My Column

Can new year Trump 2017 for headlines?

  • Date: Monday 1st January 2018
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Mass shootings, terror attacks, royal engagements and babies. Brexit, Hollywood sex scandals, and hurricanes – 2017 has certainly been a year for headlines.

Many of them have rippled throughout the year and are set to continue into 2018.

But you’d be hard pushed to Trump the inauguration of the son of a woman from tiny Tong on the Isle of Lewis as the 45th US President for sheer impact.

Donald Trump’s arrival in the White House back in early 2017 could have been a proud moment for the Scots diaspora. But his place in the Oval Office seems to bring a new development, revelation, or for many, abomination every month.

There isn’t an economic system on the planet that hasn’t taken account of Donald Trump. What he’s got in store for 2018 - who knows?

Another biggie for the business world – Brexit is set to drag on into 2018.

The process kicked off back in March when Britain’s ambassador to the EU formally triggered Article 50 of the Lisbon treaty, setting in motion a process of withdrawing the UK from the European Union.

PM Theresa May later called the move "an historic moment from which there can be no turning back".

The terms of the deal are still being thrashed out and a huge amount of uncertainty remains.

For the man in the street, tragedy struck when a terrorist set off a bomb at a pop concert at the Manchester Arena. The device killed 22 people, including 14-year-old Eilidh MacLeod, from Barra in the Outer Hebrides.

The attack showed the extraordinary resilience of the British people who later turned out in their thousands at the One Love Manchester benefit concert in June, and continue to enjoy concerts and events across the country – albeit in a heightened state of security.

Back in the US of A, the man behind one of the world’s best known brands Hugh Hefner, who created the Playboy empire, died aged 91 in September at the his famous mansion.

Whatever your opinion, Hefner’s Playboy impacted and moulded media and cultural attitudes and outputs for decades.

As one brand saw a death, another saw a birth when it was announced that a third royal baby was on the way.

Prince William and Kate revealed they are expecting a little brother or sister for siblings Charlotte and George. The baby is expected in April – with marketing and advertising firms already plotting ways to herald the arrival.

Spring is set to be a busy few months for the royals after Prince Harry announced his engagement to actress Meghan Markle in November. The couple have since confirmed they’ll marry in May.

Going back stateside, gunman Stephen Paddock murdered 58 people and injured over 500 when he started shooting at country and music festival goers from his hotel window in Las Vegas in October.

It was the worst mass shooting in US history, and reignited the gun debate. The argument reaches into the political, social and cultural psyche of the world’s biggest economy, with no prospect of a clear outcome.

Another economy to find itself reeling in 2017 was Hollywood.

Since October this year, scores of women have come forward claiming they have been the victims of unwarranted sexual advances from movie mogul Harvey Weinstein.

Silver-screen star Kevin Spacey’s career is also in tatters after he faced a barrage of criticism over sex allegations and his response to them.

Spacey was once one of the industry’s biggest stars, commanding huge fees and box office ratings.

In both cases, the reverberations will be felt well into 2018, and who knows who will be next to be named?

Uncertainty is a word we’ve heard time and time again this year.

Many of the issues and events which made the headlines in 2017 are set to rumble on well into the New Year. How they play out will have consequences for the punter in the street and big business.

But we shouldn’t go into 2018 looking over our shoulder – despite the world seemingly being riven by tragedy and controversy, there remains much to celebrate. One thing for sure is that I’ll be looking to the future with optimism and opportunity.

 

SIDE

2017 was officially the Year of History, Heritage and Archaeology, celebrating everything from the people, culture and traditions of Scotland, to its landscapes, attractions, hidden gems and stories through hundreds of special events.

The government initiative was led by VisitScotland and its partners, with the aims of raising the nation’s profile among potential visitors and encouraging the people of Scotland, and its businesses, to engage in celebrating the year’s theme.

From April to September this year, footfall was up some 20 per cent across more than 70 Historic Scotland attractions – making it the busiest season on record. 

Granted there are other contributing factors to the boost - namely what’s become known as the “Outlander Effect”, courtesy of the TV show of the same name - but this is a step towards the bold aim of growing the nation’s tourism industry to £5.5bn by 2020.

Elsewhere, there were extended openings for many seasonal attractions in 2017, plus the dedication of a new Heritage Awareness Day.

There was even a new category at the flagship Scottish tourism awards. The Scottish Thistle Awards highlighted the Best Heritage Tourism Experiences, with The Black Watch Castle and Museum in Perth, Glasgow’s The Friends of Britannia Panopticon Music Hall Trust, Eilean Donan Castle, Glen Garioch Distillery and Robert Smail’s Printing Works in Innerleithen were all recognised.

All in all, not a bad legacy for the Year of History, Heritage and Archaeology.

And with cultural engagement evidently increasing across the nation - according to the Scottish Household Survey this autumn - it was revealed earlier this year that the themed programme, which has delivered the likes of the Year of Food & Drink and the Year of Innovation, Architecture and Design to date, will now run until 2022 at least.

Watch this space - up next is the Year of Young People in 2018.

 

LAUGH

2017 was another record-breaking year for the Edinburgh International Festival and the Edinburgh Fringe, with the capital once again thronging with visitors this summer.

In their 70th year, ticket sales were up nine per cent for the Fringe while the International Festival raked in an impressive £4.3 million.

But was it a year of comedy gold too? On the festival’s big birthday, the Funniest Joke of the Fringe award also marked its 10th year. 

The hotly anticipated prize was scooped by comedian Ken Cheng in 2017. He delighted festival-goers and critics with: “I’m not a fan of the new pound coin, but then again, I hate all change.”

 

WEEP

So Andy Murray didn’t lift the Wimbledon silverware in 2017 and the national football team lost their World Cup play-off on goal difference.

Cue the collective sigh of disappointment.

But don’t go drowning in your sorrows because 2018 is set to bring the European Championships to Glasgow, with an action-packed programme of aquatics, cycling, golf, gymnastics, rowing and triathlon to keep you entertained.

Bonnie, the aptly named successor to Clyde - the mascot of the Commonwealth Games - made her debut, and quite a splash, this summer. 

She even has her own social media accounts for you to keep up with her travels and build momentum ahead of the championships. Go on, you know you want to hit follow.

 

 

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