Talking-up Scotland

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For an introduction to this series of media-monitoring reports, see:

https://thoughtcontrolscotland.com/2018/04/16/the-power-of-early-morning-nightmares-waking-up-to-bbc-scotland-and-learning-to-fear-an-independent-future-16th-april-2018/

There were five reports covered with, typically, four in each insert. Coding from the table is in parentheses:

First, we heard of a BBC investigation which found that men outnumber women among the ranks of Scotland’s top-earning senior doctors. Though no direct accusation of failure was levelled, this report contributes to a negative image of both NHS Scotland and the Scottish Government (1, 6).

Second, was a report on the pardon for gay men convicted of sexual offences which are no longer a crime. Film of the First minister making the apology was included. This can be reasonably seen as positive for the Scottish government’s image (1).

Third, the Scottish government’s fund of £250 000, for farmers affected by recent severe weather, was reported with no criticism (1).

Fourth was the report of a Scottish Sikh arrested in India and fifth was a report of the QE2 opening as a tourist attraction. The latter only appeared once. Neither have bene coded.

Reports from 16/4 to 18/4/18                                                           Total (previous)

1. Positive news for SNP / Scottish Government                              4 (2)
2. Negative news for SNP / Scottish Government                            3 (2)
3. Positive news for Scottish economy                                               0 (0)
4. Negative news for Scottish economy                                             0 (1)
5. Positive news for Scottish health services                                    0 (0)
6. Negative news for Scottish health services                                  1 (3)
7. Other positive news for Scotland                                                   0 (0)
8. Other negative news for Scotland                                                  0 (3)
9. Use of reliable sources                                                                      0 (1)
10. Use of unreliable sources                                                                 0 (3)
11. Reliance on outdated GDP or other productivity figures          0 (2)

Few signs of anything nightmare-inducing, I know, but, perhaps, this will enable me to gather a body of data which I can compare with what happens once a date for a second referendum is announced.