How to contact BBC Scotland

Following yesterday's editorial about BBC Scotland's claim that they have no general email address for the imparting of news (we are not, of course, organisers of rock concerts, so we are unsure whether anything we have to impart will qualify as news), several readers have responded with impressions of this underground organisation paid for by, er, us.

Catherine Czerkawska writes:
Doesn't surprise me – BBC London, earlier this week, spent six minutes, because I watched the clock, six minutes of morning airtime on a footballer's alleged affair with a colleague's wife. I could hardly believe my eyes and ears! They kept stressing how very major and important the story was, but I kept thinking how I didn't give a toss. Keep up the good work.

Good try, but doesn't get us anywhere nearer an email address for this obscure multi-billion pound dynasty. Must we send Islay McLeod on a fact-finding mission? I believe they have a small office in a 'media village' (heaven help us) on the banks of the Clyde. Someone called Heather the Weather once resided there. But we understand she retired. Is anyone still around? Hello?

Ah, here's Mike Bailey.
Further to your story about the lack of co-operation from the BBC newsdesk, you might be interested in the content of a page dated 24 September 2007 on their news website.
This is the link:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/glasgow_and_west/4617880.stm
I have not seen any reference to the Glasgow Health Board stramash on the BBC website. Perhaps you should copy the Scottish Review to the website address.
Keep up the good work.

Thank you, Mike. 24 September 2007 sounds quite a long time ago. But, hey, according to BBC Scotland, a summer lasts five months, so 24 September 2007 in BBC Scotland time is pretty well the day before yesterday. This link could be worth a try.
Hazel Cameron has just emailed from deepest Yorkshire. How's the snow, Hazel? We trust it's heavy. Schools closed yet? Any sign of the BBC?

I was amazed by Kenneth's piece on the BBC this morning and was sure the email was on their website. But no. I then went around in circles, finally going through the main BBC information telephone number where they took a record of my query and then gave me this email
newsonlinescotland@bbc.co.uk
I sent the email below:
Dear BBC News
I read a story online yesterday about John Bannon, a member of the Greater Glasgow Health Board, writing a letter to Nicola Sturgeon to complain about being obstructed from receiving informaton about St Margaret's Hospice. However, I could find nothing about it on the BBC news website. Do you know if you have information on this – and where can I find it on the BBC website?
Thank you
Hazel Cameron

I have not heard further from Yorkshire. It is possible that Hazel is getting nowhere.
But up pops Bill Fraser:

I just read your story about the BBC's disinclination to give out e-mail addresses.
     I've campaigned on two issues over the last three years – SavePollokPark in Glasgow (we won against the vandals at City Chambers) and the National Trust for Scotland – still ongoing. During this time I've developed a database of journalists which I'm happy to share with you including a Newsdesk at Pacific Quay – they don't call it that! For any BBC journalist you need write only their first and last names eg: Kenneth.Roy@bbc.co.uk and that generally gets them. Journalists themselves are always anxious for stories – so ignore the bureaucracy and go for the designated correspondent. Health is Eleanor Bradford. You will see on my list the names of producers of various shows on R Scotland – they want something too.
     As to their choice of stories, I've come up against this before. If an item is not deemed 'national' it will get restricted coverage. Since the BBC wants to be seen to be covering the whole of Scotland they tend to 'balance' their selection of stories with 'Tiddlywinks in Tumulty' vs 'Dog-doo doo in Dumfries'.

Thank you to all readers for these constructive suggestions on how to contact this mysterious organisation.

[click here] for The weird world of BBC Scotland