Scotland votes: Reporting the referendum

On September 18, Scots will head to the polls to decide whether or not they remain a part of the United Kingdom.

The referendum has been on the cards for many months and initially there was a presumption that Scotland would vote “No” and preserve its three-century-old relationship with London. But then a poll put the “Yes” camp slightly ahead; politicians in London hit the panic button and a media scramble ensued to catch up with the story.

Playing a pivotal role in the decision is Rupert Murdoch, whose newspaper the Scottish Sun is the most read in the country and has teetered on the brink of urging Scotland to vote “Yes”. If Scotland does sever ties with the United Kingdom then, despite the phone hacking scandal that shamed his company, Rupert Murdoch could prove more influential in this referendum than those taking part in it.

Talking us through the story this week is Philip Webster, an assistant editor for The Times in London; David Maddox, the political correspondent at The Scotsman; James Cusick, the political correspondent for The Independent; Dr Michael Higgins, a media scholar at Strathclyde University and the editor of the Sunday Herald, Richard Walker. 

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