The Scott Trust is a unique form of media ownership in the UK.
Most media organisations are owned by a proprietor or group of shareholders. As the sole shareholder in Guardian Media Group the Scott Trust measures the return on its investment in terms broader than pure financial performance.
The Trust was created in 1936 to safeguard the journalistic freedom and liberal values of the Guardian. Its core purpose is to preserve the financial and editorial independence of the Guardian in perpetuity, while its subsidiary aims are to champion its principles and to promote freedom of the press in the UK and abroad.
Guardian Media Group does not seek profit for the financial benefit of an owner or shareholders, but to sustain journalism that is free from commercial or political interference, and to uphold a set of values laid down by CP Scott, the great Manchester Guardian editor (pictured above left).
In October 2008 the Scott Trust became a limited company in order to strengthen further the protection it offers the Guardian.
The remit of the Trust's charitable arm, the Scott Trust Foundation, reflects the Trust's aims of promoting press freedom and meeting its responsibilities to the community.
The Trust also offers bursaries to assist students who face financial difficulty in attaining the qualifications for a career in media. The aim is to encourage graduates from diverse social and ethnic backgrounds to apply.
Watch a short film about the Scott Trust
Read about the history of the Scott Trust