ANDREW BATCHELOR: Getting rid of STV North risks Dundee losing more mainstream coverage - we must save it
- Andrew Batchelor
- Oct 19
- 2 min read
📢 Sign the petition to save local news: Save STV North
When Dundee Culture’s new studio opened, I remember the pride I felt seeing it featured on STV News. It wasn’t just about the platform I’d built – it was about Dundee being represented.
Over the years, STV has given our city valuable coverage, from highlighting the city’s cultural revival to showcasing the Tay Cities bid for UK City of Culture 2025, and even to my studio launch - it goes to show how local this news platform can get.
They’ve told Dundee’s story with authenticity and enthusiasm, something that has always meant a lot to me.
That’s why the announcement that STV plans to axe its northern news programme, broadcast from Aberdeen, is deeply concerning.
If the plans are approved by Ofcom, a single national news programme produced in Glasgow will replace the current north edition.
This move would affect a talented and hardworking team of journalists, technicians and camera crews – including those based here in Dundee – and it risks silencing local stories that matter to people across our region.
Dundee’s media presence is already fragile
Jim Spence, a former colleague of mine at The Courier, summed this issue up perfectly when he wrote in The Courier that “Dundee has traditionally been treated like the land that time forgot by the national television broadcasters.”
I couldn’t agree more.
As Jim highlighted, STV’s move to centralise operations in Glasgow wouldn’t just affect the north-east – it would be “a major body blow to Dundee.”
He’s right to say that good journalism depends on proper investment, local staffing and a deep understanding of the communities being reported on.
Dundee already faces limited television coverage compared to other Scottish cities. The BBC’s presence in the city is small, and STV’s Dundee team, though small, has always punched above its weight. If these cuts go ahead, it would further diminish our ability to be seen and heard on Scotland’s screens.
Why this matters to Dundee
I’ve seen firsthand how much STV North’s coverage has contributed to Dundee’s image. Their stories have helped show the city’s energy, ambition and sense of community.
Without that regional focus, so much of what makes Dundee unique risks being overlooked.
Local media isn’t just about news – it’s about identity. It connects people, celebrates progress and gives communities a voice. Losing that voice would be a huge step backwards for Dundee.
That’s why I’m standing with everyone fighting to protect STV North.
Dundee’s story deserves to be told – and to be seen.
📢 Sign the petition to save local news: Save STV North
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