SNP

I’m still trying to process all the excitement of the past few weeks north of the border. Not only has the temperature climbed above 10°C for the first time this year, and, as incredible as Scotland’s historic 2-0 victory over the might of Spain was, one thing dominated the headlines – politics.

After the best part of 10 years of relative stability in the Scottish political landscape, Nicola Sturgeon sent newsrooms across Scotland into a frenzy by announcing her resignation as leader of the SNP and as Scotland’s First Minister.

Watching an election campaign from an academic perch is very different to organising coverage in the newsroom. My university colleagues are no less engaged, but they stand outside the media-political bubble and are usually better informed.

This can make some of their questions more challenging than those of presenters, correspondents or politicians. They seem to think opinion should be based on rigorous research and evidence. Quaint notion.

We have had a team researching media coverage of the campaign that has been published in The Guardian each week.

When Tony Hall needed someone to investigate Jeremy Clarkson's attack on his producer, he looked north and summoned Ken MacQuarrie, the calm and reserved Director of BBC Scotland.

As an experienced member of the Editorial Standards Committee, MacQuarrie was an obvious choice. His terse report sealed Clarkson's exit. What the Top Gear presenter made of the enigmatic Scot, his polar opposite, remains the stuff of speculation.

With Team 56 – as SNP MPs call themselves – forming the third-largest party in Parliament, the impact on broadcasting in the UK is likely to be profound. And the effects are certain to spread beyond the BBC Charter debate.

The economist Jeremy Peat, a former BBC Scotland Governor and Trustee, observes that the general election outcome "represents a massive vote for change," requiring "not sticking plaster, but fundamental change." He adds: "We are miles away from a stable equilibrium."