The Ferret

The Ferret is a Scottish, member-owned investigative journalism cooperative launched in 2015 with the goal of creating a newsroom driven by public interest rather than commercial or political agendas. Built from the ground up by journalists and readers, it set out to prove that rigorous investigative reporting can thrive through community support. Unlike traditional outlets, The Ferret blends investigations, fact-checking, and data-led reporting with a strong emphasis on transparency: members help choose topics, review methodologies, and shape editorial priorities. Its work frequently explores issues such as environmental harm, political accountability, public spending, corporate power, and human rights in Scotland and beyond. The cooperative structure means that The Ferret is funded through subscriptions, memberships, grants, and training activities, with no reliance on advertising. This model allows the team to focus on stories that require time, persistence, and independence - often the ones least likely to be tackled by larger commercial newsrooms. Over the years, The Ferret has developed a reputation for serious, community-rooted journalism, proving that a small but determined newsroom can have a significant impact by holding power to account and equipping the public with carefully verified information.