BBC Scotland Executive Report 2007/08

The Politics Show – presented by Glenn Campbell on Sunday lunchtimes – broke several important political stories. These included Wendy Alexander's call for a referendum on independence; the revelation that First Minister, Alex Salmond, had held talks with the Trump organisation about the planning application for a new golf resort; and an interview with the Prime Minister in which he said he would look at taking some political powers back to Westminster.

Political editor Brian Taylor's blog – Blether with Brian – is now among the most popular produced by the BBC. His webcasts with Scotland's political leaders from the party conferences have also proved popular and produced significant news stories. BBC Scotland negotiated access for TV cameras to the High Court to record the judgements in two high profile murder appeals – Luke Mitchell and Nat Fraser. Excerpts from these recordings were broadcast on radio and television and the complete judgements were made available in video online.

In 2007/08, BBC Scotland set up an investigations unit, under the leadership of Marcus Ryder, to increase the amount of original journalism broadcast. Early output from this unit included a trilogy of TV documentaries on the Scottish justice system looking at police assaults, prison overcrowding and a case of police corruption.

BBC Scotland's journalists produced four editions of Panorama, including Sam Poling's undercover investigation into the security industry – Britain's Protection Racket.

In February, an investigation into Scotland's knife, alcohol and gang culture resulted in a 90 minute TV special Wasted Nation – a mixture of strong documentary and informed studio debate.

More local radio news bulletins were introduced for listeners in the Highlands and Islands. This extended service across the day will also be introduced in the north east of Scotland.

A new 8.00pm television news summary was also launched. The audience for this includes 130,000 new viewers aged under 35 who previously have not been regular consumers of BBC Scotland news services.

A new business programme has been introduced on Radio Scotland on Sunday mornings as part of a number of measures aimed at improving coverage of business and economics.

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