IN THE MediaGuardian last week, Andrew Neil - who used to edit the Scotsman and now pontificates about politics on the BBC - said that Scottish newspapers were about to die.

Not all Scottish newspapers, you understand, just those produced in Scotland.

 This week, some hacks had a go back.  One broadly agreed, one vehemently disagreed and one said he wasn’t really sure while suggesting that Neil was something of a hypocrite.

 Neil’s basic argument was that the Scottish Sun (now 25p rather than 20p) is the best selling paper in the country, having overtaken the Scotland-produced Record (35p).  Sales of The Herald and the Scotsman are also declining. 

Neil stated his belief that the Scotland-based titles are akin to (English) regionals in terms of their news coverage.  On this point, I don’t think he’s far wrong.  I said similar things here about the content of the Record some weeks ago.

He also pointed to the inherent mystery of the issue.  Rarely (if ever) in the recent past has Scotland agitated for independence as much as it is doing right now, but more Scots are turning to English-based newspapers. 

 However, I do think that reports of the death Scottish newspapers might be somewhat exaggerated.

It is inconceivable that a country of Scotland’s size and standing would not have its own, national daily newspaper.

There is ample room for at least one daily tabloid and broadsheet, and probably a greater number of Sundays.  There will always be a mass swathe of Scots wanting news from outside their local area, but not wanting that of a foreign land.

Sales may be falling, but that is true across the board, and the drop-off in Scotland is only slightly more than that south of the border.

 Future independence or no, the death nell sounded by Neil is still incredibly distant, if it is even perceivable at all.