The University of Edinburgh Careers Service

A Week in the Life of a Journalist – Scotland Editor for

Tuesday

The main focus of my job is to produce Scottish articles for the UK edition of the paper, but I also have some responsibility for the Scottish edition.

I start working as usual around 10am from my study in my flat. There is a small office in Edinburgh but I don’t tend to use it very often. I start by reading the past few days to generate ideas for stories – I’m looking particularly for anything quirky or different with a Scottish theme that other national newspapers haven’t picked up on yet.

In the afternoon I do further research to develop stories, using the internet and meeting up with contacts such as other journalists and politicians. I decide to work on a particular story that will require a trip to Inverness tomorrow to interview the person involved. I phone around to source a photographer to come with me.

Wednesday

I drive up to Inverness with my photographer around 9am. When we get there I go knocking on a few doors to find the person the story centres around. When we find him he is happy to talk to me and have a few pictures taken. He reads the paper I write for so trusts that we will show him in a good light. I get enough to write my article and my photographer gets some good pictures. We head back to Glasgow late afternoon.

I travel all over Scotland and every few weeks go down to London to the paper’s main office so I spend quite a bit of time driving or flying. Quite often I have to stay overnight in hotels but prefer to get home if I am close enough to Glasgow.

Thursday

I carry on with my investigations for other possible stories. Not all articles require travel and face-to-face interviews, today I get a lot done over the phone and using the Internet. The paper has a library in London so I phone them to get more information.

I also start to think about what should go into the Scottish edition of the newspaper and go through to Edinburgh to see what’s going on in the Scottish political scene. I often finish by 6pm but this evening I start writing up my main article.

October 2003 The University of Edinburgh Careers Service

Friday

Fridays are always busy and pressured, as I have to start to make things happen to meet my deadlines on Saturday.

I started work by 9am, continuing with my main article whilst still developing others. In the Sunday paper the stories are longer and more in-depth than in daily newspapers so I have to spend time working on the detail and bringing the story to life. As there is so much to do today I don’t finish till 8.30pm but can expect to go on till 11pm or later on some Fridays. I never get to socialise on a Friday night!

Saturday

An even busier day! I am at my desk by 8am to complete the second article I have been working on. I have it finished by mid-morning so stop and have a break.

For the rest of the day I pull everything together for the Scottish edition. I call the main office in London regularly to keep them updated on what’s happening with the Scottish edition.

Today my work is similar to that of a daily paper as I produce shorter articles on Scottish news items. As stories could still come in, I’m constantly checking news wires, the Internet and TV for any last minute news releases. If a story breaks then I’d go out to interview people in the afternoon. As no major stories come in, I have submitted all articles by 6pm and can finish work till Tuesday.

Career Progression Graduated in 1994 from Glasgow Caledonian University with an Honours Degree in Politics and Sociology. Gained experience in journalism working freelance and with several local newspapers before starting a one-year postgraduate course in Journalism at the University of Westminster in 1995. More freelance work with publications such as The Big Issue and short-term work with several major Scottish newspapers followed the course. Began a staff job in 1998 at the Glasgow Herald as a sub-editor. Joined the new Sunday Herald in 1999 as Deputy Foreign Editor. Scotland Editor at The Observer since January 2001.

October 2003