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Caledonian Mercury, a web only newspaper was launched last week (January 22, 2010) in Scotland thus triggering more competition for the newspaper publications in the country.

The name for this online newspaper, Caledonian Mercury, has been evolved from Scotland’s first print news journal ‘Mercurius Caledonius’. “We have revived its historic title because we lay claim to the great Scottish tradition of journalistic innovation,” says Caledonian Mercury’s editorial director Stewart Kirkpatrick in a welcome note put on the website on Jan 22. Kirkpatrick is former editor of The Scotsman.

This online publication is being managed, edited and largely written by former staff writers and senior editors from the Edinburgh-based Scotsman working as freelancers. The staff will be paid partly according to the "value" of their copy to readers and advertisers, says a report with The Guardian.

Caledonian Mercury is targeting readers belonging to middle-class in forty-something. “We seek to revive Scottish journalism by using the internet rather than railing against it,” says the note from Kirkpatrick.

The online paper will initially cover politics, foreign affairs, health, business and technology, entertainment, sport and the outdoors. The publication also features a heritage section with stories about Scottish history and culture. While, the Breaking news factor won’t be a focus, in favour of more analytical reporting. Addition of more topics to be covered will be added later depending on the success of this new online venture.

“This newspaper is an experiment in the evolution of media. It is a statement of belief in a better public life. It does not fear the possibility of failure and instead relishes the prospect of change. Most importantly, it holds dear the pledge of its antecedent: “To assert no falsehood and to hide no truth,” writes Kirkpatrick.