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Independent Journalism from across Scotland.

Scottish Beacon is a collaborative
network of independent local and hyperlocal newsrooms serving urban and rural communities.

Together we’re working to strengthen the voice of the community-based media sector and bring to light real stories from Scotland’s communities.

Tom Wood with the wartime archive pictured at the site of one of the unexploded bombs in Portobello. Photo by Stephen Rafferty

Explosive discovery in wartime bombing archive

Details contained in the valuable archive were known only to a small circle of officials …
Marischal-College-Aberdeen-City-Council

£1 million fraud at Aberdeen City Council sends a warning across local government

All Scottish councils must learn from the weaknesses that allowed an Aberdeen City Council employee’s …
Photo: Marianne Brown. Source: Shetland News

How do we reconcile change? Viking wind farm and the consequences

When Shetland embarked on that protracted Viking wind farm journey more than two decades ago, …
Photo: Patrick Harvie, leader of the Scottish Green Party. Source: The Edinburgh Reporter

Greens renew demand over Trump ahead of his inauguration

The party says it does not want Scotland to welcome President Trump if he visits …
Photo: Local resident holds up Glasgow-Roma solidarity poster against backdrop of Govanhill tenements. Source: Photo by Tommy Ga-Ken Wan

New research finds Roma are being denied decent housing in Glasgow’s Govanhill

A research project by Roma rights group Romano Lav and Poverty Alliance, Scotland’s anti-poverty network, …
Photo of Rhoda courtesy of The Orkney News

VisitScotland to close 25 of its iCentres

There seems to be a complete lack of accountability from the Scottish Government over VisitScotland’s …
Photo: Close-up of stacked coins with a blurred clock. Source: Pixabay (stock)

Significant challenges ahead for local services in Orkney

COSLA, the organisation which represents Scotland’s local authorities, has welcomed the Draft Scottish Budget published on …
Penny Armstrong (left) and Alan Robertson (right)

Organic veg producers in Shetland say climate crisis still not taken seriously

FOOD producers Transition Turriefield say they are “tired of fighting to get enough” funding from …
Photo: Stephanie Wallace and Sue Farish, owners of K's Coffee shop Source: Forres local

Kind-hearted cafe owners offer free fare on Christmas day

A Forres café is extending its community support this Christmas by offering free meals on …
Photo: Inside retrofitted tenement on Daisy St Source: Angus Brodnax

How can tenement owners retrofit their homes?

Unlike many European countries, Scotland lacks mandatory owners’ associations, leaving tenants and flat owners to …
Photo of Lee Anne Woods taken by Lesley Martin

Inverkip nurse receives prestigious award

A nurse from Inverkip is among a group of 21 community nurses to have been …
Photo: Volunteers posing for a group photo. Source: The Lochside Press

Volunteers made a difference at Loch Lomond

Volunteers joined in a session organised by the Friends of Loch Lomond and The Trossachs, …

Our latest project…

In this project, we aim to shift the dial on how issues relating to the green transition are covered. It follows our Citizens Agenda project, which asked people to define the issues that mattered most to them in the run-up to the General Election. Climate change and green energy were the top two issues that emerged. Over 100 days, we aim to collectively publish more than 50 stories that highlight community solutions that are already making a difference in this area.

scottish beacon 100 days of the green transition

Real stories from across Scotland.

Scottish Beacon is a collaborative network of independent local and hyperlocal newsrooms serving urban and rural communities. Together we’re working to strengthen the voice of the community-based media sector and bring to light real stories from Scotland’s communities.

Learn more
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