MHAIRI Black has said her attitudes about media bias against independence have changed since she was elected to Westminster.

The politician became the youngest MP since 1667 when she won the seat of Renfrewshire South in May 2015, defeating the former Labour minister and shadow foreign secretary Douglas Alexander.

She told the 800-strong audience at the Scottish Independence Convention meeting in Glasgow yesterday that before she went to the House of Commons she believed the media “was completely and deliberately biased” against independence.

“But since then I’ve been down in London. I think there is a big problem in [the media] that everything comes from a London-centric view, that’s where all the power is and where all the power based structures are, so everything is warped from that view point,” she said.

“The second big problem, and I sympathise with all journalists about this, is that journalism is now starting to die on its feet. There is little money and because of this newspapers are becoming less and less financially viable.

“Journalists are under incredible pressures to meet deadlines.”

She added she didn’t know what the answer to that was but she underlined the importance of people in educating themselves about independence and politics.

Black spoke out after Richard Walker, consulting editor of The National, highlighted the importance of nurturing and supporting pro-independence titles like The National – the first daily newspaper to support independence.

But Walker also underlined the need for campaigners and activists to appreciate the role of the press to hold power, including the SNP-led Scottish Government to account.

He said there was a need for Yes activists to separate the independence movement from the work of the SNP in the Scottish Government and that it was consistent for journalists to be supportive of the former while critical when necessary of the latter.

“Talking about fair, that includes an acknowledgement that the journalist’s role of holding power to account means, right here in Scotland, holding the SNP to account.

“They are in the strange position of being a party working to achieve radical, anti-establishment change for our country while at the same time representing a political establishment,” he said.

“So let’s stop berating journalists, whether in print, radio and television, for tough questioning of government ministers or pro-independence spokespeople. That’s their job. Honestly, SNP ministers are strong enough to handle it. Criticising journalists who adopt a robust approach to interviewing makes us look weak and short of confidence.

“We have an undeniable case for independence. We have the arguments to carry the day. We don’t need a supine compliant media to convince people of the merits of a case which will withstand the most rigorous of questioning.”

As editor of the Sunday Herald, Walker ensured the paper supported independence ahead of the 2014 vote – the only paper to do so. He then went on to set up The National.

He said that while he would always be “A National” man he would very much welcome other papers supporting Yes in any new referendum campaign.

But he also warned activists to remember to keep supporting The National and other pro-independence media such as the Common Space and Bella Caledonia, which las week was on the brink of closure before it was saved.

“Let’s realise the importance of nurturing the pro-indy media we have. Let’s make sure The National reaches its sales potential. Let’s make sure Common Space can continue to provide a healthy alternative to traditional news sources. Let’s do all we can to help Bella Caledonia overcome its recent problems and flourish in the future,” he said.

“Lets do so to send a message to other media publishers. Let’s tell them that there is more than a moral and just case for supporting independence, there is a business case too.”