The Ferret (website)
{{Short description|Media cooperative in Scotland}}
{{Use British English|date=January 2017}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2017}}
The Ferret is an independent non-profit media cooperative in Scotland set up to investigate stories in the public interest which launched in May 2015.
History
The Ferret was launched in May 2015.{{cite news |url=https://www.journalism.co.uk/news/how-the-ferret-will-nose-up-the-trousers-of-power-/s2/a565289/ |title=How The Ferret will 'nose up the trousers of power' |first=Mădălina |last=Ciobanu |website=www.journalism.co.uk |date=29 May 2015 |accessdate=21 January 2017}} With the support of members, it aims to produce independent investigations that can be sold to outlets in the mainstream media.{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2015/jul/06/crowd-funded-investigative-journalism-site-the-ferret-to-launch-in-scotland |title=Crowd-funded investigative journalism site the Ferret to launch in Scotland |first=Severin |last=Carrell |work=The Guardian |date=6 July 2015 |accessdate=21 January 2017}} The cooperative structure was chosen to allow readers to be more than passive recipients of their stories.{{cite news |url=http://www.scotsman.com/news/opinion/duncan-thorp-building-scotland-s-social-enterprise-media-1-4181321 |title=Duncan Thorp: Building Scotland's social enterprise media |work=The Scotsman |date=20 July 2016 |accessdate=21 January 2017}}
The Ferret was the first publication in Scotland to join press regulator IMPRESS,{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2016/jan/20/press-regulator-impress-unveils-first-members-and-makes-charter-submission |title=Press regulator Impress unveils first members and makes charter submission |first=Mark |last=Sweney |work=The Guardian |date=20 January 2016 |access-date=9 March 2025}} and adopt an editorial policy compliant with the recommendations of the Leveson Inquiry.
A crowdfunding appeal was chosen to launch their first investigation into aspects of the fracking industry and unconventional gas. They hit their target within a week.{{cite news |url=http://www.pressgazette.co.uk/scotland-sees-flowering-news-websites-national-press-wilts-north-border/ |title=Scotland sees 'flowering' of news websites as national press wilts north of the border |first=William |last=Turvill |work=Press Gazette |date=9 July 2015 |accessdate=21 January 2017}} By the close of the appeal, they had raised more than double their target and so they decided to look at the treatment of asylum seekers too.{{cite news |url=http://www.thenational.scot/news/14898972.Journalists_raise___9k_for_investigations_with_crowdfunding/ |title=Journalists raise £9k for investigations with crowdfunding |first=Kathleen |last=Nutt |work=The National |date=11 August 2015 |accessdate=21 January 2017}}
They organised a conference with Strathclyde University held in April 2016.{{cite news |url=http://www.thenational.scot/culture/14863304.Investigative_journalism_website_The_Ferret_joins_forces_with_Strathclyde_University_for_media_conference/ |title=Investigative journalism website The Ferret joins forces with Strathclyde University for media conference |first=Nan |last=Spowart |work=The National |date=21 March 2016 |accessdate=21 January 2017}}
In November 2016 The Ferret was shortlisted in the "Digital Innovation" category of the 2016 British Journalism Awards.{{cite news |url=http://www.pressgazette.co.uk/2016-british-journalism-awards-finalists-revealed-a-timely-reminder-of-the-good-journalists-do/ |title=2016 British Journalism Awards finalists revealed: 'A timely reminder of the good journalists do' |first=Dominic |last=Ponsford |work=Press Gazette |date=7 November 2016 |accessdate=21 January 2017}}
In April 2017, the co-operative launched a fact checking service.{{cite news |url=https://www.journalism.co.uk/news/the-ferret-launches-fact-checking-service-aiming-to-work-with-its-community-to-verify-claims/s2/a703378/ |title=The Ferret launches fact-checking service, aiming to work with its community to verify claims |first=Mădălina |last=Ciobanu |website=www.journalism.co.uk |date=28 April 2017 |accessdate=2 May 2017}} It remains the only fact checking project in Scotland to be independently assessed as meeting the International Fact Checking Network Code of Principles.[https://ifcncodeofprinciples.poynter.org/profile/ferret-fact-service International Fact Checking Network Code of Principles.]
In 2018, Ferret co-founding director Billy Briggs and photographer Angela Catlin were awarded Outstanding Digital Journalist of the Year at the Scottish Press Awards.{{cite news |url=http://www.scotns.org.uk/the-winners-at-the-2018-awards/ |title=The Winners at the 2018 awards| website=Scottish Newspaper Society |date=27 April 2018 |accessdate=12 December 2018}} The award recognised Briggs and Catlin's reporting from Iraq the previous year, which was published by The Ferret.[https://theferret.scot/tag/iraq/] The Ferret.
The organisation also won the Online/Digital Award at the 2018 Scottish Refugee Media Awards{{cite news |url=http://www.scottishrefugeecouncil.org.uk/news_and_events/news/3321_refugee_festival_scotland_media_award_winners_announced |title=Refugee Festival Scotland Media Award winners announced | website=Scottish Refugee Council |date=19 June 2018 |accessdate=12 December 2018}} for a story by Ferret director Karin Goodwin and Angela Catlin highlighting the increasing numbers of children being made destitute in Scotland.
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{Official website|https://theferret.scot/}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ferret}}
Category:Internet properties established in 2015
Category:2015 establishments in Scotland