In common, I suspect, with most journalists who swap the newsroom for the lecture hall I was initially bemused by the sheer hostility of academic media studies towards the press.
Despite the fact that Marx wrote I think next to nothing about the media, Marxism is often presented as a fundamental starting point for critical analysis of the western media.
In time I’ve come to learn that media studies and practical journalism are just two separate subjects. Once you get that clear, it’s possible to examine each on their own merits.
Starting out as a lecturer, one of the few academics who didn’t appear to actually hate all journalists and media organisations was Brian McNair. His textbook, News and Journalism in the UK, was also accessible – not something that can be said of all media studies writing.
Today Brian plugs a new edition of the (very good) book in allmediascotland.com but ends the piece with a bizarre and seemingly out of nowhere attack on Independence, even including a paraphrase of Labour’s favourite anti-SNP slogan – stronger together, weaker apart.
The idea seems to be that Independence would be a disaster for Scottish newspapers - although the evidence base for this seems to be, well, zero. I’m not quite sure exactly how The Herald, Scotsman, Record etc. with their plummeting sales are currently benefiting from the Union.
Indeed given its plight the Scottish media seems to be the worst possible industry to use to promote the status quo.
The fact is Independence would be the best thing to happen to Scottish journalism. With a normal Parliament to report on and a government setting economic, European and foreign policy the papers would instantly become more interesting.
What would be the point in buying a London title in such circumstances?
If you don’t believe me – take a look at the Irish Times site and compare it to The Scotsman’s. There’ s no contest.
Up-date: more evidence of how well Scottish papers are doing under the Union – some significant redundancies at the Daily Record.
