Whenever the House-Jock Parties wish to get a particular message out into the public they turn to their tame media. Individually the English registered parties have so few members there is no other alternative to get their message out. They have some Spad or intern write their latest SNP Bad/Scotland is shit nonsense and hey presto it is on every front page the same day. This then sets the news feed for the Broadcasters who then carry this ‘popular’ pish!

Meanwhile, we in the SNP and YES Movement are screaming out ‘why aren’t the SNP rebutting these lies and distortions?’ It really is quite simple, the foreign owned MSM are only interested in articles that dovetail with their narrative of anti-independence. I am sure we send not only rebuttals but also our own press releases which as we know rarely make it into the newspapers. The ones that do are on many occasions heavily censored. The press also ensure there are plenty of Uncle Jocks to criticise and distort whatever message the Scottish Government has tried to relay to the public. By the time it comes to the Broadcasters, it has gone from an SNP feelgood announcement to a full on Critics say, SNP accused, SNP under pressure!

We all know that is exactly what they managed to do with Minimum Pricing, Baby boxes and many others. Instead of the media pointing to how infant, mortality had virtually been eradicated in Finland with baby boxes, as part of an overall strategy. They preferred instead, to get a flame thrower and burn a baby box. The story then became that SNP were giving new mothers fire hazards to then place their newborns!

Minimum Pricing was not relayed as a benefit to the health and well being of our entire population. It was shown to be an attack on the working man and his weekly pint or his bottle of Malt. Distortions and misinformation are the modus operandi of our gutter media.

This is why many like myself have been angered by people like Ian Blackford, Angus Robertson and others trying to promote the anti independence press during this crisis. Warning us if we don’t subscribe or go out and buy The Express or Mail or Scotsman or Sun they could go out of business! I know I am not the only one that was incredulous at these interventions by senior SNP luminaries. I personally, over the years have had social media debates with many of my fellow Yessers who have demanded SNP upscale their media team. I point out the futility of that if they are hoping that somehow this will change the behaviour or narrative of the anti independence media.

However, back in February Murray Foote, the former editor of Scottish tabloid The Daily Record was appointed by the Scottish National Party as its head of communications and research at Holyrood. I wonder if anyone in our movement has noticed a scintilla of change in the anti-SNP bile printed daily in Scotland? Has anyone noticed more pro-SNP articles in the MSM or broadcasting outlets? The answer, of course, is a big No! This appointment of a poacher turned gamekeeper will not make an iota of difference. The SNP Scottish Government keep trying to appease and implore our corrupt media to just be fair and truthful. Guys, it won’t work! Perhaps they thought by appointing one of their own this might curry them some favour with the rabid Unionist press. Niave in the extreme!

Members of the Press and media in Scotland have only one thing they dislike more than the SNP and Independence, that is the new pro-independence media. They have a pompous belief that we have no right to exist and no right to criticise or rebut their distortions and lies. They, like so many in the British Establishment have a sense of entitlement and a belief in their exceptionalism. They look down their noses upon us in the same way Jacob Rees-Mogg would to a single mother from a small African country in his constituency office seeking help.

The MSM and Broadcasters may loathe, despise and rubbish us bloggers. However, here is the reality, we have thousands and thousands of readers. We have no pay walls. Our opinion is not determined by our salary cheque. We believe in what we write, more importantly we are on your side! While the MSM are losing readers hand over fist we in the alternative new media are gaining new readers every day. There are too many too list here however there are countless pro-independence, pro, SNP outlets The big boys like Wings Over Scotland, WGD, reach far more people than some of the gutter press. Many of us have healthy readership in the few thousands.

I know I have not been contacted by the new SNP Head of Communications and Research and I have not heard from any of the other countless bloggers of any communication either. Does he possibly hold the same low opinion of new media as those in the Industry he has just left?

It is an indisputable fact that the vast majority of Yessers neither trust nor purchase the Unionist press. Why is the SNP still trying to woo them?  Why is the SNP ignoring the source that backs them wholeheartedly? Why can they not see this is the easiest way to get their message out to their support? Just as the Unionists use the Herald, Record, Scotsman etc. to get their message to their core support the SNP should be doing the same utilising their own supportive media. I would take any and all SNP, Scottish Government Press releases and post them on my site with no editing or distorting. Nor would there would be quotes from Rennie or Carlaw on just how bad this press release is for Scotland, the union the polar caps! I fully anticipate my fellow bloggers would have the exact same thoughts.

I just cannot understand why the SNP ignores this 100% sympathetic media source at their fingertips. Could it be they have that same disdain towards us as the Media that hate them do? I have not heard any of the SNP great and good telling people to support the pro-independence bloggers and media. With more subscribers we too could do more! Yet you are telling pro-indy people to give their money to the British media, WTF? Are The SNP afraid that if they did support the Indy media that supports them that the media that hates and distorts them would hate them even more?

I do not have the exact numbers for all the Independence supporting media however I would suggest it is as great as most of the dead tree press. It is certainly far greater than The National’s readership. I would respectfully suggest to the SNP this, you have a devoted media source you can call upon at anytime, use it! Perhaps if you did, you would not find yourself in the difficulties that you have with GRA or Humza’s Hate Crime Bill. If your messages were being relayed to your core support unedited or distorted then perhaps you would not be getting the blowback you get by trusting the pro- British Media sources.

There are many advantages for both SNP and our pro-indy media. The SNP message goes out verbatim just as the Party wish. The core audience, your support get to see it first hand. The SNP, in turn, gets the feedback from their voters and their support. The Party can then amend or stop legislation dead before it becomes a problem to the party. I would suggest the GRA would have been a classic example.

In summary we are here, use us there are no catches with the pro- independence media. We want the same as you, in fact at present, I would respectfully suggest we want it more. It is time SNP, you realised and respected just exactly where your bread is buttered.