After graduating in 1983, he was accepted onto the Thomson Regional Newspaper trainee scheme, at the end of which he was described as a confident young man of ability and good humour who would be an asset to any news team. Outside of work, Calum Macdonald was a loyal friend and a very proud father. How do you say Calum MacDonald (journalist)? Calum Macdonald is a presenter and journalist on Times Radio. We are lucky at The Herald. He was respected and admired by colleagues for his quick intelligence, decisiveness, cool head under pressure and capacity for sheer hard work. Comments Off. Presenter | Times Radio Breakfast, Friday-Sunday 6am Event host, writer, podcast host Biography. Calums mother Elizabeth (nee Mitchell), a graduate in maths and moral philosophy at Aberdeen University, was a school teacher before having a family. But how can you not treasure the thing that connects you with your closest family and friends so easily? As a subscriber, you are shown 80% less display advertising when reading our articles. One presenter once told me the day you dont get nervous is the day you should quit, because youve stopped caring enough about the programme. In 1990, the confident young man of ability was encouraged to apply to The Herald by the papers then education correspondent, Barclay McBain (now executive editor), who had met him during a press trip to West Germany. Lame, sorry, I know. The Early Breakfast Club is The Times most exclusive members club. You can make a complaint by using the report this post link . He's a journalist and broadcaster, and he's the best one I know. Information is stored in a database in order to service your enquiry, but are deleted once it is no longer required. heraldscotland.com is tackling this problem by allowing only subscribers to comment. Always be aware that while people like me might give you advice on how to get somewhere, theres loads of different routes, and so whats worked for me might not work for the next person, so just start knocking on doors and speaking to people and work out the best way for you., Your email address will not be published. And, crucially, wholl pay for the project? Registered in England & Wales | 01676637 |. He lived in England from 1971 until his death, first in London and from 1992 in Gloucestershire. I always have. You can make a complaint by using the report this post link . Its a detailed piece of work, based on the type of interviewing and statistical analysis he later becomes renowned for in a career covering sport, mainly football, including four World Cups, and Aberdeen FC reigning supreme under Alex Ferguson. Nowadays, Calum is living his dream: Im currently a broadcast journalist with BBC Radio 5 Live, so primarily producing programmes, occasionally reporting on various bits and pieces, reading the news from time to time, and recording various interviews and podcasts. Previously at the BBC, he has interviewed everyone from cabinet ministers to spies and protestors. He joined the station from its launch and now presents the breakfast show, as well as programmes across the network. Father and daughter would always go together at midnight the day the latest instalment was released, to buy their copy. He also compiled catalogues of the works of John Foulds, Shostakovich, Luigi Dallapiccola and Antal Dorti and contributed articles to many musical encyclopaedias such as the New Grove. In the past, the journalists job was to collect and distribute information to the audience. And still a pencil lover. He met his future wife, fellow reporter Christine Jardine, in 1985, and they married in February 1987 at Glasgow University chapel. Editors' Code of Practice. You may request to have this data removed at any time. The not-for-profit website sets out to tell positive stories and Calum was proud to employ many young freelance journalists fresh out of training. News Corp UK & Ireland Limited, 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF. From time to time we send out emails announcing new speakers, special offers and free tickets to our showcase events including Speakers Breakfasts and the JLA Real Variety Show. We do not pre-moderate or monitor readers comments appearing on our websites, but we do post-moderate in response to complaints we receive or otherwise when a potential problem comes to our attention. However, he would definitely have approved of something which offered real work opportunities to journalists, especially the younger generation wholl miss out on the sort of workplace training readily on offer to him (and his son). Wine, sure. This website and associated newspapers adhere to the Independent Press Standards Organisation's Within a fortnight of what was the highlight of his career as a journalist, Macdonald was beginning a two-year law degree at Glasgow University, his natural aptitude for journalism giving way to a latent desire to enter the legal profession. The Early Breakfast Club is a loyalty scheme for our listeners. Thats commitment. As a reporter, Night News Editor, Digital Editor for the Herald & Times group and as Group News Editor the job he loved the most he was an intrinsic part of the newspaper for 25 years. @CalumAM 9,898 followers, 20,432 tweets. Resignation? A crossword buff, not long after joining The Herald, he started setting them. In the past, the journalists job was to collect and distribute information to the audience. Flashback: it's 60 years ago, and a keen young journalist, . He came from a line of journalists: his grandfather started a local paper in Buckie while his father, Alastair, was a sports writer at the Press & Journal, specialising in football. Spreading ideas, passions and new ways of thinking about media. We are doing this to improve the experience forour loyalreaders and we believe it will reduce the ability of trolls and troublemakers, who occasionally find their way onto our site, to abuse our journalists and readers. He was a first class editor, with a particular knack for coming up with the perfect introduction. Chatting to him afterwards, we got to the bottom of where his love for radio began. I prep the programme. Across the Atlantic, some of the most successful and prestigious publications have already embraced solutions or constructive journalism see Whats Working in HuffPo, Fixes in the New York Times, and Take Action in the Christian Science Monitor. His involvement in amateur theatre continued at Aberdeen University, where he studied psychology, and English language and literature. They do it all the time on Facebook, on such online platforms with massive audiences as Upworthy and Humans of New York. I was being myself, I was doing what I loved and that made all the difference. Runrig founding member Calum MacDonald believes the band could reform in the future - if the occasion is right. The following day a penitent Humphrys wrote the journalist a personal e-mail, making a "terrible admission of ignorance". These adverts enable local businesses to get in front of their target audience the local community. MacDonald was born in Nairn, Scotland and educated at the Royal High School, Edinburgh and Downing College, Cambridge. Wednesday, 12 October saw FreshAir student radio hold the Student Radio Associations Scotland Training Day. Biography Calum Macdonald is a presenter and journalist on Times Radio. This byline is for a different person with the same name. His most recent venture, Positively Scottish, grew out of a desire to counter what he felt was a disappointing excess of negativity in Scottish news journalism. Newsquest Media Group Ltd, Loudwater Mill, Station Road, High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire. Terms & Conditions | Cookies | Contact Us. To book Calum Macdonald please contact your JLA Agent. Throughout this working life, the journalist is part of a Scottish media that thrives. Technology means that readers can shape a discussion. Hours after CCTV footage showed Watson setting fire to curtains at the Scottish Politician of the Year awards, he brusquely denied his culpability to Macdonald. Theatre and books were lasting passions, his favourite authors being John Irving, Iain Banks, William Boyd and Ian Rankin. I also think it cant be overstated how fun it is to get to sit and chat about the news with well informed, analytical, insightful guests. Presenting news radio programmes has been my dream since I was 11 years old. Everybody thats in this room today who wants to work in radio is in a perfect position to be reaching the future radio audience They are the future radio audience as well. FORMER Stirling Observer reporter Calum Macdonald died from cancer last week at the age of just 32. With the constant bombardment of reports on the bleak job prospects of our generation, a career in the world of journalism and broadcasting seems especially elusive. Nowadays, Calum is living his dream: "I'm currently a broadcast journalist with BBC Radio 5 Live, so primarily producing programmes, occasionally reporting on various bits and pieces, reading the news from time to time, and recording various interviews and podcasts. Macdonald proved the word had existed for centuries, then called upon an academic to comment, whereupon the Today presenter was described as a "blethering skite". Calum covers the news on the Times Radio breakfast show. Calum was prominent among those long-serving journalists who provided continuity against a backdrop of organisational change, embodying The Heralds values of editorial independence, fairness in the reporting of news and a commitment to high standards. heraldscotland.com is tackling this problem by allowing only subscribers to comment. Calum won, appropriately enough, with ineluctably. What career advice would you give your younger self? Its the heyday of Scottish journalism, and the young sports writer is in his element. Because youve kept in touch with these people, and demonstrated a bit of what you can do, then they can kind of point you in the right direction when opportunities are going to be coming up.. See something missing? My dad. We may then apply our discretion under the user terms to amend or delete comments. inaccuracy or intrusion, then please Following year: presented a news programme, entered the student radio awards, and won. I certainly did. I go on air at 5am. About News UK. I get up exceptionally early (3:10am), present Early Breakfast to get you briefed on the mornings news, business and sport headlines. 'Words and Music in Late Shostakovich' in C. Norris (ed). Calum, whose father and grandfather were also both journalists, joined The Herald in 1990 from the Press and Journal, Aberdeen, as a news reporter and, as group news editor, was in charge of the newsdesk both 9/11 and the 2003 invasion of Iraq. CALUM Macdonald, who has died aged 55, was a journalist and crosswords editor who spent most of his career at The Herald. (We reckon Positively Scottish will be one of the first sites in the world to marry solutions journalism with a national/regional USP.). Macdonald had intended to revisit North Uist, where recently he traced his family roots in a journalistic exercise for The Herald, but was prevented by his brief but brutal illness, which was endured with stoic good humour and fortitude. FreshAir does it well anyway, but can continue to improve its presence on Facebook and Twitter putting content out specifically for these platforms, so that people can come to it. Calum recently worked on an exclusive with the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC), highlighting the unhealthiness of many relationships between YouTubers and their adoring fans. MacDonald was a prime mover in the revival of interest in the music of John Foulds. May 7, 1956 - Calum MacDonald, Scottish journalist and politician. Contact Calum, search articles and Tweets, monitor coverage, and track replies from one place. Titles are closing, remaining circulations are collapsing by around 10% every year, staff numbers are being slashed, and the only responses are widespread rationalisation, centralisation, and so-called synergies which logically can prolong the industry for only a finite time before it disappears into oblivion. Scots, famously, consume more papers per capita than any other country in the world and the revenue swilling around the system means lavish staffing, with equally lavish salaries and expenses for employees. contact IPSO here, 2001-2023. Hang in there, folks. You can text in live, or email anytime: earlybreakfastclub@times.radio youll get a membership number and thats you in the door. But it needs start-up funding: Even before the dementia kicked in, Dad was too old school to understand digital. Right from the start of first year, graduation never seems that far away. Comments have been closed on this article. Occasionally I live the showbiz dream and go for a boozy lunch top tip: pace yourself, enforce a strict cut off for drinking at 6pm, and then hit the water youre welcome. Calum Macdonald Presenter, Times Radio. So, the more you listen and text or email in, the more loyalty points you stack up (I have a spreadsheet). Technology means that readers can shape a discussion. More recently, his involvement in an investigation exposing the immigration scams behind bogus colleges helped force a tightening of legislation by Westminster. The couple separated latterly, but remained close. Matt Chorley brought me, gently, to justice. That is different to being ambitious and enthusiastic. Digital native 50-something (deal with the oxymoron). Flash forward: its 2016, and everything has changed. He is survived by Christine, the Liberal Democrat general election candidate in Edinburgh West, Mhairi, a politics student at the university of Edinburgh, and his twin sisters, Morag and Shona. We also hope it will help the comments section fulfil its promise as a part of Scotland's conversation with itself. As Group Digital Editor for four years, he brought strict standards of courtesy and fairness to the online forum, never shrinking from enforcing them but always taking the time to explain to users who had infringed the rules, why their behaviour was unacceptable. Edit Now. The culmination of his natural inquisitiveness, forensic attention to detail and fascination with the human angle was his coverage of the World's End murder trial. The not-for-profit organisations founding directors include Calum Macdonald, aged 54 and a half, a former digital editor of the Herald & Times Group in Glasgow. Whats the best thing about working on Times Radio? Born in Dumbarton, Macdonald attended Bonhill Primary and then secured a scholarship to Keil School in the town, becoming dux in 1992 and senior chief in 1993. I'm not saying it's not me. In the November edition of the Politics of Sound, Iain Carnegie invites political journalist and presenter of the Early Morning Breakfast Show on Times Radio, Calum MacDonald to pay his own visit to the Politics of Sound virtual Record Shop to select his three all-time favourite albums. Then theres the possibility of philanthropic or grant aid for robust journalism with a community benefit, not to mention individual supporters who can afford to help maintain something that brings daily positivity. It was awesome.. He was 55. On the P&J, he and colleagues had a competition to see who could come up with the most obscure word in an introduction, a word the sub editors would have to leave in because there was no appropriate alternative. He has the - almost - unique experience of being Health Secretary during a pandemic, and not many can claim that (other than Sajid Javid). His involvement in amateur theatre continued at Aberdeen University, where he studied psychology, and English language and literature. He championed young journalists both in his senior roles at the Herald & Times and, after leaving the group in 2015, with his new venture, the news website Positively Scottish. I also pop up across the rest of the schedule if other people are taking holidays. Mainly from the flyleaves of his books, and an autobiographical article, 'Too Many Records' in International Record Review (June 2002 edition). Itll start small, as an online magazine with a guarantee of at least one new story six days a week. He did this alongside tutoring student journalists at Strathclyde University. He is survived by Christine, the Liberal Democrat general election candidate in Edinburgh West, Mhairi, a politics student at the university of Edinburgh, and his twin sisters, Morag and Shona. Certainly, Ive been working hard for them and aiming at them but they always catch me by surprise. His inquisitive, journalistic nature makes him a brilliant interviewer and host, keeping any audience engaged. Positively Scottish: so why we dont harness the Scottish USP to an agenda of solutions journalism, and see if theres an audience for that? Its growth will be linked to funding received all new money will be re-invested in more stories. Crosswords, I hear you. To have been welcomed by you, as listeners and friends, has been astonishing. Somehow, you never quite believe people will actually want to be part of the programme, but there you've been, every day at 5am. A Gannett Company. Radios intimate, it just is. Despite a newspaper round into his mid-teens, the legal profession, rather than journalism, appeared to be Macdonald's chosen path and he began a law degree at Aberdeen in 1994. Nostalgic memories? This site is part of Newsquest's audited local newspaper network. inaccuracy or intrusion, then please It should have been a safe space for informed debate, somewhere for readers to discuss issues around the biggest stories of the day, but all too often the below the line comments on most websites have become bogged down by off-topic discussions and abuse. Their daughter, Mhairi, was born in 1996. He's covered programmes on Afghanistan, the death of the Duke of Edinburgh and has interviewed interesting people from all walks of life including cabinet ministers and senior politicians, spies, war reporters and protestors. Former Journalist at Newsquest 1990 - 2015 College Studied Psychology and English Literature at University of Aberdeen Class of 1983 High school Went to Aberdeen Grammar School Class of 1979 Photos See all photos Others Named Calum Macdonald Calum Macdonald Calum MacDonald Calum Macdonald Calum Macdonald See more Others With a Similar Name CALUM Macdonald, Crosswords Editor and former Group Digital Editor of The Herald has died. I am LIVE on the radio from my actual HOME in the Western Isles this morning 7am-10am on Times Radio! What inspired you to choose this course ahead of all the others on offer? Copyright 2023 JLA. HP10 9TY. Calum, the eldest of three, had a flair for English at secondary school. We are read by an informed, educated readership who can add their knowledge and insights to our stories. In 2001, Macdonald joined the Evening Times in Glasgow but after just nine months he was poached by the Daily Record. CALUM Macdonald, who has died aged 55, was a journalist and crosswords editor who spent most of his career at The Herald. If you have a complaint about the editorial content which relates to Please come and join Chloe and I for Times Radio Breakfast on Friday, Saturday and Sunday (6am-10am) from 27th May. For other people named Malcolm MacDonald, see, "Ronald Stevenson, composer-pianist: an exegetical critique from a pianistic perspective", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Malcolm_MacDonald_(music_critic)&oldid=1088686774, People educated at the Royal High School, Edinburgh, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0. Copyright 2023 Apple Inc. All rights reserved. He is survived by his partner, Lloyd, parents Calum and Jackie, sisters Mhairi and Laura, and four nieces and a nephew. Malcolm MacDonald (also known by the alias "Calum MacDonald") (26 February 1948 - 27 May 2014) was a British author, mainly about music. He played cricket and football (he was goalkeeper in the school team), and did stage management in the drama club, an early sign of his talent for organising. You need to go and meet people where theyre at, you cant expect them just to come tumbling across your radio station.. Calum has achieved a lot in the short time he has been in the professional world, but he started young. 2023 allmediascotlandmedia jobs, media release service and media resources for all. http://positivelyscottish.scot/ has been set up through seed funding from the Alastair Gordon Macdonald legacy. I play the accordion. 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