Ofcom announces new board member for MG ALBA

Ofcom yesterday (26th August 2015) announced the appointment of Iain Stephen Morrison to the board of MG ALBA, the body responsible for funding Gaelic-language TV programmes in Scotland. He was nominated for appointment by Bòrd na Gàidhlig, the principal public body in Scotland responsible for promoting Gaelic development and providing advice to Scottish Ministers on Gaelic issues. Mr Morrison is currently editor of the local community newspaper Am Pàipear, based on the Isle of Benbecula in the Outer Hebrides. Am Pàipear has won two awards at the Highlands and Islands Media Awards 2015, as Community Newspaper of the Year and for its best use of digital media. Mr Morrison has also worked as a broadcast journalist for the BBC and as researcher for the independent company, MacTV.

He has been appointed to MG Alba for a four year term, effective from 10 August 2015. The functions of MG ALBA are outlined in the Communications Act 2003. They are to secure that a wide and diverse range of high quality programmes in Gaelic are broadcast or otherwise transmitted to people in Scotland. As outlined in the 2003 Communications Act, MG ALBA board members must include a member nominated by Bòrd na Gàidhlig