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Wings Over Scotland


Let’s get serious

Posted on February 06, 2013 by

So, wow. Last month we decided to kick on a little bit as an experiment and put more of our time into the site, and the results were dramatic. But the truth of the matter is that we can’t keep up that level every month, because we have to earn a living. And if a job’s worth doing, it’s worth doing properly.

But here’s a thing: supporters of independence constantly and loudly bemoan the lack of a pro-independence Scottish newspaper, or even just a balanced one committed to the simple old-fashioned goals of fair-minded and truthful reporting.

The last attempt to make a print one crashed and burned a long time ago – as pointedly noted in the image above by Kerry Gill, current political editor of the Scottish Daily Express. And the online Caledonian Mercury, despite being staffed by proper experienced journalists, died (though technically its corpse still twitches faintly once in a while) through a failed funding model, having not found a high enough readership to generate sufficient advertising revenue.

The thing is, it doesn’t have to be that way.

Wings Over Scotland is still pretty small beer in the grand scheme of things. But nevertheless, from a standing start and with very little help from anyone other than its own readers and contributors, this wee site – mostly the part-time work of one person – has built a readership of 30,000 people. And that’s actually quite a big deal.

We currently have a “subscription” facility where readers can donate £2 a month to help with our running costs. If, purely hypothetically speaking, everyone who reads the site subscribed – at just 46p a week, or 1p more than a single day’s edition of the Daily Record – we’d suddenly and startlingly have enough money in the kitty to pay for TWENTY full-time professional journalists on very decent wages.

(Because 30,000 times £2 is £60,000 a month, divided by 20 people is £3000 a month each, or £36,000 a year – a pretty handsome salary for a journalist, or indeed anyone else, these days. Obviously the arithmetic wouldn’t be quite that simplistic in real life, but as a basic illustration of the power even a modest readership could harness if it put its mind to it, it’s a real eye-opener.)

Now, don’t panic. We’re not nearly mad enough to think we’d get 30,000 readers to all cough up even that modest sum for the sake of a dedicated, professionally-produced Scottish news site with 20 full-time staff. So after a reader’s suggestion a couple of weeks ago, instead of 20 writers we’re going to see if we can start with just one.

I first became a professional journalist in January 1991, taking a Staff Writer job on a new videogames magazine. I stayed with the magazine for three years, becoming Deputy Editor and then Acting Editor, and seeing it rise from third place to become the best-seller in its field, with a peak circulation of around 65,000 copies a month. Along with some games- and software-development work I’ve been a freelancer for the 17 years since, working chiefly as a writer for dozens of publications from the Guardian to Esquire, The Face, SFX, Front, Teletext and Wired, on subjects ranging from games to music, TV, films, football, comedy and travel.

The referendum on independence is the most important subject I’ll ever be involved in, and I don’t want to be doing it as a hobby (and especially to the point where I can’t afford to pay my rent from neglecting proper work). So the purpose of this Indiegogo project is to see if enough people are prepared to put their money where their mouth is and hire at least one full-time professional journalist to cover the topic every day without having to follow the agenda of uniformly-Unionist newspaper proprietors.

That modest goal requires a very small commitment from readers: a one-off contribution of just £1 each. If everyone who reads Wings Over Scotland this month contributes that tiny sum I can do this as a job for a whole year.

There’ll be more posts every day, and the opportunity to do more in-depth research. The site can have a design overhaul to make it even more accessible and make the additional content easier to navigate. If we exceed the minimum, we can pay other people for still more articles and features, and perhaps ultimately grow a whole online newspaper organically from the ground up. (I like the name “Scotland Tomorrow”.)

It’s up to you. Click the image if you’re ready to help.

——————————————————————————–

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Why do you need thousands of pounds to keep doing what you’ve been doing for free for the past year and a bit?

Because I can’t sustain the current level of commitment to Wings Over Scotland and keep a roof over my head. I need to spend more time on earning money and less on writing about Scottish politics for nothing. The ideal scenario, obviously, would be earning a living writing about Scottish politics, but I’m going to hazard a guess that the Herald and Scotsman won’t be knocking on the door any time soon, so we’re going to have to do this for ourselves.

Why should we pay you when there are loads of free blogs, and lots of other sites who also want money?

That’s entirely your decision. Look back at the quantity and quality of content we’ve published here over the last 15 months and decide whether it’s matched anywhere else. And if you do like it, ponder whether an expanded, improved version of it would be worth 2p a week to you or not.

Why don’t you just have advertising?

Respectable as our readership is, it’s not yet large enough to attract serious interest/revenue from advertisers. More importantly, we’re journalists, not ad-sales people – frankly we have no idea how to go about it. (One thing we could look at if we exceeded the minimum goal would be hiring someone to sort that out for us, so that we wouldn’t have to ask readers for money again next year. But in a perfect world we could fund the site without being beholden to advertisers at all.)

Almost thirty grand! Do you really need THAT much money?

We chose the figure to represent a symbolic £1 per reader. (To be honest, we sort of wish we’d had slightly fewer readers last month.) But yes.

The “living wage” in the UK is £15,496 nationwide, or £17,784 in London. Wings Over Scotland is based in one of the most expensive cities in Britain, and the living wage is itself a pretty bare minimum of tolerable existence (plus Indiegogo take a chunk out of the total as commission).

The target sum will keep us alive, cover running costs – including an overdue proper transfer to wingsoverscotland.com – and pay other people for articles and so on too. If we’re not working for free, we’re not going to ask others to. And we all want to see more Hamish, right? 😀

So why not just ask for donations as normal?

Because just asking people to bung you money ad hoc is a bit beggy, and more to the point it doesn’t bring in much. Every penny in donations is appreciated very much indeed, but since we’ve had the Donate page the total is well short of four figures, in nine months. This way, your money goes towards a very specific, clear and defined goal – paying properly for the site to be a full-time professional concern. This way it’s crowdsourced project funding, not panhandling.

Couldn’t you try a paywall?

A paywall would rather defeat the object of the site, which is to reach as many people as possible and give them the facts about the independence debate.

“Hey there, No voter – go and read this site to see why the stuff you’re saying is wrong! Oh, you’ll have to pay for it, by the way” isn’t going to change many minds.

Shouldn’t I give my cash to the official Yes campaign instead?

We’re hoping that a single £1 won’t put too much of a dent in your budget.

What will we get for our money?

For your £1 you’ll be getting a year (or more) of seven-day reporting, and considerably more than 40 hours a week. You’ll get more posts every day, even compared to January’s record total. We’ll be able to devote more time to writing, researching, audio-capturing and transcribing, because we won’t have to be fretting that every hour we spend working for the site is an hour we’re not earning money to pay the bills with.

Anything over and above the target will be put straight into the site in the form of paid content from other high-quality contributors, as well as other improvements – better webhosting, broader coverage (eg we could afford a subscription to The Times to monitor its Scottish reporting), attending events in person and so on. Ideally we’d make enough to carry on all the way to the referendum, but we’re keeping the goal simple for now.

Crucially, more money would also enable us to do something several readers have asked for – produce printed materials that could be used by doorstep campaigners to get vital facts and information across to people who don’t frequent political websites.

What happens if you don’t reach the target?

We don’t have the faintest idea whether the fundraiser will succeed or not. If we don’t reach the target amount, we’ll put any money we do get into the site one way or another – a couple of months full-time, a couple of paid contributors, a new candle for our desk and an extra pair of gloves to keep our typing fingers warm, whatever.

(If we don’t reach the target, incidentally, we get substantially less money than the “final total” – Indiegogo charge more than twice as much commission if you miss your goal as they do if you hit it, to encourage achievable aims.)

It might turn out to be that Kerry Gill was right all along, and that independence supporters will do anything for a fair and balanced quality press except pay 2p a week for it. Perhaps it’ll fail by an embarrassingly vast margin and we’ll have to close down out of sheer humiliation.

Or perhaps it’ll exceed our wildest dreams and we’ll be able to offer you a daily diet of stories, features and columns about Scottish politics from the finest writers in the country, from all points of view, with unparallelled quality of research and insight. Those outcomes, and everything in between, are in your hands.

Can I donate more than £1 if I want to?

Oh God yes, by all means. Obviously in the real world not everyone will kick in, so we’ll need some people to do more than their bit if we’re going to have a chance (there are a few minor incentives on the Indiegogo project page). And, y’know, if anyone happens to know the Weirs, feel free to give them our address.

——————————————————————————–

We’ll be shamelessly pimping this image link on every post until the appeal ends on 25th March. After that, one way or another, it’ll stop.

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  1. 29 08 13 21:39

    Forgive Me ‘Rev’, For I Have Sinned | Fraser Dick
    Ignored

246 to “Let’s get serious”

  1. Rev. Stuart Campbell
    Ignored
    says:

    (People who’ve donated via the old methods are excused, obviously.)

  2. Ysabelle
    Ignored
    says:

    I’ll certainly donate something.

  3. Doug Daniel
    Ignored
    says:

    “(People who’ve donated via the old methods are excused, obviously.)”

    Meh. *Donates anyway*

  4. Craig
    Ignored
    says:

    £2 a month sounds good to me; where do I sign?

  5. Tris
    Ignored
    says:

    Seems totally worthwhile Stuart. I’ll gladly contribute, indeed I have gladly contributed!

    And worth every penny.

  6. muttley79
    Ignored
    says:

    @Rev Stu
     
    Would it be possible to send you a cheque?

  7. Tris
    Ignored
    says:

    Craig…. up above where the indigogo logo is…

    Only issue with it was I had to say I was from the UK….  

  8. Brian Ritchie
    Ignored
    says:

    Contribution sent – worth every penny mate, 😉

  9. Neil Brown
    Ignored
    says:

    Donation sent

  10. Dcanmore
    Ignored
    says:

    Will give a donation next week when the monthly wage comes in, I’ve already donated to YES and NNS recently so it is your turn Rev Stu.
     
    I think it is fair to say that it is time to ramp things up a bit from the activist side of things. Push the idea of independence but with vision, clarity and fact, using every outlet we have at our disposal. I’ll send you a private email to see if I can help in other ways. Maybe it would be good to get some advice from NNS on internet advertising and marketing.

  11. pmcrek
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    says:

    At the risk of this becoming a mantra as its been said about 8 times already, contribution sent and worth every penny mate 🙂

  12. Ysabelle
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    says:

    Woo-hoo! That total has fair jumped since I first looked at it!

  13. Doug Daniel
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    says:

    Spread the wealth I always say. Or as Karl Marx would put it, Jeder nach seinen Fähigkeiten, jedem nach seiten Bedürfnissen!

  14. cath
    Ignored
    says:

    Done. And I just realised while doing it my credit card expiry date is October 2014 🙂

  15. Michael Heron
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    says:

    I subscribe already, but I’d love to see you succeeding with this so I threw in some more money.  Good luck!

  16. Turnbull Drier
    Ignored
    says:

    Good deed done for the day..
     

  17. JuanBonnets
    Ignored
    says:

    One-off contribution sent. And £2 a month subscribed too, while I’m at it. Been meaning to do that for a while anyway.
     
    Totally worth it.

  18. Rev. Stuart Campbell
    Ignored
    says:

    “Would it be possible to send you a cheque?”

    Sure. Drop me a line via the contact form:

    http://wingsland.podgamer.com/contact/

  19. Macart
    Ignored
    says:

    One pound down, change of address. 😀

    As and when, more than happy to. 

  20. McHaggis
    Ignored
    says:

    I am now officially a site ‘Benefactor’! whoop whoop!

    Best of luck with this Stu… just don’t get all arsey when you are the Chief Editor in charge of 30 journos hehehe

  21. Megsmaw
    Ignored
    says:

    I hope you make and exceed your target Rev. I don’t have much money, but I’d rather give you my £2 than any of the papers (or the BBC, but I’ve already been fined twice for not paying their tax). I really enjoy the site and wish you good luck!

  22. muttley79
    Ignored
    says:

    @Rev Stu
     
    Cheers, will do.

  23. Craig Shepherd
    Ignored
    says:

    I was wondering when you would get round to doing this. More than happy to contribute.

    Looks like you have enough to cover this months rent now  

  24. Dcanmore
    Ignored
    says:

    Just had an idea … lets all buy Stuart a pint, £5 should do it. ‘Buy Rev Stu a pint campaign’ to raise funds. 🙂

  25. Galen10
    Ignored
    says:

    Done: more power to your elbow Stu. If I get the new job I’m after, will be able to put in a bit more!

  26. Seasick Dave
    Ignored
    says:

    That’s the kids going without Turkey Twizzlers for a month.

  27. naebd
    Ignored
    says:

    Have a tenner. Please await further tune-calling orders via comments.

    – yours, The Piper. 

  28. rabb
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    says:

    Money duly put where the mouth is 🙂

    And worth every penny!! 

  29. Triskelion
    Ignored
    says:

    So that’s where the independence pound is going to go!

  30. Barbara Gribbon
    Ignored
    says:

    In a fit of generosity, I gave £2 of my better half’s money. Now, if I can just get a job, I’ll do the monthly subs too…

  31. naebd
    Ignored
    says:

    I mean the um Piper, Payer thereof. Damn, fluffed the entire codename thing.

  32. AMillar
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    says:

    Will happily donate. Just a question for the Rev, perhaps a silly one – why do you live all the way down in Bath? I’d always assumed it was for work but if you’re going to be doing this full time, will you move back up here? Just thinking of the referendum and how you presumably wouldn’t get a vote and all….

  33. Marcia
    Ignored
    says:

    £23 sent via brother who has a paypal account.  Thank you Tom for doing that. Thank you Stuart for the site.

  34. beachthistle
    Ignored
    says:

    Just sent 90.9 soarway Scotsmans’ worth winging your way… As a freelancer I’m allergic to subscriptions, direct debits etc., but happy to make an hoc contribution every time I land a contract!

  35. Dcanmore
    Ignored
    says:

    @A Millar
     
    I’m guessing Rev Stu lives in Bath because a rather large publishing house, to which Stuart may have been associated with, operates not all that far away. 😉

  36. oldgreydoc
    Ignored
    says:

    Ooops, have put a tenner in the general donations thingy instead of your laudable appeal. Can you add it to the total?
    P.S. Have just cancelled my Herald subscription in protest at their biased reporting. Will happily subscribe to any journal offering fair balanced reporting. Well maybe not the Sun, I have my pride.

  37. pmcrek
    Ignored
    says:

    Anyone else watchig the pound for wingsland total like it was a nationwide telathon?

  38. Elizabeth
    Ignored
    says:

    me too

  39. Ysabelle
    Ignored
    says:

    @pmcrek, Yes I keep looking at the total to see how it’s doing!

  40. scottish_skier
    Ignored
    says:

    Additional contribution made.

    Best of luck with this Rev.

  41. Aplinal
    Ignored
    says:

    I am “between jobs” right now.  But if the contract I am hoping for comes off in the next two months, I will pass over a decent contribution.  best site for news on the web.
     
    Well done Rev. and more ink in your pen 🙂

  42. robbie
    Ignored
    says:

    Donation sent, worth every god dam Dime and more.
     
     
     

  43. NewScotGirl
    Ignored
    says:

    Tears..Of..Joy!  So pleased & so ready to donate!

  44. cath
    Ignored
    says:

    btw, on that Twitter image, this incredibly arrogant comment, “So get together and create yr own “objective” paper and see what happens” reminds me of the “if you don’t like any of the 3 main parties, form your own and stand for election then” comments common of supporters of those parties.
     
    When people actually do such things, ie vote SNP in 2011, or start their own media that takes off, just listen to the screeches from those same folk…

  45. Peter
    Ignored
    says:

    Well, you managed to get a £1 out of me, not many people could say that.

  46. Craig P
    Ignored
    says:

    I’ve recently donated but stuck a token amount in Indiegogo as well. Makes a nice round prime number which is very important for luck 🙂

    A word of feedback (from my own point of view anyway). Any more than 4-5 articles a day and they won’t all get read. (That many articles, plus comments, already take a fair amount of reading!) So the most important articles of the day need to be highlighted somehow (or I need to stop reading/posting in the comments).

    As for the Caledonian Mercury – it was well meaning but fairly anodyne. I suspect that while people say they want fair and balanced reporting, they are just kidding themselves, and what people really want is reporting with a clear bias towards a particular viewpoint. The internet discourages neutrality.

  47. Rev. Stuart Campbell
    Ignored
    says:

    “I’m guessing Rev Stu lives in Bath because a rather large publishing house, to which Stuart may have been associated with, operates not all that far away. ;)”

    That would be a shrewd guess.

  48. FreddieThreepwood
    Ignored
    says:

    Donation sent.
    Well, get on with it then.  

  49. Albamac
    Ignored
    says:

    Great to see so many are eager to help.  Does that make us ‘activists’ or do we have to be anointed by some clique or another for that?

  50. frankieboy
    Ignored
    says:

    Happy to contribute to a good cause. Can I suggest that all contributing do not under any circumstances click on or buy unionist papers and let WoS do it for us? one click can serve us all (if we are interested) and they lose revenue. More and more it is obvious that unionism and a defence of it by anyone Scottish is for personal gain only.

  51. RossBoss
    Ignored
    says:

    Well I just sent a donation to the regular donation thingy without seeing the fund raiser at the bottom. It’s still good, it just won’t be added to the fund raiser total…

  52. Morag
    Ignored
    says:

    Well, I recently quit the Herald too, so that’s a few weeks Herald deliveries chipped in.

  53. The_Duke
    Ignored
    says:

    Donation made.
     
    WoS is the first port of call in the morning and last before a call it a day.
     
    Keep up the good work Rev 🙂
     
     

  54. ewen
    Ignored
    says:

    12 EUR sent. Lurked round here for ages and well worth it.

  55. Megsmaw
    Ignored
    says:

    wow. £3212 already! Great stuff. I’ll keep sharing on facebook to help get the message out!

  56. creag an tuirc
    Ignored
    says:

    Surely someone must know Colin and Chris Weir, maybe they would like to make a small donation that would keep the Rev going until the referendum at least?

  57. Gavin
    Ignored
    says:

    Donation given, with pleasure, keep up the great work, Rev.

  58. Ken Mac
    Ignored
    says:

    Sent mine. Good luck Rev.

  59. Albamac
    Ignored
    says:

    creag an tuirc reminded me of this old gag.

    A couple who had just won the lottery sat down to discuss their plans.
    Jean: “Whit are we gonnae dae aboot the beggin’ letters?”
    John: “Ach, jist keep sendin’ them!” 

  60. Kilty
    Ignored
    says:

    Donation sent. I hope you can reach the £30,000 you require.
    On another note, I do like Hamish! You should definitely ask Chris Cairns to come up with a few t-shirt designs with this mascot. 🙂
    Good luck for the future.

  61. M4rkyboy
    Ignored
    says:

    I am trying to donate but it says ‘paypal could not validate your card’
    I am trying to use my Maestro debit card,anyone else have the same problem?

  62. creag an tuirc
    Ignored
    says:

    @Albamac

    Somebody reading these comments must know them, If you are, get them telt 🙂

  63. Albamac
    Ignored
    says:

    More than £3.5k in 2 hours!  Well done, everyone and keep it coming!

  64. Craig Evans
    Ignored
    says:

    All paid up now!

  65. Ysabelle
    Ignored
    says:

    The T-shirt idea with Chris Cairns’ work would be great!

  66. Rev. Stuart Campbell
    Ignored
    says:

    “I am trying to donate but it says ‘paypal could not validate your card’
    I am trying to use my Maestro debit card,anyone else have the same problem?”

    I’ve had another report of problems with Maestro, looks like there may be an issue. If it won’t work, might Google Checkout be any use?

    http://wingsland.podgamer.com/donate/

    Wouldn’t count towards the IndieGogo total, but would be no less appreciated 🙂

    EDIT: PayPal’s official position is that they DO accept Maestro, but you may have to contact your bank to sort it out:

    https://www.paypal-community.com/t5/Limits-and-verification/Maestro-card/td-p/240152?profile.language=en-gb

  67. Morag
    Ignored
    says:

    I’m really happy Stu has done this.  I was genuinely worried about him, with the amount of time he’s spending on this site.  And with him being freelance, it’s not career suicide, as it could be for someone giving up a secure job.

    (I kind of know what it’s like, with the amount of time I’m spending on trying to get Lockerbie sorted out.  But I have a secure job, and I’m putting out nothing like the amount of type Stu is getting through.)

  68. Ysabelle
    Ignored
    says:

    Well, the total is £23 short of £4000 last time I looked!

  69. uilleam_beag
    Ignored
    says:

    Hi Stu, 

    Good effort on sticking your neck out like this, I hope you make your total. The fact you’re at over three grand in two hours kinda suggests you will!

    Something went wrong with the IndieGogo page when I tried to do it (China’s never-ending net-bugs could be behind that), so I bunged you a long-overdue contribution on the old donate page.

    Mair pouer tae yir keybaird! 

  70. muttley79
    Ignored
    says:

    @Rev Stu
     
    Thanks for the e-mail.  I need to sort out a few things at the bank, but I will be doing that tomorrow.  You should receive a cheque in about a week’s time.  Good luck with the fundraising.

  71. Steve McKay
    Ignored
    says:

    We’ve been ‘reliably’ informed that it will only cost a quid to get independence – I stuck in a tenner just to make extra sure!  

    Thanks for all your hard work.   Look forward to reading more of it in the future.

  72. highlander
    Ignored
    says:

    Done!
     
    Good luck.

  73. cadgers
    Ignored
    says:

    Donated Rev Stu, hopefully they’ll keep coming in! Good luck

  74. cheryl
    Ignored
    says:

    Wee donation sent, not much since I’m a poor wee student but I’ll donate more when I can!
    Reading above it struck me that I visit this site every single day now without even realising I’d started doing it.
    Yay for a full-time WoS!

  75. uilleam_beag
    Ignored
    says:

    Oh, and speaking of Hamish — when are we going to be able to buy fluffy toy versions of him to send to young nieces and nephews?  😉

  76. Dramfineday
    Ignored
    says:

    small contribution made!

  77. Connor
    Ignored
    says:

    I already signed up for that £2 a subscription, but hey; the more, the merrier, right? Chucked a tenner into your Indiegogo campaign. Good luck!

  78. Lex Carr
    Ignored
    says:

    Subscription to Wings sorted. Donation to Yes Scotland done. Beans on toast for the next two years (; keep up the good work!

  79. A. H.
    Ignored
    says:

    £10.00 donation made via Indiegogo, keep up the great work Stu.

  80. M4rkyboy
    Ignored
    says:

    Man,i hate being skint.I cant even afford the tenner option through google.Sorry Rev,i’ll make up for it once i get some cash sorted.I’ve got a couple gigs coming up that should give me some spare cash.i’ll earmark a tenner for the site rather than the 2 quid i failed to donate now.
    My contribution in the meantime will be to morale
     
    [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jk0dBZ1meio&w=420&h=315%5D

  81. Christian Wright
    Ignored
    says:

    Doug Daniel says:. . as Karl Marx would put it, Jeder nach seinen Fähigkeiten, jedem nach seiten Bedürfnissen!

    “Is this the right place for the beer and the dancing girls!” 

  82. Bill_T
    Ignored
    says:

    +£10 from me.
     

  83. gerry parker
    Ignored
    says:

    with you 100%
    g p 

  84. cath
    Ignored
    says:

    Wow! rapidly heading towards £5K

  85. Lanarkian
    Ignored
    says:

    I have finally ‘de-lurked’ myself, made my contribution to Indigogo and wish to say thanks to  Rev, Stu and all other contributers to date for being a part of my daily life.
    Here’s to the future!

  86. Rev. Stuart Campbell
    Ignored
    says:

    “Wow! rapidly heading towards £5K”

    As some people have made non-IG donations via the Donate button, it’s actually already past it 😀

  87. Colin Dunn
    Ignored
    says:

    OK. A tad added to the total. Will let the monthly subscription run too.

    Keep up the good work.

  88. Colin Dunn
    Ignored
    says:

    I wonder if Grahamski will donate 😉

  89. Doug
    Ignored
    says:

    Donated to a very worthwhile cause. Keep up the brilliant work.

  90. Daisy
    Ignored
    says:

    Rev,

    Donated and subscribed.  I’m a lurker of several months – good luck, the service you have been providing is seriously appreciated from this call sign.

  91. thebunnyman
    Ignored
    says:

    go on, go on, go on. whits a couple’o quid.  do ye throw in some terry toweling socks!! 🙂

  92. uilleam_beag
    Ignored
    says:

    That running total is a real inspiration. How many other folk could raise 5K in just a few hours? It’s testament to the quality of this site, and the readership.

    Long may the spondulicks keep rolling in. 

  93. AnneDon
    Ignored
    says:

    I clicked on donate, rather than indiegogo, but I hope the donation will still count!

  94. Seasick Dave
    Ignored
    says:

    Can ah get a receipt and erm, make it oot fer £50?

    Jist asking, like. 

  95. Paul Martin
    Ignored
    says:

    Fuck it, I’m in. God knows what the wife will make of the credit card transaction. I’ll just say its a subscription to a Danish porn site (again).

    Keep up the great work Stu. And watch out for increased high-jinks and low-blows from unionists. They would love this enterprise to fail.

    But it won’t ! 

  96. Malcolm
    Ignored
    says:

    Donated.

  97. DÀIBHIDH MACLABHRAIN
    Ignored
    says:

    How could I refuse, I’ll donate more next month.

  98. Ron Wilson
    Ignored
    says:

    I paid a years sub for The Standard to help it out & felt pretty stupid when it went bust. I’ll gladly pay for this essential site, paid for by the money saved from not buying The Hootsmon

  99. scottish_skier
    Ignored
    says:

    Rev, maybe you could donate the donations that were accidentally donated using the donate feature rather than through the indiegogo donate page to the indiegogo donation fund?

    Think I’ve been quite clear what I mean here 😉 

  100. Tearlach
    Ignored
    says:

    I’ve already started the £2 a month through the old system, but just reading Kerry Gills tweets just made me so want to shove a cream pie of old WoS articles in his face on independance day + 1 that I need to nip over a donate a few more quid.

    There – I feel better now.

    Anyway, and talking of defunct papers, there is one that I really miss, and I suspect that few folk know it even existed. That was Business Am – the Edinburgh Financial Tabloid that ran from 2000 to 2002. Based on a Swedish subscription model, it had great – and neutral – political reporting in the early days of the Parliament. I still have the last edition, in its plastic bag, in a drawer somewhere.    

  101. Rev. Stuart Campbell
    Ignored
    says:

    “Rev, maybe you could donate the donations that were accidentally donated using the donate feature rather than through the indiegogo donate page to the indiegogo donation fund?”

    Heh. An excellent idea, except that I’d just get charged 9% commission on them.

  102. JamesL
    Ignored
    says:

    A few quid from another long time lurker. Feels more like self-preservation than a donation, though: all that fatuous disaster-journalism raises my blood pressure; this site helps to bring it back down again.

  103. Morag
    Ignored
    says:

    Oh dear, that’s a lot of commission.
     
    Maybe you could post an up-to-date total of the out-of-system donations under the indiegogo button?

  104. james Morton
    Ignored
    says:

    Matey if you’re prepared to do this full time then the very least I can do is chuck some cash your way.

  105. Rev. Stuart Campbell
    Ignored
    says:

    “Oh dear, that’s a lot of commission.”

    It goes down to 4% if we reach the target.

  106. Boorach
    Ignored
    says:

    Count me in and best wishes for the venture.

    Just one point. Could the regular £2 sub not be made variable? I asked about this before signing up but didn’t get an answer. I for one would happily give £4 or £5 each month. 

  107. Castle Rock
    Ignored
    says:

    Please keep this article at the top of the page for as long as possible so that others get the chance to see it – some people might not visit the site for a couple of days due to work, holidays, etc, and we all don’t scroll back on previous articles.

    Hope you make the target, its looking good.
     

  108. Frances
    Ignored
    says:

    Always wanted to be a hero.  Well done Rev.
    Major Bloodnok and Frances

  109. Alex mcintyre
    Ignored
    says:

    Have a donation Rev Stu, your sites worth every penny cheers Alex McI

  110. Scott
    Ignored
    says:

    Fortunately I have an arrangement which has given me a TV tax rebate for the past few years. I have just invested some of it very wisely.

  111. MajorBloodnok
    Ignored
    says:

    Well done memsahib.

  112. Margaret Thatcher
    Ignored
    says:

    I hope my donation will make amends for any trouble i caused in North Britain.

  113. Rev. Stuart Campbell
    Ignored
    says:

    “Please keep this article at the top of the page for as long as possible so that others get the chance to see it – some people might not visit the site for a couple of days due to work, holidays, etc, and we all don’t scroll back on previous articles.”

    It’ll be the top story until tomorrow sometime, and every post while the fundraiser is running will have the banner in it. You’ll be sick of the sight of it 😀

  114. mogabee
    Ignored
    says:

     
     Donation made.  Gosh, I feel like I’m really part of something exciting….and will not regret a penny!!

  115. MajorBloodnok
    Ignored
    says:

    I see Margaret Thatcher has donated.  Might have been David Torrance in drag though.

  116. Williamt
    Ignored
    says:

    Donation made, a truly worthwhile cause… Keep spreading the word!!

  117. heraldnomore
    Ignored
    says:

    Yabadabadoo, go for it Stu.

    Great news, go on give up the day job.  I reckon the next 15 month maybe just a tad busier than the last.

    But, aye there’s always one, are you sure you want a year’s funding in just six weeks, and just before the next 5 April too?  Spread it about a bit.

    Mark me down as a committed benefactor, but just to delay the day when HM Treasury grabs a chunk, I’m happy to delay till April if you wish. 

  118. Juteman
    Ignored
    says:

    Hopefully you make enough. The Indy movement needs your site.

  119. pmcrek
    Ignored
    says:

    My eyes are still glued to the the total btw..
    Rev, if you use the money raised to hire Lenny Henry you could raise even more money.. I’m thinking you could raise enough to have a throne made out of Kerry Gill’s disappointment?

  120. Morag
    Ignored
    says:

    RevStu, what is this “if”, of which you speak?  🙂

  121. Albalha
    Ignored
    says:

    O/T Scotland score

  122. DonUnder
    Ignored
    says:

    Donation made and subscription purchased so here’s hoping for a bright Wings future 🙂

  123. Cauld tattie
    Ignored
    says:

    Have cancelled the telly license, they’re due us a rebate so the money is now yours (and unlike giving it to the BBC it’s no grudged).

    Thanks Stu

  124. muttley79
    Ignored
    says:

    Past £6000 now.  Kerching.

  125. Rev. Stuart Campbell
    Ignored
    says:

    “Mark me down as a committed benefactor, but just to delay the day when HM Treasury grabs a chunk, I’m happy to delay till April if you wish.”

    Nah, I’ve been poor for so long I won’t be rushing out to blow it all on cigars and hookers. (As I don’t smoke :D) The more we get in now the more chance of reaching the target and cutting the commission bill in half.

  126. Marcia
    Ignored
    says:

    Well over £6000 now. I shall donate more next month too.

  127. kendomacaroonbar
    Ignored
    says:

    Donation made from a furtive lurker

    Say NO to furtive lurking !   and YES to DONATE NOW !! 

  128. Betsy
    Ignored
    says:

    Brilliant idea. I’m good for a pound just now with more to follow when I get paid. Best of luck with it. 

  129. Rev. Stuart Campbell
    Ignored
    says:

    “Hopefully you make enough. The Indy movement needs your site.”

    The site will be here no matter what – this isn’t a blackmail job. It’s just that I can’t afford to spend as much time on it as I’ve done in 2013 so far if it doesn’t bring in any money. Luckily, even if it doesn’t raise another penny it’s already well past the threshold of “such a humiliating failure I’d have to close it down and go and live in a hole” 😀

  130. RandomScot
    Ignored
    says:

    I liked the idea of the CalMerc, but having to rely on Hamish MacDonnell killed it.

    Though I am glad I got MacDonnell’s one attempt at a political sketch ridiculed off the site, never to return.

    You’ll get money out of us, it’s the how we’re discussng here 

  131. mrbfaethedee
    Ignored
    says:

    Well done for getting far enough to feel like this is worth a go.
    If you manage to exceed your own expectations, are you minded to commission pieces from other  journos, bloggers, etc… where their view or specialties might be appropriate?
    Breadth as well as depth is always good, and who knows it might be a seed-bank of sorts for the future!
     
    Anyway, well done for heeding the quote in your own page title (sentiment without…)!
     
     

  132. H Scott
    Ignored
    says:

    Happy to contribute. Best wishes.

  133. The Hennesseys
    Ignored
    says:

    Donated, wish it could be more.
    Scotland Tomorrow is a fine name, but  would be sad to lose Wings over Scotland…it is also a great name!

  134. mrbfaethedee
    Ignored
    says:

    Charitable tweet from Kerry Gill too, i see. That was nice.
    I expect there might be few folk in the paper biz looking to see if a loose but explicit funding model will work for (some kinds of) web-based journalism.

  135. Rev. Stuart Campbell
    Ignored
    says:

    “If you manage to exceed your own expectations, are you minded to commission pieces from other journos, bloggers, etc… where their view or specialties might be appropriate?”

    Yes, very much so, as noted in the post.

  136. RossBoss
    Ignored
    says:

    How much have people like me mistakenly donated into the regular donation section instead of Indiegogo?

  137. sneddon
    Ignored
    says:

    MajorBloodnok says:

    I see Margaret Thatcher has donated.  Might have been David Torrance in drag though

    >shudder<
    .

  138. Rev. Stuart Campbell
    Ignored
    says:

    “How much have people like me mistakenly donated into the regular donation section instead of Indiegogo?”

    About another £500.

  139. velofello
    Ignored
    says:

    Excellent initiative. i’ve signed up and will now encourage others. And a  modest donation from me won’t go amiss either in appreciation of the last year.

  140. Scott
    Ignored
    says:

    I believe that in years to come, long after Scotland Is Independent, people will look back at the role the internet and the people who used it played in contributing to Scotland’s Independence, and I believe it would be no exaggeration to say that Rev. Stuart and this website will be classed as a major player

  141. heraldnomore
    Ignored
    says:

    never mind the indirect duties that Scotland can’t have, I was thinking more of the direct ones, of the type The Beatles once sang about – email if you wish a blether offline

  142. mrbfaethedee
    Ignored
    says:

    @Rev Stu
    “Yes, very much so, as noted in the post”
     
    Yes, just catching up now. Oops – reading then commenting, what an outrageous idea 😉

  143. uilleam_beag
    Ignored
    says:

    “About another £500.”

    So, roughly 8.4%?!?

  144. Morag
    Ignored
    says:

    Stu, it’s a tribute to your journalism and your writing style.  In late 2011 I was reading across a range of independence blogs.  Before that I’d tried to support Peter Bell’s attempt to start an independence forum, but he was trolled out of existence and couldn’t get any momentum.

    You were just starting, and I kept coming back to see what you’d posted.  It was relevant, insightful, and often fall-down funny.  Even when articles were attracting a couple of comments, if any, I kept coming back.  It wasn’t very long before the array of indy blogs I had open at work was abandoned (especially NNS, after I was put on permanent and vindictive moderation), and only a Wings tab sat beside the things I ought to be doing.  I found that other things that were worth reading were usually linked from here anyway.

    So take pride in this, Stu, it’s well deserved.

  145. Callum
    Ignored
    says:

    best of luck.  watching this with interest – for a campaign like this to succeed (and it’s already past 6500) it shows that there is a breakdown in trust between ordinary people and the mass media.   I’m not a member of any political party and was only until recently holding out for devo max . . .

  146. Lindsay
    Ignored
    says:

    Have just donated and also subscribed.  Just can’t say enough good things about this site.

    Thanks Rev Stu. 

  147. Doug R
    Ignored
    says:

    Another long term lurker & first time poster here. Already subscribe & donate but I’ve just fired another wee donation your way through the Indiegogo link.
    I’ve learnt so much from this site over the last year I feel its the least I can do. Only complaint is that it’s taking up most of my spare time reading all the articles & comments!
    Anyhoo, back to the lurking. Cheers!

  148. Scotus
    Ignored
    says:

    Lurking from the start – not posted yet (I don’t think!).
    I’m immensely heartened by the quality of discussion here. Even Unionists are appearing and trying to engage as constructively as they can (compared to The Hootsmon).
    I’ll continue to support you as I can Rev!
    Jack Beck

  149. Rev. Stuart Campbell
    Ignored
    says:

    “So, roughly 8.4%?!?”

    Spook!

    😀

  150. Willie Rennie
    Ignored
    says:

    Hoy!  I wis gonnae donate but there wiz tae many forms to fill oot.

  151. MajorBloodnok
    Ignored
    says:

    Imposter!

  152. Hamish Henderson
    Ignored
    says:

    Donation done and dusted. Well, I had to, what with you naming the wee lion after me.

  153. Dave McEwan Hill
    Ignored
    says:

    Donated a small sum. Any chance of putting up a Direct Debit form that could be downloaded and printed and given into my bank after being filled in. I’d gladly give the same small sum every month (I’m already giving four other small sums and putting every other spare penny into our YES centre in Dunoon which is the sort of stuff most of us are doing most of the time) and I’m sure many others would do the same  also. Looks to me that you’ll easily reach your target and comfortably exceed it if you get monthly supplements which could open up all sort of other possibilities for attack on MSM.
    Do you know it only costs beteween 5p and 7p to produce and print an 8 page tabloid  with four pages in colour? We still have to get to the substantial section of our population that is not online and newsprint is better than leaflet (if the copy is in your face and interesting).

    Morag
    With you all the way on the over the top moderation on NNS.

  154. Rev. Stuart Campbell
    Ignored
    says:

    “Any chance of putting up a Direct Debit form that could be downloaded and printed and given into my bank after being filled in.”

    No idea, but I’ll look into it.

  155. moujick
    Ignored
    says:

    Donanated as benefactor…cool…keep up the guid work !

    deagh dhurachdan!

  156. ScotFree1320
    Ignored
    says:

    Stu, for less than the price of a pint a month, you’re a veritable bargain. More power to your pen keyboard.

  157. Jeannie
    Ignored
    says:

    Because you’re worth it! Donation made.

  158. cheryl
    Ignored
    says:

    Wow, a wee check in before bedtime and almost at £7K.  I think that says it all about the hunger for a current, factual pro-independence site, and this site in particular.
     
    Well in!

  159. Barontorc
    Ignored
    says:

    Well done Rev Stu and all power to your arm! Donated as a ‘Benefactor’ and very pleased to give my support, I get out so much more than I put in.

    PS to Morag – ditto re NNS – wha’s got into their knickers! Not on a healthy curve I’m sure.

  160. Baheid
    Ignored
    says:

    If I had put another four pound in the totl would be seven thou.

    Naebad so far rev 

  161. antmcg
    Ignored
    says:

    Couldn’t use Paypal so sent via donations. Good Luck and thanks Rev 😀

    Tony 

  162. L'Oréal
    Ignored
    says:

    Jeannie says:
    6 February, 2013 at 10:26 pm

    Because you’re worth it!

    Oui. C’est le ‘L’Oréal’ des indépendances des blogs

  163. Insch74
    Ignored
    says:

    Another Benefactor added. Don’t think my pregnant wife will let me donate more as she selfishly wants funds for her maternity leave!
    Every morning now I sit down at my desk and go straight to WoS and NNS where as before it was the BBC News. Like many I’m enjoying all the new ‘Independence’ sites and so I’m glad if I can help bring these sites to a wider audience.
     

  164. Rev. Stuart Campbell
    Ignored
    says:

    Through £7,000 on the IG, plus well over £500 from elsewhere, in under 8 hours.  Consider my gob well and truly smacked. Can’t thank everyone enough for donations, tweets and comments. Reeling.

  165. Adrian B
    Ignored
    says:

    Tried to complete PayPal transaction, but it hasn’t added to total? No receipt via e-mail as yet. Should receipt not be instant? 

  166. scottish_skier
    Ignored
    says:

    G’an yersel Rev.

    G’an yersels WoS readers…

    Oh and 1-0 wisnae tae bad for a start.

  167. eva
    Ignored
    says:

    delighted to see what your appeal has achieved in such a short time; I don’t have the wit of many of your other followers, and can say only a heartfelt thank you for all you have achieved thus far, keep up the good work – the little people like me are so grateful 🙂
     

  168. Dcanmore
    Ignored
    says:

    I said earlier I would contribute next week when the wage went in. Well, I got caught up in the sound and fury of this remarkable fundraising achievement. I’m glad to be a patron and i’ll still contribute next week. Cheers!

  169. Ron Burgundy
    Ignored
    says:

    Dear Stu
     
    You are a daily voice of reason and sanity in a world of Unionist pish. £10 paid and more will follow if required. Remember the Sinatra song and JFK campaign theme from 1960
    Next time your found, with your chin on the ground
    There a lot to be learned, so look around

    Just what makes that little old ant
    Think hell move that rubber tree plant
    Anyone knows an ant, cant
    Move a rubber tree plant

    But he’s got high hopes, he’s got high hopes
    Hes got high apple pie, in the sky hopes

    So any time your gettin low
    Stead of lettin go
    Just remember that ant
    Oops there goes another rubber tree plant
     

  170. uilleam_beag
    Ignored
    says:

    “Consider my gob well and truly smacked.”

    Och, stop selling yersen short, big man. This site’s worth every merk and groat we can rustle together. We’ve short memories to boot; if you make the target or no, you could doubtless do the same in six months and fowk’d pitch in all the same.

    [I say, having added less than a measly half a percent to the total so far, but I like to think that says more about the strength of support than my Stooge-like nature]

  171. Laura
    Ignored
    says:

    Sorry had to donate through normal donations -had a problem with my postcode on the Indiegogo.

    Best indy blog around, thank you. 

  172. uilleam_beag
    Ignored
    says:

    I meant Scrooge-like, not “stooge-like”, but you get the drift.

  173. Michael Heron
    Ignored
    says:

    Fantastic to see the campaign get off to such a flying start.  This is why in the end I think we will win – because all the negativity, scaremongering and fear on the pro-dependence side is matched in spades on our side with optimism, enthusiasm, drive and a willingness to put our money where our collective mouths are.  This kind of thing is infectious.  

  174. Dave Smith
    Ignored
    says:

    £10 in the pot from me Stu. I’m hoping in two years’ time that I’ll see this as the best tenner I ever spent! 🙂

  175. FreddieThreepwood
    Ignored
    says:

    So, Stu … it’s closing time now. Got enough for that kerry oot yet?

  176. Albamac
    Ignored
    says:

    Ron Burgundy wrote:
    Just what makes that little old ant
    Think he’ll move that rubber tree plant

    Antology
    Ah’ve aye admired the busy ant
    that aw day long toils, birls an bustles
    fur maist o’ us’ll puff an’ pant
    tho blessed wi’ brains an bigger muscles.
    So, here’s a daft wee thote tae mull, sir.
    Wid formic acid cause an ulcer
    an if it did dae ye think the ant
    wid jist sit doon an’ say “I can’t!”

  177. alan h
    Ignored
    says:

    Another lurker (since last summer) posting for the first time. Donated a well-deserved wee tenner and worth every penny. Looking forward to seeing WOS continuing to go from strength to strength!

  178. silver19
    Ignored
    says:

    Donation made, Worth every penny.

  179. sinister agent
    Ignored
    says:

    Pathetic as it is, I genuinely can’t afford to spend a pound right now, money is that tight.  But if that does change in time, I would be happy to chip in.  I’m vaguely in favour of Scottish independence, but don’t keep up with it at all, not least because there’s so much utter bollocks said about it. Even so, it seems like something worth contributing to, and a better bollocks to sense ratio is always a good thing.

    Best of luck.

  180. uilleam_beag
    Ignored
    says:

    In a strange, backwards way, Sinister Agent may have just given WoS the most balanced endorsement yet: “a better bollocks-to-sense ratio is always a good thing”, indeed.

  181. Stuart Black
    Ignored
    says:

    Here’s some more, Rev. Fantastic site, great work.

  182. Clancheif
    Ignored
    says:

    £1 given and i’ll probably give another quid next week and the week efter etc
    Where can i get the subscription for 2p per week cause even i can afford that
    Keep up the guid work Rev we need ye here as much as possible

  183. K Mackay
    Ignored
    says:

    Never had a newspaper subscription in my life and never paid TV License so I reckon I couldn’t find a better place to start.

     Stu, I’ve never seen another site like yours,, truly addicted. Very excited about plans for print copies for getting out to public, very very excited 🙂

     The day after the Yes vote there’s going to be (at least) 30,000 people seeking you out for a well due pint. I hope your livers up to it 🙂

  184. ianbrotherhood
    Ignored
    says:

    This is becoming a ‘news’ story in itself. Haven’t donated yet as I’m still living on mince pies and selection boxes, but will certainly do so.
    A magnificent project – truly inspirational.
    Whoever nominated rangerstaxcase for last year’s Orwell Prize should fill in the same forms for Stuart Campbell and get them submitted asap.
    Orraverybestest to ane an aw…up an at ’em!! 

  185. deewal
    Ignored
    says:

    Great idea. I’m in.

  186. John H
    Ignored
    says:

    Thanks for all your efforts Rev. I gave £10 last night, and I’ll keep giving what I can until the total is reached. This is too important not to.

  187. Tearlach
    Ignored
    says:

    Currently the 4th most popular on Indiegogo. Interesting.

  188. scottish_skier
    Ignored
    says:

    This must be the £1 Danny Alexander was talking about independence costing us.

    🙂

  189. Grahamski
    Ignored
    says:

    30,000 readers?

    Are you sure? 

  190. scottish_skier
    Ignored
    says:

    30,000 unique visitors = 0.75% of the electorate or 1% on a 70% turnout.

    Slightly more than Labourhame methinks. 

  191. blunttrauma
    Ignored
    says:

    Donation done and dusted, worth every penny.

  192. BillDunblane
    Ignored
    says:

    I never donate to anybody that asks for money – but I just did!

    Mair pow’r tae yer elbow! 

  193. Scotrock
    Ignored
    says:

    Just made a small donation – well worth the money!!
    Keep up the good work

  194. Seasick Dave
    Ignored
    says:

    Come on Grahamski, give the man a quid!

    You love it here 🙂

  195. Boorach
    Ignored
    says:

    All very well, but where’s that bloody paperboy this morning? 🙂

  196. Turnbull Drier
    Ignored
    says:

    You earn 4 grand in your sleep and I have to get up and go to work to earn considerably less.. <sigh> 
    <bitterandtwistedsmiely> 😛
     
     

  197. Albamac
    Ignored
    says:

    Grahamski asks: “30,000 readers? Are you sure?”

    Aye, and they’re coming Together to make things Better!  I know you can feel it but it doesn’t have to hurt. 

  198. roni17
    Ignored
    says:

    @hamragski if youve not got anything positive to say Shut Yer Geggie.

  199. Boorach
    Ignored
    says:

    Hope that’s not a tory doublecross indiegogo are using as a logo! 🙂 / 🙁

  200. Rev. Stuart Campbell
    Ignored
    says:

    “30,000 readers?
    Are you sure?”

    I have no idea. But Google Analytics seem convinced that 32,160 unique visitors have shown up in the last 30 days. If you want to question their methodology I’m sure they’ll be as thrilled to hear from you as we are.

  201. Ray
    Ignored
    says:

    I donated a little cash a few weeks ago but the wife was happy for us to put something else in for this new campaign. Delighted with the response so far but more people need to know about it! Keep sharing 🙂

  202. Franklin
    Ignored
    says:

    I hope you don’t bury this too soon. the banner is a good idea but between adblocking and our eyes being trained to ignore all banners and such I think that this post has great impact. I’ll see what I can do when I am finished work. Your site and writing is worth it. It is my go-to site in the morning or breaks.

  203. Grahamski
    Ignored
    says:

    Mr Campbell

    Not at all.

    30,000 readers is an impressive figure.

    Congratulations. 

  204. BillDunblane
    Ignored
    says:

    Stu – If you are quoting Google Analytics, you could actually have had many MORE visits – I run my sites on the Weebly platform, and always wondered why their stats were very much higher than was shown on Google Analytics. – Explanation from them was they registered individual ip addresses as hits, but dynamic addresses could register more than once, Google only register those that agree to accept cookies, so the actual visits were somewhere inbetween. – I rarely accept cookies, as I’m sure many others do, or don’t if you get the drift!

    Although I receive nothing like the number of hits that you do, Twitter and Facebook recommendations on various articles by timing, would suggest the higher figure is closer.   I believe only AOL use dynamic addresses by default, and most other ISPs use fixed addresses – not my field of expertise, but passing on information from Weebly. (I’m very happy with them in all aspects of their service)

    And we ALL know where Grahamski is coming from. 

  205. rabb
    Ignored
    says:

    I agree with Grahamski Stu. 30,000 readers is an outstanding acheivement in such a short space of time.

     My spidey senses tell me there is a head of steam building up. 

  206. Plainstane
    Ignored
    says:

    Donated and delurked- feels good!

  207. Ananurhing
    Ignored
    says:

    Here’s a tenner Stu, and 2 quid a month. Worth every penny.
    Hope you’ve made a plan for when we’re forbidden from using sterling. Aye right!

    Isn’t Grahamski terribly polite on here? Must be choking him.   

  208. Callum
    Ignored
    says:

    Google Analytics are pretty much the worldwide market leader in measuring individual user sessions – in fact, I would go as far to say that they are *more* credible than ABC figures for newspapers, magazines etc because google analytics does not need to do sampling but can measure actual “impressions” on a website.
    Google have found ways of ensuring that they can measure the numbers of people that share IP addresses (e.g. everyone in an office building surfing from work).  32,160 (and Stu prudently rounding down to 30,000) are pretty good figures for a political blog.   To WoS figures into perspective, Guido Fawkes blog was getting just over 130k unique visitors/month in Jan 09 – and the Guido Fawkes blog was seen to have been more influential than many newspapers during the last westminster elections.

  209. creag an tuirc
    Ignored
    says:

    @Rev. Stuart Campbell

    Well done so far Rev and WoS. Normally with crowdfunding the donations slow down, if this happens you need to us readers to get more people telt. I hope this is not the case. also I hope you get enough money to spend some on site promotion, like an advert in the hootsman or Herald 🙂

  210. Hamish Henderson
    Ignored
    says:

    Donated last night, felt good at my wee contribution, went to bed. Got up this morning usual ablutions eating etc. then switched on to Wings to check out the total. Wow! £8,000 read the comments felt good, read Grahamski, felt bad, donated another £10.
    THE LINE GETS DRAWN HERE, WE WILL RETREAT NO FURTHER.
    We have put up with their predations for far too long. In the words attributed to Galgacus “They bring a desert and call it peace”  
    Do your bit, forgo that couple of pints, donate!
    More power to you Rev.
    Gus am bris an latha

  211. Morag
    Ignored
    says:

    I’m sure they’ll be as thrilled to hear from you as we are.

    Ouch.

  212. The Hennesseys
    Ignored
    says:

    Much as  we would miss new posts, I think you should leave this fund-raising one at the top for a few days, to keep it in people’s attention…Not everyone checks in everyday…

  213. Morag
    Ignored
    says:

    It’s not been quite as inspirational as watching Never Seconds zoom past £100,000 in donations to Mary’s Meals after the Lochgilphead Parish Council got a bit stalinist, but it’s close.

    It will slow down now, as the people most likely to contribute (and contribute big) are the regular readers who will have seen the article soon after publication.  However, well over a quarter of the way there in the first 24 hours is none too shabby.

  214. Training Day
    Ignored
    says:

    Just donated. 

    Oh, and Kerry Gill might like to know that thanks to his snide comments (and his ridiculous assertion that the likes of his bog roll reflect reader views about the ‘good old’ UK) I trebled my original planned contribution. 

  215. Iain
    Ignored
    says:

    Well done Rev Stu, and everyone who’s contributed.

    I may be doing something wrong, but tried to donate via Paypal without a having an account. It seems to default to US requirements e.g zip code etc, and therefore not accept payment from my debit card. I’ll see if I can borrow my g/f’s Paypal account.
     
     

  216. HenBroon
    Ignored
    says:

    My donation done and will keep it coming, you certainly have set the heather on fire with this blog and are to be congratulated, well done. It is truly a breath of fresh air compared to what is on offer. There are at least another two blogs/ sites I can think of that had the potential to do what you have done, but sadly due to po faced moderation and arrogance they have fallen on their arse. Please do not go down the heavy moderation route and please do not limit posts to a number of words. And please lets try and keep the likes of Grahamski  and his ilk  posting, it is so gratifying to witness their incredulity and pain. Of course you have to keep it reasonably sane and it is. The Scotsman and DT forums are testament to what the Unitrolls can do to a forum if allowed. Most of the damage to these forums however are in house. You would never do such a thing. Well done more power to your keyboard.

  217. Pa Broon
    Ignored
    says:

    This is a fine effort, kudos to us all for being prepared to put our money where our mouths are. Sites like this are an essential part of convincing people of the truth of our situation.

    I don’t mind if people vote no out of reasonable conviction, but too many are voting no due to a blinkered preprogrammed hatred of Alex Salmond and/or the SNP. Even when you explain the reality, they nod as if understanding your words but you can see their eyes have already glazed over.

    For me it was one little lie told by the BBC after which the finger was well and truly out the dyke, so to speak.

    I hope my small contribution helps RevStu pull fingers out of many more unionist dykes so the waters of truth can wash away the lies told over the years by Perfidious Britannia.

    Got a bit flowery there toward the end but you catch my drift.

  218. mato21
    Ignored
    says:

    Holyrood 12pm
     J.L  Diz the F.M ken his troops o cybernats are being led fae England and whit is he gawn tae dae aboot it
     

    F.M Yes I do and may I invite her to join with me in making a small donation to this worthy cause and to wish them well in their efforts
     
    At this point J.L falls to the ground having had a wee turn (not for the first time) saving the F.M from any more probing questions much to his relief
    J. Baillie — Send fur an ambulance the red leader iz turning blue

    Wee Wullie wrings his hands in depair as he had a a new line in daft questions lined up and would now be denied              

     Ruthie ever the action woman kicks ower the desks and is soon giving her new buddie the kiss of life

    In the kerfuffle the back benchers are rifling through all the unattended bags and manage to find 5p and three buttons which are now winging their way to that man fae England and his band o cybernats

    More power to your elbow         

  219. Morag
    Ignored
    says:

    Which little lie, just out of curiosity?

    I mean, there are so many to choose from….

  220. G H Graham
    Ignored
    says:

    Yer pedantic, combative attitude pissed me off a few weeks ago and I decided to ignore this site so I could reconsider my position.

    Meanwhile, after watching Darling being courted by our state broadcaster & mother of British propaganda & given a chummy, presumptive podium to lie to the viewers this week, the temperature of my blood exceeded boiling point.

    I then reconsidered.

    My previous complaints to the BBC were pointless so any further effort made in protest at their unionist drivel would be wasted. And I refuse to buy the Scotsman or The Herald and will not make any contributions to their web sites because my ambition is that both titles are liquidated. By next Tuesday would be nice.

    My only recourse then was to make a 100 quid donation this morning to your account. I don’t care if you use it to pay parking fines, eat beans on toast or go to the pub. But I do insist that you moderate the swearing. I can swear for myself thankyou but online foul language only limits the appeal & gives critics easy to use ammunition.

    Soon, you readership will likely exceed the print media in Scotland & you may even become mainstream so now is the time to start re-assessing rules & codes of conduct. And a web design makeover is overdue. To become mainstream, you have to look mainistream so wearing the clothes of a minority protestor wont work for much longer, especially if you raise sufficient funds to employ staff to further improve the frequency & quality of the content.

    We will not win by appealing to those already convinced of independence. And fighting with die hard butcher wearing unionists is fruitless, dispiriting & a distraction from the real challenge.

    It is the fact free, the impressionable & the undecideds who will swing the vote in our favour. Find those people & locate their hot buttons & the achievement of full sovereign independece will be within our grasp.

         

  221. frankieboy
    Ignored
    says:

    I furtively lurked once. Nobody noticed

  222. Grahamski
    Ignored
    says:

    “..I agree with Grahamski Stu….”

    That’s a keeper. 

  223. Rev. Stuart Campbell
    Ignored
    says:

    “My only recourse then was to make a 100 quid donation this morning to your account. I don’t care if you use it to pay parking fines, eat beans on toast or go to the pub. But I do insist that you moderate the swearing.”

    There’s actually extremely little swearing in the comments considering how many there are, and I think there have been two swearwords above the line in the entire 800-post history of the site. I actively discourage it in the comments, for the reasons you cite, but if it’s good enough for the Guardian to print the occasional f-bomb on its pages then I can’t bring down the banhammer if people occasionally let off a little steam in the comments of this site.

    Once again, though, I’ll say what I’ve always said to commenters here: write as if an undecided voter is reading, because they are. 99% of readers don’t comment, but they’re still there. Consider if what you’re saying is likely to persuade people of our case, or scare them away.

    Oh, and thanks very much for the donation 🙂

  224. BlueTiles
    Ignored
    says:

    I’m breaking my lurking habit today to post a thank you and donation. The work you do is deeply appreciated. If this site is what you have managed to achieve in your spare time I cannot wait to see what you will be able to do if you reach your target. To the rest of the Media In Scotland – For shame.

  225. Vronsky
    Ignored
    says:

    I suggest we all donate an additional one pound on behalf of Grahamski – if using Paypal you can give that as the label for your contribution.  It would be nice if we could quantify for Grahamski the extent to which he has helped the cause.  I’m off to do that now.  Let’s make sure Grahamski’s total is the best by far!

  226. Rev. Stuart Campbell
    Ignored
    says:

    “It would be nice if we could quantify for Grahamski the extent to which he has helped the cause.”

    😀

    To be honest, I’m not sure one could put a monetary value on his years of diligent undercover work for the Yes movement.

  227. Seasick Dave
    Ignored
    says:

    Vronsky

    Good idea.

    So good that I’ve just fired off another £10.

    Grahamski is an inspiration!

  228. Andrew Parrott
    Ignored
    says:

    Was away from my computer yesterday and didn’t see this request for donations. Very worthwhile and have made a donation to help Wings over Scotland soar onwards and upwards

  229. Gillian
    Ignored
    says:

    Tried to subscribe on a monthly basis but refuse to use evil PayPal (they lose user info regularly). In theory I should just be able to pay with my debit card but they don’t make it easy. Any suggestions? I am a pensioner and just want to do the £2 per month thing.

  230. Rev. Stuart Campbell
    Ignored
    says:

    “Tried to subscribe on a monthly basis but refuse to use evil PayPal (they lose user info regularly). In theory I should just be able to pay with my debit card but they don’t make it easy. Any suggestions? I am a pensioner and just want to do the £2 per month thing.”

    Hi Gillian. Is the email address you’re using to post comments with one I can actually reach you on?

  231. chicmac
    Ignored
    says:

    Duly contributed.  Funnily enough I had thought about recommending Kickstarter to you and  NNS.  I think they are the biggest online project funder and I noted that as of a couple of months ago that the US sourced about a quarter of the funding for UK projects since its recent launch here (and there are a lot of possiblly even more motivated Scottish ex-pats in America 🙂 ). But perhaps Indie is similarly placed in that regard.

    One cautionary note, if you come to hiring other professionals (which already looks likely) choose very carefully. Being outside the Scottish media village is probably an advantage  in that.

    Keep up the good work and don’t fix what ain’t broke. 

  232. Purr
    Ignored
    says:

    Look Forward to and enjoy my daily dose of Wings.

    Onwards and Upwards 

  233. Jeannie
    Ignored
    says:

    @seasick dave
    @vronsky
    Hmmm……..Grahamski’s gone a bit quiet.
     

  234. Jeannie
    Ignored
    says:

    Aw Gawd – spoke to soon…..he’s all over the next thread along with his alter-ego, Willi. He’s obviously determined to boost Stu’s fund.

  235. MajorBloodnok
    Ignored
    says:

    Don’t know if you noticed but Willie Z contributed to the Rev’s fund.  Just FYI…

  236. Scotus
    Ignored
    says:

    Chickmac –
    “and there are a lot of possiblly even more motivated Scottish ex-pats in America”
    I am one such – down in SW Virginia, in the Blue Ridge mountains. I had no problem donating.

  237. Albalha
    Ignored
    says:

    @Scotus

    Can’t resist, have you come across the Lonesome Pine? 

  238. Robert Kerr
    Ignored
    says:

    Went all the way so it’s gone over.

    Just been asked to stay on my contract a bit longer.

    Good Luck and God Speed

    Robert 

  239. antmcg
    Ignored
    says:

    Rev, grats on £10k +…  now get IG to accept Google wallet and I will add more to the sum total, other than what i added on donations 🙂
     
    OT also.  
    Welfare reform cos of scroungers… Rev just made about 2 1/2 years benefits in 24 hours. Hmmm 😉

  240. Chic McGregor
    Ignored
    says:

    @Scotus,  good to hear, I thought that might be the case.  I feel a post to ‘International Support For Scotland’s Independence’ FB page coming on.
     
    Great to see the Rev Counter (sic) going through the 10K barrier already.

  241. Alan Gerrish
    Ignored
    says:

    Gaun yersel’ Rev Stu-hope the total keeps rising.  Thanks for a brilliant effort so far and for helping with in-depth information and analysis which I do my best to spread to all and sundry. I think the next chapter in Wings story could be really exciting and of course will depend on how much ends up in the kitty, but there is also a pretty heavy responsibility now to use the money in the most effective way possible. 
    Website design and layout makeover has already been mentioned and is something I would agree with – no criticism of what has been achieved with what you have so far, but I think so much more can and will be achieved with a crisper lay-out and a wider menu of regular features.
     Given where we are at the present time in terms of support for a YES vote, and the demographics of that support, it seems to me that the female audience is a top priority and so I’ll be interested to see if you have any specific strategy on how to target this population subgroup. 
    Another thought occurred as I scanned the newstand this morning wondered how on earth we could ever counteract all the tripe on the front pages of the Scottish papers sg Scottish Daily Express: SNP Call For 70 More MSPs (also formed half of their editorial and was based on the utterances of one SNP backbencher: in other words mince from start to finish).  But if Wings had the resource surely we could have a page of comment each day on the main stories on all the front pages. Giving an objective and unbiased report on these stories  would at least give the “don’t knows” something to think about and help counteract the MSM and BBC propaganda which is never otherwise challenged. 
    How we get all the unwashed to look online in the first place is another matter but I’m sure this is an area of marketing which has had a lot of research which could provide some pointers. 
    Bottom line is: know your target audience , grab them by the proverbials, and sock it to them, and if  you need more journalists to do this I’ve still got some money left from not buying the Herald any more…
     
    Thanks to those who have commented on moderation over at NNS: makes me feel a lot better!

  242. Dave McEwan Hill
    Ignored
    says:

    Good idea, Alan. A “What The Papers Say” feature would be terrific. What is printed in the Daily Express is beyond parody for instance but doing this alone would be a full time job for somebody.

  243. Appleby
    Ignored
    says:

    Clearly I feel you have too much spare time too as I’ve decided to chip in on this and keep you busy. 😉
     
    I see it’s already well over ten grand. I hope that it’s enough that you’d at least not shut up shop in shame even if it dried up overnight!

  244. Alan Gerrish
    Ignored
    says:

    Dave McEwan Hill says:
    7 February, 2013 at 1.28 pm

    ” A “What The Papers Say” feature would be terrific… but doing this alone would be a full time job for somebody.”
    But would the benefits be greater than the cost –  and why stop at “What the Papers Say”?  We also need to consider the other side of the coin which  is of course “What the Papers Don’t Say”, and this would allow a lot of the factual stuff which the Unionist press daren’t talk about eg research evidence on how attractive an independent Scotland would be to Renewables investors, as well as updating on how renewables are developing generally, Safety of Trident, , EU membership from the other end of the telescope, how much electricity Scotland produces and how much goes south,  in fact almost any topic relevant to Scotland which would inform the debate about its future as an independent nation .
    Mind you, I can already see the MSM and Bitter Together  lining up to trash Wings as nothing more than an AS apologist and propaganda machine, but if we got that far then we would know they were panicking!
    Yes Dave, I know we’re now up at 2 extra journalists and counting , but it’s nice to have a dream, and who knows where the Rev Counter might stop!



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