAN CAMPBELL
Managing Partner, Dundas & Wilson
The Scotsman provides an easy reference point for the wide range of issues we need to follow, giving useful analysis from a local, national and international perspective. We particularly value its spread of coverage and the grasp of the Scottish political agenda. The writing style also recognises that you don't have to abandon humour to be informative, and this is much appreciated in a busy day.

JAMES ALEXANDER
President of the NUS Scotland
The Scotsman is an institution in news coverage in Scotland and has a crucial role in highlighting the issues which affect students, and potential students, in Scotland today. The paper has a breadth and depth of coverage and a clear commitment to fairness. Its journalists are concerned with covering both sides of the story and getting to the heart of the real issues affecting students today.

PETER TERRY
Chairman, British Medical Association Scotland
I think The Scotsman is a very good quality paper. In relation to health, I think what I like about it, which is not always reflected in other newspapers, is the balance it gives to stories, making sure that all sides are reflected on a particular issue.

One of its major strengths is that the paper has been very supportive of some of the things that are most important to us as doctors.

JULYAN SINCLAIR
Presenter, XFM Breakfast Show
I read The Scotsman because I like balanced international news with a slant on local issues. There aren't many newspapers I'd read from cover to cover.

Notwithstanding one sports reporter who likes the sound of his own pen too much, The Scotsman fits my criteria for a good daily read.

I use the red-tops for throwaway, but The Scotsman is essential for the real facts, with humour where appropriate.

DEBBIE TAYLOR
Manager, Old Course Hotel, St Andrews
A copy of The Scotsman is sitting on my desk every morning when I arrive at the hotel, and I read it every day as I like to make sure that my finger is on the pulse. The Scotsman also has very good coverage of what's happening in the Scottish tourism sector. Many of our guests also request The Scotsman as their morning paper, including our overseas visitors, who are interested to learn about what's happening in Scotland.

SCOTT HASTINGS
Scottish rugby legend
We get The Scotsman every morning and I wouldn't be without it. It's a great Scottish read, covering Scottish business, current affairs and global news, and a wide range of sport.

The sport gives you a great snapshot of everything going on and is so well done that I only wish there were more pages dedicated to the subject.

The Scotsman has long been the Hastings family paper and it's still the first thing I read in the morning.

ANNE HOUSTON
Chief Executive of Children 1ST
We need papers like The Scotsman which devote time and space to such issues as: how can we best protect children, are we over-protecting them and how can families be better supported here in Scotland?

I read The Scotsman to check the day's news agenda, and appearing in articles allows Children 1ST to reach a wide range of people, from politicians to the man and woman on the street.

DOUGLAS HAMILTON
Head of Policy and Research, Save the Children UK
I think it's true to say that The Scotsman is a real institution in Scotland. It is widely viewed as a credible source of information, not just for the coverage of Scottish issues but the extensive international agenda, too. Yet the local angles are still there; it is still undoubtedly a paper for the Scots.

The Scotsman is influential in a modern, global-thinking Scotland.

DAVID SANDERS
Director of Marketing, Maclay Murray & Spens
The Scotsman is a must-read for any business leader serious about keeping a finger on Scotland's pulse. It provides depth and analysis, with agenda-setting commentary on local, national and international issues. The weekly Law section provides a refreshing insight into the challenges facing the profession, while its online presence is second to none in the Scottish market.

MARTYN WADE
National Librarian
Among the 20 miles or more of newspapers in our collections, the National Library of Scotland has editions of The Scotsman dating all the way back to its launch as a weekly newspaper in 1817. The modern version is obviously much changed from those days but, be it in print or online, The Scotsman remains one of our primary sources for keeping abreast of developments in news, politics, education, business and culture across Scotland.

TOM WOOD
Chairman of the Scottish Association of Alcohol and Drug Teams
The Scotsman occupies a unique position. It reports from the heart of government, and I believe it does this well. It also interprets complex matters well, and although I think it sometimes takes an overly anti-establishment stance, it is right to be controversial and a touch cynical. The Scotsman has had its challenges over the last ten years, but seems to have rediscovered a formula that works.

DR CYNTHIA McVEY
Head of Psychology, Glasgow Caledonian University
As a west-coaster, I do have considerable loyalty to the Glasgow-produced papers, but I must say I do like The Scotsman. It is well written and well laid out. Visuals are, of course, important in newspapers and there is a good balance of colour and black and white. I love the tabloid format – easy to read over an Americano coffee – and big enough to hide behind, if needs be.

MAGGIE MCKERNAN
Literary agent
I read The Scotsman because I want the view from here. I want to see what's going on in the world, but I want to see it from where I'm sitting – not from England or America but from Scotland. I'm a Scot and I want a Scottish perspective.

Also, I don't want the parish gossip, but I do want to know what's going on here in the parliament, the arts and industry. I don't want Scotland just tacked on as an extra.

JIM PANTON
Chief executive of Poppyscotland
I read The Scotsman because I see it as a concise source of national news and, as head of a national charity, it is vital that I stay on top of the issues that really matter. For me, these issues include those that affect Scottish veterans and their families throughout Scotland, a theme that has been highlighted in The Scotsman on a number of occasions, drawing attention to those that are in need and all too often forgotten.

DAVID WEIR
Rangers and Scotland footballer
In my eyes, The Scotsman is an institution. If I am down south and I come back up and see The Scotsman newspaper, it brings back memories of Edinburgh, playing for Hearts and of course winning the cup.

And I am also proud to say that I have written for The Scotsman. To me it's a fixture.

BOB FISHER
Head of Colliers CRE, commercial property consultants, in Scotland
The Scotsman provides a valuable platform for us to reach clients and the wider business community, as well as being an excellent source of Scottish news and analysis in its own right. Its commitment to, and understanding of, commercial property issues – particularly through its dedicated weekly CP section – makes The Scotsman essential reading in our market.