Inverness Chamber of Commerce members gathered at the Glen Mhor Hotel & Apartments last week (Friday 25 April) for the Chamber’s Keynote Lunch, featuring a compelling and candid address from Steve Barron, Managing Director of Highland News and Media (HNM).
Steve delivered a refreshingly honest perspective on HNM’s journey – charting its successes, challenges, pivotal moments and evolution in an era shaped by rapid digital and technological change. He reflected on the decisions he wishes the business had approached differently over the years, providing guests with an open and valuable insight into the realities of leading a modern local media company.
Speaking about HNM’s approach to growth and change, Steve said, “If we are going to succeed, it’s because we’ve challenged ourselves and embraced change. If we fail, it’ll be because we didn’t challenge ourselves enough. We have to keep disrupting our own thinking to stay relevant to our audiences.”
Central to Steve’s talk was the importance of forging strategic partnerships with major players like Google, the Financial Times, Meta and the BBC. By tapping into their knowledge, expertise and training opportunities, HNM has upskilled its teams and equipped the next generation of journalists with the tools they need to thrive in a rapidly evolving news landscape.
Steve spoke about the changing trajectory of print and digital readership, highlighting how young, up-and-coming writers are shaping the future of HNM’s titles by embracing new technologies and digital platforms. He also addressed the emotional connection many readers – particularly among older generations – continue to have with printed newspapers, and the careful balance between nurturing that loyalty while preparing for a future increasingly centred on digital.
The conversation also explored HNM’s important role in holding government and local ministers to account through major campaigns that made national headlines, including the RIP A9 dualling campaign and the SNP leadership debate. Steve raised thought-provoking questions around the value society places on local news, and how much control businesses like HNM have in shaping the future of print media.
An engaging Q&A session followed, with guests quizzing Steve on a range of topics, from the emotional importance of print to older audiences, to the critical role of quality journalism in the digital age. Discussion also covered how artificial intelligence can support journalists – freeing up time for deeper, more meaningful reporting – and how local media organisations can attract and nurture the next generation of trusted reporters.
Colin Marr, Chief Executive of Inverness Chamber of Commerce, summed up the afternoon, “It was a fascinating talk, whether you’re interested in media or in how to turn around a business that find itself in a new reality. Steve offered real insight into the evolving media landscape, the trends shaping how news is delivered, and Highland News and Media’s journey as a business. His openness and honesty resonated with the room, and the level of engagement and quality of questions from our guests reflected how much people care about the future of local journalism.”
We extend our sincere thanks to Steve Barron for sharing his insights, and to all our members and guests who made the event a success.