Here’s how Policy Mogul introduces, today, the latest ONS labour market statistics for Scotland, for March to May 2023:
Commenting on the latest publication of ONS labour market statistics which show Scotland’s unemployment rate for March to May 2023 remained low at 3.2 per cent, Wellbeing Economy Secretary Neil Gray said:
“The continued near-record low unemployment rates for those aged 16 and over across Scotland are welcome and reflects the resilience of the labour market amid the challenging economic outlook and ongoing cost of living crisis. This is compounded by continuing high inflation and rising interest rates. However, the Scottish Government is committed to supporting more people into work – including the disabled and those with health conditions and caring responsibilities – through employability and skills support as well as improved access to flexible working.”
Scottish Government: Publication of Labour Market Statistics for March to May 2023 – Key updates – PolicyMogul
After, three more quotes from Neil Gray, they present the actual data.
That’s not only good journalism, it’s standard – get them interested with some eye-catching quotes before you offer the data.
BBC Scotland have a ‘different‘ approach.
Under a not-so-eye-catching, grudging, negative, headline:
Slight rise in Scottish unemployment rate
they open with the data, before, under another carefully selected, negative, sub-heading of:
Challenging outlook
they let Neil Gray speak again, but in case you’ve read all the way and you’re getting a wee bit perky, they refer back to the chosen negative, and finish with:
ONS data shows Scotland’s overall employment rate is 75.1%, below the UK rate of 76%.
Policy Mogul seems to have missed this latter point.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-66162215
What do these differing approaches to reporting the same story, in terms of the wording chosen for headings and in the sequencing of the content, suggest?
None of us can be certain of what was going on in the mind of the BBC Scotland author.
Perhaps it’s just a random, apolitical, semi-conscious variation in ‘style’ or habits.
Perhaps it’s the consequence of an underlying culture where, to writers, in particular the younger ones, it seems ‘normal‘ and they just ‘know‘, at a subconscious level, what the editors will approve.
Perhaps it’s a conscious, ideological agenda to deliberately always talk Scotland down in a campaign to undermine the SNP via the assessment of the performance of the current Scottish Government.
Personally, I think the second is a better explanation of most of what happens much of the time and the first will also apply at times. However, when I think of Sarah Smith or Glen Campbell or the editors, the third seems to fit the bill better.
The choice of headlines, where consistent over time, clearly reveals a predisposition to talk up or report down but why does the sequencing matter?
We know that many readers read only headlines and that the majority do not read all the way to the end, so putting the bad news first, again where this is constant over time, will have an effect.
Talking-up Scotland 'Albatraz' 
DOES TH
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Regarding the editorial attitude of BBC Scotland News: in the run-up to the 2019 General Election, the launch of Labour’s Scottish manifesto took place at a community centre where I do voluntary work.
We could hardly move for journalists and their broadcasting equipment. BBC Scotland had a big representation and despite the leading political reporter, Brian Taylor, being present, Sarah Smith was there, too.
When the campaign bus arrived, she rushed outside and as Jeremy Corbyn and others came out she hugged and embraced most of those in the launch party.
Although the photographers were outside, too, to film Mr Corbyn and others, the journalists remained inside at the space where the launch and Q&A was to take place. They actually conducted themselves with the decorum expected of such an occasion, including the ones from Mail, Express, Sun, etc.
Ms Smith’s behaviour was significantly different from theirs. No prizes for guessing whose side she was on!
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The BBC , in Scotland especially , is a Lost Cause !
Consign them to the dustbin of history ! Good riddance !
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Tut, tut.
They Nats’ll be shuttin’ doon aw’ the buroo’s next.
An’ we wull need them when Labour gits the keys. tae Westminster.
Rid Tories, Pink Tories, New Tories, Tory-Lite, Sur Keir Thatcher.
Wee Brian Wilson doesnae like slurs.
Didn’t bother him when name-calling “Tartan Tories”.
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Scotland has a higher % of older people. Retired. Lower unemployment rate pro rata. Scotland would have full employment Independent. A better economy and more prosperous.
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