Scotland's Daily Record to be guest edited by Better Together's Alistair Darling and SNP leader Alex Salmond ahead of indyref
Scottish tabloid the Daily Record will be guest edited by Better Together leader Alistair Darling and Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond this week in what the paper described as a “momentous” partnership.
The first seven pages of this Thursday’s edition (4 September) will be edited by Darling and the Salmond will take charge of Friday’s edition.
An editorial from the Record said the paper considered it in the best interests of Scottish democracy to give both leaders an opportunity to try and convince voters either way ahead of the independence referendum on 18 September.
“Both campaigns will provide their unfiltered message to the people of Scotland who can make up their own minds and cast their vote accordingly,” the paper said. “This groundbreaking initiative has never been done before by a tabloid newspaper.
“To mitigate against any potential claims of giving one side an advantage, both will provide their stories and pictures to the Daily Record at midday on Wednesday. They will not be able to change their stories after they have been submitted and they will not be allowed to see each other’s stories until the paper is printed.
“As the country moves into the final stages of campaigning, we hope this bold move by the Record will help our readers decide which way they wish to vote.”
Campaign organisers from both sides Blair Jenkins and Blair McDougal took part in a coin toss at the Trinity Mirror title's offices in Glasgow to decide which leader will go first.
Recently, Scottish broadcaster STV’s chief executive Rob Woodward said the independence debate had given the Scottish media a “renewed sense of purpose”, while the Sunday Herald reversed an overwhelming decline in print to increase its sales after backing independence in May.