Can you believe it? Next year, The Ferret turns 10! As we prepare to celebrate this significant milestone, we’re reflecting on our journey as Scotland’s leading independent journalism website — and we want you to be part of it.
To mark this special occasion, we’re launching our most ambitious reader survey to date. Whether you’ve been following us for years or just discovered The Ferret, this is your opportunity to help shape our future. You can skip any questions you prefer, but if you complete the entire survey, you’ll receive a special discount on your current or new subscription as a thank you!
In the meantime, here’s a snapshot of the impact our journalism has had over the past month.
Our investigations inspired political action
Our recent investigation into a row between tenants and management over living conditions on the island of Ulva following one of the largest community land buyouts in recent years resulted in Highlands and Islands MSP, Tim Eagle, reaching out to residents to address their concerns.
This story gained further traction when The Times followed up with both an article and a column on the issue.
People-powered storytelling
We recently took part in People-Powered Storytelling, a new collaborative series hosted by the Public Interest News Foundation (PINF), showcasing the transformative impact of grassroots, community-centred media across the UK. This project brings together ten media organisations, each driven by the power of lived experiences to reshape journalism.
Alongside Greater Govanhill, we shared our experiences with the Open House editorial meetings. These sessions at our community newsroom bring together journalists, people with lived experience, and campaigners to talk on equal footing.
The feedback has been honest and clear — people want us to stick with the stories that matter, even when they’re not ‘headline-grabbing’. They’ve asked us to go beyond the surface, to challenge stereotypes and report on real solutions. That’s what we’re committed to, and these conversations are shaping how we tell those stories.
Our Fringe session is now live
Following our June event on sharing your lived experience of trauma on the public stage, Ferret co-editor Karin Goodwin joined writer, commentator, and performer Darren McGarvey, along with documentary filmmaker Stephen Bennett and journalist Stephen Stewart, in a conversation about the ethics of reporting trauma at this year’s Fringe. The event recording is now available; you can listen wherever you get your podcasts.
Our stories made some noise
Earlier this month, we revealed that the Scottish Government has refused to release minutes of Angus Robertson’s ‘secretive’ meeting with an Israeli diplomat, prompting accusations it is ‘hiding’ from scrutiny of the discussions. Our investigation was covered by the Scottish Daily Express, the Telegraph, the National and the Herald.
