DOCSLIB.ORG

NUJ Informed February 2019

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
NUJ Informed February 2019 NEWS FROM THE NATIONAL EXECUTIVE Informedissue 26 February 2019 deal which could cancel JPIMedia’s Honk! We’re on strike responsibility for JP’s pensions and dump its scheme on the government’s Pension Protection Fund. At Reach, the third of the big three provincial publishers, cuts continue. In Ireland, the union expressed grave concern about further cuts at Independent News & Media and is helping editorial workers faced with the threat of redundancy. Meanwhile lay-offs and cuts at the so-called new media outfits such as BuzzFeed, Huffington Post and Vice have shown the problems of revenue raising in the digital sector. As NUJ Informed went to press, the Cairncross report was imminent and, as Ian Burrell reports (page 9), all the signs suggest that the government will consider moving towards some sort of regulation and a “tech tax” on the likes of Facebook and Google to offset their free ride in scooping up media advertising and taking content from the press. Newsquest staff in Cumbria on strike During a meeting with Jeremy Wright, Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, If Dame Frances Cairncross needed Labour leaders of Cumbria and Carlisle Media and Sport, Michelle Stanistreet, any more evidence of the state of the councils, the Carlisle Green Party chair NUJ general secretary, impressed upon UK’s regional newspapers as she put and a host of local councillors. him that handing over any tech-tax the last touches to her report on the Newsquest made more than a 100 bounty to the existing news groups sustainability of the press, the strike people redundant since it took over would not help encourage quality, public by Newsquest journalists couldn’t Cumbria Newspapers in March 2018. interest journalism and that any further have made it clearer. The strike highlighted poverty wages, funding mechanisms would need strict Picket line placards at the Carlisle with trainees earning £16,500 and criteria to help deliver quality content News and Star, the Cumberland News, seniors starting on £20,500. News and boost plurality. the Workington Times and Star and the that notorious “vulture capitalist” Michelle discussed with Jeremy Whitehaven News before Christmas MNG Enterprises had offered Gannett, Wright how diversity in broadcasting cried: “Local News Matters”, “Stop the Newsquest’s US parent company, a and the wider media industry could Cuts”, “We Need a Pay Rise”, while buy-out was chilling news for staff at the be improved and updated him on the the journalists reported on the high UK-based titles. union’s equal pay claims at the BBC. He levels of stress among staff and the Plans by the new owner of Johnston sought the union’s views on improving loss of experienced reporters at their Press, JPIMedia, to close, merge or media literacy among young people newspapers. move offices in Belfast, Peterborough, and how to combat the online abuse of The striking journalists earned huge Sunderland, Harrogate and London’s journalists. It was a very positive meeting support across the union movement, Cavendish Square, boded ill for those and the department has shown it is keen plus praise from local Tory MP, Rory working there since the newspaper group to maintain a constructive relationship Stewart, Lib Dem, Tim Farron, the announced a prepack administration with the union. Also Michelle’s Sexual The Year in this Message Harassment Ahead issue: Page 2 Page 5 Page 9 02 Informed Michelle’s Message Following a meeting with Jeremy Wright, the Culture Secretary, Michelle Stanistreet joined a DCMS round table of news organisations and academics to discuss how the NUJ can play a role in improving media literacy, so young people can Michelle with culture secretary Jeremy Wright learn to read news individual or entity behind these stories option for them. they can trust. and images have a vested interest or At a roundtable meeting convened malicious motivation in dressing them this week by Margot James, minister up as fact or circulating them on social for the digital and creative industries, media in the first place. there were wide-ranging discussions When I was at school, information So small wonder that political and about how to tackle these issues, and about news and current affairs came industry attention is now focussed on enthusiasm for how the members of an from books, TV news, bulletins on the media literacy in schoolchildren and organisation like the NUJ could make a local radio station and, in my house, teenagers as never before. real difference to the range of great work the contents of the Liverpool Echo. In a recent meeting with Jeremy already happening in some schools. Today, despite delivering newspapers Wright, the Secretary of State for Digital, Initiatives including the Media Literacy every morning my 15-year-old son’s Culture, Media and Sport, the issue of Trust’s Newswise campaign, Charlotte’s starting point for what’s happening fake news and misinformation led us Project which carries out sessions on in the world hails from channels on on to discuss media literacy and what fake news with sixth-formers, Shout Out Youtube, clips shared around via more can be done to hone those critical UK, and Doc Academy which provides Snapchat or closed groupchats on faculties and to tackle misinformation lesson plans and documentary clips for WhatsApp. from an early age. We talked about my teachers. We regularly have exchanges about desire to get NUJ members engaged ITV, Channel 4, the BBC, Google something that sounds so outlandish in this work, building on our links and Twitter all spoke about the work and to my mind obviously daft, yet the with journalism students in colleges they’re engaged in. Ofcom outlined its answer to my dismissive assertion of it and universities, and developing the significant research on these issues being rubbish is met with – it’s true, it’s ad-hoc initiatives that many of our – most recently on the surveys on on the internet! Look, let me show you! members and officials have engaged children’s media use and attitudes, And so it is. There’s brilliant content to with in schools. Raising awareness of life on the small screen, exploring the be had online, but there’s a lot of dross the vital role that journalism plays in our relationship children have with their as well. The problem is that without communities would have other benefits devices, with more research planned context it can be hard to work out what’s too – focusing attention on journalism as on issues including the nature of true and what’s not, what’s exaggerated a career option at an early age for young advertising online. Academics from or just made up, whether an image is people from diverse backgrounds who the LSE and Goldsmiths are engaged in manipulated or real, and whether the currently would never dream of it as an work to research the challenges, point to Informed 03 sustainable solutions, and map the work taking place and evaluate its success. Sian Jones, NUJ How to make worthy and much- needed initiatives sustainable and able president, says come to scale up to match the need – in an out fighting this environment where digital change is fast February and boost and constantly evolving – is a challenge that has yet to be met. the union’s Trust in journalism underpins all of this membership work. Whatever the platform, however we access our news and information, With the start of a new year, there how we build relationships of trust in are so many ways to support your information that has integrity and a union, and some too-good-to-miss NUJ president Sian Jones provenance is key – not just soaking up opportunities for us all to get into content and treating something as fact recruitment mode. that merely bolsters our instinctive Heart Unions Week is coming up very hands and supporting your union too. beliefs or prejudices. There’s nothing soon from February 11 to 17, so why Contact [email protected] for more new in this, but the reality is that people don’t you start the year as you mean to information. are bombarded with more information go on and make a resolution to recruit Be active in your union. Attend a from a wider range of sources than colleagues and contacts? chapel or branch meeting, become a rep ever before – boosting our critical It’s the perfect opportunity to or get involved in a campaign. We thrive capacity to weed out what’s been promote the NUJ and bring people into on the involvement and expertise of fact-checked, from what has not, is the membership. The TUC and our sister our members. challenge we all face and a skill we need unions across the movement will all be A full range of training is available for to help our children acquire from the out recruiting and promoting the good reps so you’ll be supported. Through earliest possible age. work of unions. We’ll be joining the your skills and dedication we can stand In an age where distrust is rife it is party and letting media workers know up for and give a voice to our members therefore heartening to see that the BBC we’re the home for them. in media workplaces across the UK, leads the way – Ofcom’s recent research The NUJ’s theme is getting a pay rise – Ireland and beyond. A list of meetings is found 79 per cent of people rate the a sure reason why you should be in available on the NUJ website www.nuj. BBC’s news highly, with 73 per cent a union.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Results for the Year Ended 31 December 2020
    Results for the year ended 31 December 2020 Released : 22 April 2021 RNS Number : 2331W National World PLC 22 April 2021 National World plc ("National World," or the "Company") Results for the year ended 31 December 2020 Notice of Annual General Meeting National World, (LSE: NWOR.L), the investment business established to create a modern platform for news publishing through acquisition and transformation, announces its results for the year ended 31 December 2020, together with details of its forthcoming Annual General Meeting, ("AGM"). During the year, the Company continued to evaluate a number of acquisition opportunities. Following a three month due diligence process, it completed the acquisition of JPIMedia Publishing Limited and its subsidiaries, (the "JPI Group") on 2 January 2021 ("the Acquisition). As the Acquisition was completed after the 2020 financial year end, the National World results for the year ended 31 December 2020 do not consolidate the results of JPI Group. JPI Group was acquired for £10.2 million, on a debt free, cash free basis with a normalised level of working capital, with £5.2 million paid in cash on completion of the Acquisition on 2 January 2021 ("Completion") (£500,000 for equity and £4.7 million repayment of debt due to the previous vendors, JPIMedia Limited ("JPIMedia")) and two deferred payments of £2.5 million each on 31 March 2022 and 31 March 2023. Following Completion, a further payment of £1.7 million to JPIMedia was made on 31 March 2021 representing the cash left in the business on Completion (£0.5 million) and working capital in the JPI Group on Completion being higher than the normalised level of working capital.
    [Show full text]
  • The Journal of the Association for Journalism Education
    Journalism Education ISSN: 2050-3903 Journalism Education The Journal of the Association for Journalism Education Volume Nine, No: One Spring 2020 Page 2 Journalism Education Volume 9 number 1 Journalism Education Journalism Education is the journal of the Association for Journalism Education a body representing educators in HE in the UK and Ireland. The aim of the journal is to promote and develop analysis and understanding of journalism education and of journalism, particu- larly when that is related to journalism education. Editors Sallyanne Duncan, University of Strathclyde Chris Frost, Liverpool John Moores University Deirdre O’Neill Huddersfield University Stuart Allan, Cardiff University Reviews editor: Tor Clark, de Montfort University You can contact the editors at [email protected] Editorial Board Chris Atton, Napier University Olga Guedes Bailey, Nottingham Trent University David Baines, Newcastle University Guy Berger, UNESCO Jane Chapman, University of Lincoln Martin Conboy, Sheffield University Ros Coward, Roehampton University Stephen Cushion, Cardiff University Susie Eisenhuth, University of Technology, Sydney Ivor Gaber, University of Sussex Roy Greenslade, City University Mark Hanna, Sheffield University Michael Higgins, Strathclyde University John Horgan, Ireland Sammye Johnson, Trinity University, San Antonio, USA Richard Keeble, University of Lincoln Mohammed el-Nawawy, Queens University of Charlotte An Duc Nguyen, Bournemouth University Sarah Niblock, CEO UKCP Bill Reynolds, Ryerson University, Canada Ian Richards,
    [Show full text]
  • IPSO Annual Statement for Jpimedia: 1 January 2020 to 31 December 2020
    IPSO annual statement for JPIMedia: 1 January 2020 to 31 December 2020 1 Factual information about the Regulated Entity 1.1 A list of its titles/products. Attached. 1.2 The name of the Regulated Entity's responsible person. Gary Shipton, Deputy Editor-in-Chief of JPIMedia and Regional Director of its titles in the South of England, is the responsible person for the company. 1.3 A brief overview of the nature of the Regulated Entity. The regulated entity JPIMedia is a local and regional multimedia organisation in the UK as well as being a national publisher with The Scotsman (Scotland), The Newsletter (Northern Ireland) and since March 2021 nationalworld.com. We provide news and information services to the communities we serve through our portfolio of publications and websites - 13 paid-for daily newspapers, and more than 200 other print and digital publications. National World plc completed the purchase of all the issued shares of JPIMedia Publishing Limited on 2 January 2021. As a consequence, JPIMedia Publishing Limited and its subsidiaries, which together publish all the titles and websites listed at the end of this document, are now under the ownership of National World plc. We continue to set the highest editorial standards by ensuring that our staff are provided with excellent internally developed training services. The Editors' Code of Practice is embedded in every part of our editorial operations and we commit absolutely to the principles expounded by IPSO. JPIMedia continues to operate an internal Editorial Governance Committee with the key remit to consider, draft, implement and review the policies, procedures and training for the whole Group to ensure compliance with its obligations under IPSO.
    [Show full text]
  • IPSO Annual Statement for Jpimedia: 1 January 2019 to 31 December 2019
    IPSO annual statement for JPIMedia: 1 January 2019 to 31 December 2019 1 Factual information about the Regulated Entity 1.1 A list of its titles/products. Attached. 1.2 The name of the Regulated Entity's responsible person. Gary Shipton, Deputy Editor-in-Chief of JPIMedia and Editorial Director of its Sussex titles, is the responsible person for the company. 1.3 A brief overview of the nature of the Regulated Entity. The regulated entity JPIMedia is a local and regional multimedia organisation in the UK as well as being a national publisher through in Scotland, The Scotsman and in Northern Ireland, The Newsletter. We provide news and information services to local and regional communities as well as a national audience through our portfolio of publications and websites - 13 paid-for daily newspapers, and more than 200 other print and digital publications including: paid-for weekly newspapers, free titles, lifestyle magazines together with local news and e-commerce websites. Until November 2019, our portfolio of publications included the national title The I and i-news. The sale of JPIMedia Publications (the legal entity which publishes The i) to DMGT concluded on 29 November 2019. The CMA imposed an initial enforcement order (known as a hold separate period) upon DMGT. During the hold separate period JPIMedia Publications / The i was not a part of the JPIMedia Group. The CMA has now concluded its investigations and has confirmed that the hold separate period may be ended. This allows JPIMedia Publications / The i to become a fully integrated part of DMGT. We continue to set the highest editorial standards by ensuring that our staff are provided with excellent internally developed training services.
    [Show full text]
  • JPIMEDIA PUBLISHING LIMITED Annual Report and Financial Statements for the 52 Week Period 5 January 2020 to 2 January 2021
    JPIMEDIA PUBLISHING LIMITED Annual Report and Financial Statements for the 52 week period 5 January 2020 to 2 January 2021 Registered number: 11499982 JPIMEDIA PUBLISHING GROUP ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 2 JANUARY 2021 Company Information 2 Strategic Report 3 Directors’ Report 11 Independent Auditors’ Report 14 Consolidated Income Statement 16 Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income 17 Consolidated Statement of Financial Position 18 Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity 19 Consolidated Cash Flow Statement 20 Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements 21 Company Income Statement 51 Company Statement of Comprehensive Income 52 Company Balance Sheet 53 Company Statement of Changes in Equity 55 Notes to the Company Financial Statements 56 1 JPIMEDIA PUBLISHING GROUP COMPANY INFORMATION FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 2 JANUARY 2021 Chairman David Montgomery Directors D J Montgomery V L Vaghela Registered Office 9th Floor 107 Cheapside London England EC2V 6DN Company Secretary OHS Secretaries Limited Solicitors MacRoberts LLP Capella 60 York Street Glasgow United Kingdom G2 8JX Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe (UK) LLP 107 Cheapside London United Kingdom EC2V 6DN Bankers Barclays Bank PLC 27 Soho Square Soho London United Kingdom W1D 3QR Independent Auditors Crowe U.K. LLP 55 Ludgate Hill London United Kingdom EC4M 7JW 2 JPIMEDIA PUBLISHING GROUP STRATEGIC REPORT FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 2 JANUARY 2021 The Directors present their Strategic Report, the Directors’ report and the Audited Financial Statements for the Group, comprising JPIMedia Publishing Limited (the “Company”) and its subsidiaries (“the Group”), for the 52 week period ended 2 January 2021 (‘2020’). On 2 January 2021, the Company was acquired by National World plc (“National World”), which is described further below.
    [Show full text]
  • Are UK Newspapers Really Dying? a Financial Analysis of Newspaper Publishing Companies
    Journal of Media Business Studies ISSN: 1652-2354 (Print) 2376-2977 (Online) Journal homepage: https://www.tandfonline.com/loi/romb20 Are UK newspapers really dying? A financial analysis of newspaper publishing companies Marc Edge To cite this article: Marc Edge (2019): Are UK newspapers really dying? A financial analysis of newspaper publishing companies, Journal of Media Business Studies To link to this article: https://doi.org/10.1080/16522354.2018.1555686 Published online: 04 Feb 2019. Submit your article to this journal View Crossmark data Full Terms & Conditions of access and use can be found at https://www.tandfonline.com/action/journalInformation?journalCode=romb20 JOURNAL OF MEDIA BUSINESS STUDIES https://doi.org/10.1080/16522354.2018.1555686 Are UK newspapers really dying? A financial analysis of newspaper publishing companies Marc Edge Department of Media and Communications, University of Malta, Msida, Malta ABSTRACT ARTICLE HISTORY This research follows on a 2014 study of North American newspapers Received 30 June 2017 which examined annual financial reports for publicly traded chains and Accepted 28 November 2018 found that none posted an annual loss on an operating basis between KEYWORDS 2006 and 2013. An analysis of UK newspaper company financial Newspapers; UK media; reports was thus performed to determine whether predictions of future of journalism extinction similar to those made in North America are likewise unfounded and to compare their performance. Results showed more variation than in the U.S. and Canada. Most UK newspapers are still profitable, but not as profitable as before. The Times, historically a loss maker, has moved to profitability in recent years with the introduction of a paywall for its online content.
    [Show full text]
  • Who Owns the Uk Media?
    WHO OWNS THE UK MEDIA? INTRODUCTION What does it mean to have a ‘free’ media when the nation’s social media platforms, TV channels, news outlets, radio stations and search engines are owned by a handful of giant corporations? What does it mean to have ‘independent media’ when many of our most influential news organisations are controlled by individuals and Boards that are so closely connected with vested interests? This is a revised version of the ownership report that we first produced in 2015. We take a broad and holistic view of media ownership in the UK. Although our analysis of publishing (both print and online) is restricted to news, we examine the ownership structure of television and radio across the board, and include a section on digital platforms and intermediaries. While there has been a huge amount of activity in the media – with falling levels of trust in journalism, the further decline of national newspaper circulation, the rise of new sources of news, declining audiences for linear television and the emergence of debates around ‘fake news’ – broader patterns around concentrated ownership persist and, indeed, the situation is getting worse. This short report shows that just three companies (News UK, DMG and Reach) dominate 83% of the national newspaper market (up from 71% in 2015). This is a market that may be shrinking in terms of print circulation but, assisted by large online audiences, is crucial when it comes to setting the agenda for the rest of the news media. When online readers are included, just five companies (News UK, DMG, Reach, Guardian and Telegraph) dominate some 80% of market share (up from 79% in 2015).
    [Show full text]
  • Cover Price Rises of Regional Newspapers Accentuated Decline in Sales As Digital Media Grew Between 2006-2016 Richard Bowyer, Derby University
    Page 32 Journalism Education Volume 9 number 1 Cover price rises of regional newspapers accentuated decline in sales as digital media grew between 2006-2016 Richard Bowyer, Derby University Abstract The decline in the regional press, traditional wisdom as- serts, has been firmly placed on the rise in the number of people moving from newspapers and reading news online for free. While this is not disputed, this paper will show that cover price increases have in recent years been higher than in previous years and that a correlation exists between these larger than usual increases in cover price and the acceleration of decline in newspaper sales. The findings indicate that a vicious circle has been created in which budget shortfalls have prompted higher and fast- er price rises, which have driven down sales, leading to further shortfalls as falling circulation also leads to falling advertising revenue. Historically, newspapers put their cover price up by 1p to 3p a year or held the price in an at- tempt to keep sales high, an obsession of regional news- papers. For example, the Sheffield Star cost 32p in 2000 and did not increase in cost until 2005. In 2011, with the battle to keep readers a lost cause, regional newspapers decided to use cover price to help finance its business and the same newspaper which cost 47p rose in price to Articles Volume 9 number 1 Journalism Education page 33 60p by 2012, a percentage rise of 28.2 percent. The small- er increases often led to a sales decline, but the policy of bigger cover price increases had a far greater detrimen- tal effect on sales, accentuating a larger decline in sales than previously experienced.
    [Show full text]
  • Fizz Feast Picture Story Evening News 26 Aug 2019
    2 Monday, august 26, 2019 www.edinburghnews.com Edinburgh EvEning nEws Edinburgh EvEning nEws www.edinburghnews.com Monday, august 26, 2019 3 “I hope to see all of our festivals spread across the city in the council deputy leader cammy Day is already they said it... coming years, taking some pressure off the city centre and looking forward to next cAPitAL AgenDA allowing an even wider audience to participate” year’s festival Picture of the DAY... Don’t MISS... from the in Your news... PiCturE: Lisa FErguson film AssistAnt cRaWl Probe launched Open manhole an action-packed creature feature that’s fast, terrifying. Editor starring Kaya scodelario. Full listings on page 32. into rail ‘chaos’ wrecks black cab By alan An investigation has been An unsuspecting black young launched into disruption cab driver who drove over mUSiC on ScotRail services out of an open manhole cover SometHinG aBout Waverley that left hundreds claims the damage will Simon Cancelled ops will stranded. Saturday night’s cost him more than £3000 Celebrate the life and disruption was labelled the to fix. He blames the inci- deepen Capital’s ... worst in 25 years. dent on Scottish Water. musical talent of Paul s simon at the assembly george square studios social care crisis full story – Page 7 full story – Page 13 today. 3.35pm, £12. NEW HE rise in the number of opera- tions being can- hiStory celled in the aRtHuR’S Tlothians is con- Laidlaw praises Stronger Rose aDventuRe cerning enough. that it has take this guided walk involved patients over the age Scots fightback reaping rewards to learn about arthur’s of 75 is deeply troubling.
    [Show full text]
  • Jpimedia and the Community News Project Needs You
    Do you care about what goes on around you, wish your community had a louder voice, and want to make a difference? JPIMedia and the Community News Project needs you. A partnership between Facebook, local news publishers and the National Council for the Training of Journalists, the CNP is creating 82 new community reporter roles around the UK. We are looking to hire reporters to work in a number of our newsrooms across the country. Previous journalism experience or education is not essential. We want people who care about their communities, and want to make a difference in local communities. We’re especially keen to hear from people who believe they can help make our newsrooms more representative of the communities they serve. Flexible arrangements will be considered for the right candidates. Successful candidates in their final year of journalism study will be able to start at the end of the academic course. About the role Your main role will be to engage with people in specific communities to curate, collate and create content relevant to them. You will build and act as the point of contact for online communities by engaging with and seeking out content either written by you or from members of those communities. You will also receive industry-leading digital journalism training which they will then share into your newsrooms, as well as the gold-standard NCTJ journalism training to become a fully-trained journalist. About You You do need to have at least 5 GCSEs with Maths and English at a C or above (or equivalent).
    [Show full text]
  • Completed Acquisition by DMG Media Limited of Jpimedia Publications Limited
    Completed acquisition by DMG Media Limited of JPIMedia Publications Limited Decision on relevant merger situation and substantial lessening of competition ME/6871/19 The CMA’s decision on reference under section 22 (1) of the Enterprise Act 2002 given on 27 March 2020. Full text of the decision published on 17 April 2020. Please note that [] indicates figures or text which have been deleted or replaced in ranges at the request of the parties or third parties for reasons of commercial confidentiality. SUMMARY 1. On 29 November 2019, DMG Media Limited (DMG Media), a subsidiary of Daily Mail and General Trust Plc (DMGT) acquired the entire issued share capital of JPIMedia Publications Limited (JPIMedia Publications) (the Merger). DMG Media and JPIMedia Publications are together referred to as the Parties and, for statements referring to the future, the Merged Entity. 2. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) believes that it is or may be the case that each of DMGT and JPIMedia Publications is an enterprise; that these enterprises have ceased to be distinct and that the share of supply test is met. The four-month period for a decision has not yet expired. The CMA therefore believes that it is or may be the case that a relevant merger situation has been created. 3. The Parties overlap in the publishing of national print newspapers, the supply of online news, the supply of advertising in national print newspapers and the supply of digital advertising. The CMA has therefore assessed the impact of the Merger in relation to the following frames of reference: (a) the publishing of national print newspapers in the UK; (b) the supply of advertising in national print newspapers in the UK; 1 (c) the supply of online news in the UK; and (d) the supply of digital advertising in the UK.
    [Show full text]
  • Plans Unveiled for New £15M Distillery with Stunning Views of Stirling Castle
    Business Plans unveiled for new £15m distillery with stunning views of Stirling Castle Ambitious plans have been unveiled for yet another new Scottish distillery, this time near Stirling. By Scott Reid Thursday, 8th October 2020, 12:34 pm Updated Thursday, 8th October 2020, 1:33 pm A CGI impression of the building near Stirling that will incorporate the distillery, an 'interactive, education-focused' family visitor attraction, ✕ private taSstiangy ruopom t oan dd a18t0e- cowivtehr bainst roon relisntaeu rsauntb asncrd bipart.ion to Edinburgh Evening News Subscribe Today An application lays out £15 million plans for a “whisky experience” just outside the city that will incorporate the distillery, an “interactive, education-focused” family visitor attraction, private tasting room and 180-cover bistro restaurant and bar. Hello, this is the first of your 5 free articles for this week Subscribe today The Wolfcraig Distillery project promises to tap into Stirling’s heritage and is founded by Michael Lunn, former chairman and chief executive of spirits giant Whyte & Mackay Group, and co-directors John Moore and Jamie Lunn. Working alongside the management team will be a trio of industry experts: Alan Rutherford, former production director at Diageo, who was awarded an OBE for his services to the Scotch whisky industry; former Bacardi UK operations director Iain Lochhead; and renowned master distiller Ian Macmillan. Subject to planning approval, construction is expected to get underway in the spring with the distillery set to open its doors in summer 2022. It is anticipated that the distillery will employ some 50 full-time staff. Advertisement The building, which is designed by Opfer Logan Architects, promises a “stunning vista” across to the Wallace Monument and Stirling Castle.
    [Show full text]