Scotsman editor hits back at Alex Salmond
Editor Frank O’Donnell calls it an “ill-informed attack”
Last updated 3rd Nov 2017
The editor of the Scotsman has spoken out over Salmond’s claim that the paper is now ‘”largely irrelevant” and that he would restore pride and confidence through a “pro-Scottish” agenda.
The ex-SNP leader, who lost his Westminster seat in June’s general election, has joined a bid to install new leadership at Johnston Press who is the publisher of The Scotsman as well as the i.
Editor Frank O’Donnell said he would not allow Salmond’s “ill informed attack” on the newspaper go unchallenged. He said: “Mr Salmond is either ignorant of the paper's content or perhaps he equates “pro-Scottish” as being pro-SNP.”
O’Donnell pointed out that: “Of the 26 front pages in October - 20 splashes were Scottish. And the front page picture has been Scottish 19 times out of 26, the exceptions being around Brexit, Catalonia and the Las Vegas shooting.
“Turn to the sport pages and you will find near-100 per cent Scottish-focused coverage. Delve deeper into business, the arts, features, property and the weekend magazine and again you will find the vast majority of content written in Scotland, about Scotland.”
Alex Salmond would become chairman of the Johnston Press group if plans led by Norwegian investor Christen Ager-Hanssen are approved by shareholders.
Ager-Hanssen, a shareholder in Johnston Press through his Custos Group, is expected to call an emergency general meeting to put forward his plans. He told BBC Radio Scotland's Good Morning Scotland programme it was “totally wrong'' to suggest Mr Salmond would be involved in the editorial stance of the paper and there would “absolutely not'' be any calls from the chief executive to tell editors what to write.