Sceptical Scot will celebrate its sixth birthday in March 2021. When we first thought of creating an online politics and culture magazine in the immediate aftermath of the very binary #indyref1 of September 2014 we knew we would have to rely on generous contributions from unpaid journalists and others plus curated material free of charge. And so it has proven.

We have published more than 1000 articles and blogs and, by and large, they’ve cost us little or nothing. We’ve been able to provide a platform for talented young writers and artists such as Darren McGarvey and Kasia Kokowska, Amanda Mitchell and Craig Angus, plus many others, in return for publishing innovative, arresting material.

But we need to go much further. We want to help more young journalists fulfil their potential, provide space for their work – and, especially important in these anxious and alarming times, pay them for their contributions. Thanks to readers, friends, colleagues, our first CrowdFunder has met its initial target and raised £1020 which we will now disburse to younger writers investigating and writing on contemporary life in Scotland.

This is an important turning-point for us as co-editors reaching the end (maybe!) of long careers in a wonderful trade. We began in a very different, more optimistic era, when jobs and prospects were plenty, to make our own small contribution to helping younger colleagues strike out on their own. The world, including Scotland, has never been in greater need of youthful journalists with probing questions of authority and inquiring minds. So, if you’re under 35 and wish to be considered, please write to us at info@sceptical.scot

So, many many thanks to all of you who contributed to the CrowdFunder – and to our loyal readers. You can still make your own donation here if you can and/or wish. And, above all, in our last issue of 2020, we wish you a very happy festive season and sceptical new year to come. In 2021 we will have a crucial new test of opinion on independence….

Fay Young/David Gow, co-editors