Johnston Press, Mentorn and Newsquest launch bid for Scottish news pilot
Johnston Press, Mentorn and Newsquest have launched a consortium in a bid to run the regional news pilot in Scotland.
The three companies have joined forces to try and win funding from the government’s independently funded news consortium (IFNC) scheme to replace ITV’s regional news operation, according to reports.
The consortium, which will also include publisher DC Thomson, already has backing from the former ITN chief Mark Wood.
John Fry, chief executive of Johnston Press, said: “This news consortium has tremendous strength in depth in communities throughout Scotland and I am confident that it can provide consumers with a significantly different and enhanced service.”
Wood, who will advise the partners, added: “This consortium represents an unprecedented partnership between historically competing news organisations, and promises to deliver a breadth and vibrancy in national and local coverage no one can match.
“This will transform and invigorate the whole nature of Scottish television news while the parallel use of web platforms will engage and involve viewers in a way which has never been ventured on this scale.”
The group, which have named themselves the Scottish News Consortium, will be in competition with partners Trinity Mirror and MacMillan Media as well as STV, ITN and Bauer Media for the pilot.
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport is due to announce the successful bidder in March.