LIKE just about every other newspaper in the world, The National is suffering the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic. Our sales are down, as is our advertising income, and more than 100 shops across Scotland which stock this newspaper daily are shut.

Over the next few days, The National’s editor Callum Baird will be contacting individual Yes groups to ask for support at this time. If you would like to receive that e-mail on behalf of your group, or just yourself, please contact us by email on community@thenational.scot.

There are all sorts of special pleadings going on just now, and we here at The National are well aware that Scotland’s citizens have so much more on their plate just now than the fate of a newspaper, but we are asking for help so that we can keep bringing you the factual news and comprehensive comment that we know you like.

Remember, out of all the daily and Sunday newspapers that circulate in Scotland, only The National and Sunday National are outright supporters of independence.

When The National was launched back in late 2014, nobody else in the media gave us a chance of survival beyond a year – six weeks was the common verdict. But here we are, nearly six years on, and not only have we survived, we have thrived.

That is because we alone, of all the daily press, speak for independence. You will find no regular coverage anywhere else of the Yes movement – except when something untoward happens. Only this newspaper cares about Yessers – this appears on our unique Yes DIY pages, which have charted the movement’s growth over the years, including the rise of the All Under One Banner marches. Clearly, people are not able to get out of their homes at the moment, and newspaper deliveries cannot be guaranteed. That is why we are asking our readers to consider taking out a digital subscription.

Right now, we think The National’s Premium Digital Subscription is an offer you can’t refuse. You’ll get our easy-to-use e-edition, with its replica of the paper that features a page-turning National, and access to our supplements and archives.

You’ll get advert-light access to our online content – have you noticed that it updates regularly throughout the day? For Apple and Android users, there will also be free access to our apps.

At the moment, you can get a really generous starting offer with the Premium Digital Subscription costing just £2 for two months. After that initial period, the price goes up to £9.99 per month – but that’s still less than 34p per day, which is great value for money. The offer is available on our Premium Plus annual package only and there are some terms and conditions.

To subscribe, all you have to do is log on to www.thenational.scot/subscribe where you can read all the information you’ll need. We have already had reactions from readers who have taken up premium subscriptions; Dan Wood of Kirriemuir wrote to tell us: “There are no upsides to the Covid-19 virus, but I have to say that as one of those of a certain age told to self-isolate, I have had to adjust to how I get my daily newspaper.

“My little trip each morning to the Co-op to get my National newspaper has been a habit since the first time The National was published. So this week, I took the opportunity and with a degree of trepidation, I navigated the joys of the internet and accessed and subscribed to the e-edition of my newspaper The National. I have to tell you now, after two days of using the e-edition, I am absolutely delighted with it. Easy to access, easy to navigate and easy to read and adjust. You can even print from it. I do not know why I have not done this earlier.

“When this virus is overcome and we are back to normal, I intend to stay with it. When you work it out, it is tremendous value for money.

“Can I suggest all in my position, and even those who are not, give it a try!”

Winifred McCartney from Paisley told us: “I am on my first day of the digital subscription and am very impressed. Whoever designed the web site is worth their weight in gold.

“It is easy to manipulate – five minutes and I had found lots of ways to work the pages, and the ability to print the crossword page for my husband was fantastic. I also cut out the word spirals and send them to two grandchildren along with other activities to do for granma.

“For those with sight problems it is easy to increase the size of the print – great job.”