Consortium bids for government news

THE Scottish News Consortium has submitted its bid for the government's web and Channel 3 Scottish news contract to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.

The consortium comprises Scotsman publisher Johnston Press, DC Thomson, the Herald & Times Group and television producer Tinopolis's Mentorn Scotland subsidiary, which makes BBC's Question Time from its Glasgow base.

SNC is competing with the Scottish News Network, which is led by STV with ITN and Bauer Radio, for millions of pounds of government funding over the two-year contract.