SLYBACON

“In 2005, an over-stretched local newspaper outfit, the Johnston Press, had a rush of blood to its silly head and bought the Scotsman group from the Barclays for £160 million. It has already seen off three editors and, if the paper survives, will doubtless see off several more. It is a crazy way to run a business, yet not at all surprising. The company had no expertise in running a national newspaper, far less in securing the future of a treasured national institution which the Scotsman was and potentially remains. What we are witnessing in the slow death of this newspaper is a national tragedy, but it may not be unavoidable yet.”

Kenneth Roy- Editor, The Scottish Review