Ofcom has today announced the appointment of Dr Calum MacLeod to the Board of MG ALBA, the body responsible for ensuring high-quality television programmes in Gaelic are made available to people in Scotland.
Ofcom’s recommendation for the appointment has been agreed by Shirley-Anne Somerville MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills following an independent selection process by Ofcom in Scotland.
Calum was nominated by Highlands and Islands Enterprise for the role. He has been appointed for a term of four years from 15 May 2022.
Calum is a freelance sustainable development consultant, academic and Policy Director for Community Land Scotland. A native Gaelic speaker from the Isle of Harris, Calum now lives in Glasgow and much of much of his consultancy, writing and policy work focuses on the relationship between land, culture, community and sustainability.
In 2010 Calum led post-legislative scrutiny of the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003 on behalf of the Scottish Parliament. He was a member of the Scottish Land Fund committee in 2016 and served on the Board of the Harris Tweed Authority between 2008 and 2016.
Dr MacLeod is perfectly placed to support Gaelic media in what is a highly challenging and fast-moving environment, with his experience to date giving him an important perspective on both rural and urban concerns in Scotland. This combined with his Gaelic speaking family links with Harris, and with Scotland’s largest urban Gaelic community in Glasgow, will be a fantastic asset to the MG ALBA Board. We are looking forward to working with him.
Allan MacDonald, MG ALBA chairman
Congratulations to Calum MacLeod on his appointment to the Board of MG ALBA. I am confident that Calum’s background and extensive experience will be a huge asset to MG ALBA as it builds on the excellent work of recent years.
Shirley-Anne Somerville MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Scotland’s Languages
Notes to editors
- Under the Communications Act 2003, the remit of MG ALBA (the operating name of Seirbheis nam Meadhanan Gàidhlig, or Gaelic Media Service) is to ensure that a wide and diverse range of high-quality television programmes in Gaelic are made available to people in Scotland.
- As outlined in section 183A(5)(b) of the Broadcasting Act 1990, MG ALBA board members must include a member nominated by Highlands and Islands Enterprise.
- Further information about appointments to the Board of MG ALBA can be found in the Memorandum of Understanding between the UK Government, Scottish Government, Scottish Parliament and Ofcom.
- Photo courtesy of Màiri MacLeod.
Tha Ofcom an-diugh air ainmeachadh gu bheil An t-Oll Calum MacLeòid air a bhith air a shuidheachadh air Bòrd MG ALBA, am buidheann a tha an urra ri bhith a’ dèanamh cinnteach gu bheil cothrom aig daoine ann an Alba air prògraman telebhisein Gàidhlig de dh’àrd-chàileachd.
Chaidh moladh Ofcom airson an t-suidheachaidh aontachadh le Shirley-Anne Somerville BPA, Rùnaire a’ Chaibineit airson Foghlam agus Sgilean an dèidh pròiseas measaidh taghaidh neo-eisimeileach le Ofcom ann an Alba.
Chaidh Calum ainmeachadh le Iomairt na Gàidhealtachd ’s nan Eilean airson na dreuchd. Chaidh a shuidheachadh airson teirm a mhaireas ceithir bliadhna a’ tòiseachadh air 15 Cèitean 2022.
Is e neach-comhairleachaidh neo-cheangailte a thaobh leasachadh seasmhach a tha ann an Calum, neach-acadaimigeach agus Stiùiriche Poileasaidh Fearann Coimhearsnachd na h-Alba. Tha e fileanta sa Ghàidhlig agus is ann às na Hearadh a tha e. Tha e a’ fuireach ann an Glaschu a-nis agus tha mòran dhan obair co-chomhairleachaidh aige, obair sgrìobhaidh agus obair poileasaidh a’ cuimseachadh air a’ cheangal eadar am fearann, cultar, coimhearsnachd agus so-sheasmhachd.
Ann an 2010 stiùir Calum an iar-sgrùdadh reachdail air Achd Ath-leasachadh Lagh an Fhearainn (Alba) 2003 às leth Pàrlamaid na h-Alba. Bha e na bhall de chomataidh Maoin Fearann na h-Alba ann an 2016 agus bha e air Bòrd Ùghdarras a’ Chlò Hearaich eadar 2008 – 2016.
Thuirt Ailean Dòmhnallach, cathraiche MG ALBA:
“Tha an t-Oll MacLeòid ann an sàr àite airson a bhith a’ toirt taic do na meadhanan Gàidhlig ann an àrainn a tha àrd-dhùbhlanach agus a’ gluasad gu luath, leis an fhèin-fhiosrachadh a tha aige chun na h-ìre seo a tha a’ toirt dha sealladh cudromach an dà chuid air uallachaidhean dùthchail agus bailteil ann an Alba. Bidh seo agus na ceanglaichean le teaghlach a bhruidhneas a’ Ghàidhlig sna Hearadh, agus le Glaschu, a’ choimhearsnachd bailteil Gàidhlig as motha a tha ann an Alba, mar so-mhaoin mhìorbhaileach do Bhòrd MG ALBA. Tha sinn a’ coimhead air adhart ri bhith ag obair còmhla ris”.
Thuirt Shirley-Anne Somerville BPA, Rùnaire a’ Chaibineit airson Cànain na h-Alba:
“Meal an naidheachd air Calum MacLeòid airson a bhith air a shuidheachadh air Bòrd MG ALBA. Tha misneachd agam gum bi cùl-raon agus fèin-fhiosrachadh farsaing Chaluim na sho-mhaoin shònraichte do MG ALBA is iad a’ togail air an t-sàr obair a tha iad air a dhèanamh thar nam beagan bhliadhnaichean a chaidh seachad.”
Fiosrachadh do luchd-deasachaidh:
- Fo Achd Conaltraidh 2003, is e raon-ùghdarrais MG ALBA (ainm-obrach Seirbheis nam Meadhanan Gàidhlig) a bhith a’ dèanamh cinnteach gu bheil raon farsaing agus eadar-mheasgaichte de phrògraman telebhisean de dh’àrd-chàileachd sa Ghàidhlig air an tairgse do dhaoine ann an Alba.
- Mar a chaidh a mhìneachadh ann an earrann 183A(5)(b) de Achd Craolaidh 1990, feumaidh buill bòrd MG ALBA a bhith a’ gabhail a-steach ball a chaidh ainmeachadh le Iomairt na Gàidhealtachd ’s nan Eilean.
- Gheibhear tuilleadh fiosrachaidh mu shuidheachaidhean air Bòrd MG ALBA sa Mheòrachan Tuigse eadar Riaghaltas na RA, Riaghaltas na h-Alba agus Ofcom.
- Dealbh le taing do Mhàiri NicLeòid.