Notes of a Newsman
Witness to a Changing Scotland
Published on 1. September 2015
Book
Paperback/Softback
272 pages
978-1-910745-04-5 (ISBN)
Description
As a young reporter John MacKay took the first calls on the Lockerbie Bombing. As a news anchor he conducted the final TV interviews of the Yes and No campaigns in Scotland's Referendum. His journey in journalism has taken him to the key events through the most dramatic decades of Scotland's peacetime history. Using contemporary scripts, transcripts of significant interviews, diaries and recollections, he charts Scotland's transformation as a society and as a nation.
Reviews / Votes
It's pleasing to be able to get behind the armour of professional neutrality, with MacKay revealing himself as a man of good judgement, decency, and considerable political foresight. - THE SCOTTISH REVIEW OF BOOKSMore details
Language
English
Place of publication
Edinburgh
United Kingdom
Product notice
Paperback (UK-trade)
Dimensions
Height: 206 mm
Width: 162 mm
Thickness: 21 mm
Weight
360 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-910745-04-5 (9781910745045)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
New editions
Book
12/2024
Luath Press Ltd
€31.50
Shipment within 3-4 weeks
Person
John MacKay is one of Scotland's
best known broadcasters. He is the
face of the STV News at Six and
presents Scotland's most popular
current affairs programme Scotland
Tonight. His career has spanned
from the last days of the old
newspaper era to the instant news of
social media. MacKay was born in
Glasgow, but his Hebridean heritage
inspired him to write three successful
novels, all based on the Isle of Lewis:
The Road Dance, Heartland and Last of the Line.
best known broadcasters. He is the
face of the STV News at Six and
presents Scotland's most popular
current affairs programme Scotland
Tonight. His career has spanned
from the last days of the old
newspaper era to the instant news of
social media. MacKay was born in
Glasgow, but his Hebridean heritage
inspired him to write three successful
novels, all based on the Isle of Lewis:
The Road Dance, Heartland and Last of the Line.
Content
Acknowledgements
Preface
Introduction
1986
Hercules the Bear
Women get legal right to claim housekeeping
Concerns over Chernobyl explosion
Gartcosh closure
1987
Barlinnie riots
General Election 1987
Industrial unrest over privatisation aids threat
Demolition of Apollo Theatre
Sunday opening of shops
1988
Orkney tales
Refugee concerns
Glasgow Garden Festival
Piper Alpha
Jim Sillars wins Govan by-election
David Murray buys Rangers
Lockerbie bombing
1989
NHS restructuring proposals
Bellgrove train crash
Annual Scotland England football rivalry under threat
Rangers sign first Catholic
House of Commons televised
Channel Tunnel concerns for Scotland
1990
Eastwood helicopter crash
Rangers invited to join European Super League
Ten die in plane crash on Harris
Neil Kinnock - Scottish Assembly free to raise taxes
Genetic fingerprinting
Offside rule changed
1991
First Gulf War
Downing Street mortar attack
Orkney child abuse allegations
Council Tax replaces Poll Tax
Newton rail crash
1992
Ravenscraig closure
General Election 1992
Scottish Super League
Changes to goalkeeper passback rules
Barcelona Olympics
ERM crisis
1993
Braer disaster
`Not Proven' campaign
Rangers in new Champions League
British football's most expensive signing
Nelson Mandela in Glasgow
1994
Celtic takeover by Fergus McCann
Frederick West's Scottish victims
John Smith's death
Tridents submarines on the Clyde
Gordon Brown steps aside for Tony Blair
First T-in-the-Park
Girl Guide bus crash
National Lottery launch
Catholic Church sex abuse scandal
1995
Ecstasy deaths
M77 motorway
Local Government reorganisation
Death of Davie Cooper
Rising poverty
Skin cancer increasing
Braveheart premiere
Quebec Referendum
Big freeze
1996
Killer asbestos
Rising drug deaths
Dunblane
Last Polaris submarine
Greenock torture trial
Oasis at Loch Lomond
Labour propose Referendum on Devolution
Glasgow sick city of Europe
First commercial windfarm
E-coli outbreak
1997
General Election 1997
Conservative wipeout in Scotland
Death of Princess Diana
Devolution Referendum
Hamilton curfew
1998
Housing shortage World Cup 1998
Edinburgh tram proposal
Scottish Six ruled out
1999 1
First Scottish Parliament election
Donald Dewar becomes Scotland's first First Minister
Opening of Scottish Parliament
Glasgow Airport crash
Scotland v England European Championship qualifiers
2000
Clause 28 row
Fuel crisis
Donald Dewar's death
Henry McLeish becomes First Minister
First Minister meets the Pope
Madonna's wedding
2001
Lockerbie Bomber conviction
Foot and Mouth outbreak
Resignation of First Minister Henry McLeish
Jack McConnell becomes First Minister
2002
Lockerbie Bomber's appeal
Champions League Final in Glasgow
French school bus crash
Firefighters' strike
Cowgate blaze
Catholic schools row
2003
Iraq War
Scottish Parliament elections 2003
Celtic in UEFA Cup Final
Holyrood building fiasco
2004
Rosepark Care Home fire
Alex Salmond returns as SNP leader
Holyrood Inquiry
Opening of new Scottish Parliament building
2005
Auschwitz anniversary
Make Poverty History march
G8 Summit at Gleneagles
Civil Partnerships
2006
Smoking ban
Bird Flu scare
East European immigration
2007
Scottish Parliament election 2007
Madeleine McCann disappears
Alex Salmond becomes First Minister
Gordon Brown becomes Prime Minister
Glasgow chosen to host Commonwealth Games
2008
Death Row Scot returns home
Rangers in UEFA Cup Final
Wendy Alexander resigns as Scottish Labour leader
Banking crisis
2009
RBS post worst losses in UK financial history
North Sea helicopter crash
Lockerbie Bomber freed
Peter Tobin sentenced to life
2010
General Election 2010
Coalition Government
Pope Benedict visits Scotland
Ed Miliband new Labour leader in UK
Big Freeze
Tommy Sheridan convicted
2011
Scottish Parliament elections 2011
SNP majority Scottish Government
Launch of Scotland Tonight
Hurricane Bawbag
2012
Scottish Independence debate
Rangers go bust
Death of Lockerbie Bomber
Olympic Torch in Scotland
Andy Murray wins first Grand Slam Olympic
Homecoming parade
Kevin Bridges interview
Oscar Pistorius interview
Andy Murray interview
2013
Death of Margaret Thatcher
STV Independence debates
Andy Murray wins Wimbledon
Scottish Government white paper on Independence
Clutha tragedy
Death of Nelson Mandela
2014
Commonwealth Games in Glasgow
Scottish Independence Referendum
Johann Lamont resigns as Scottish Labour Leader
Nicola Sturgeon becomes First Minister
George Square tragedy
2015
General Election 2015
Conservative majority government
SNP landslide in Scotland
Death of Charles Kennedy
Debate on more powers for Scotland
Preface
Introduction
1986
Hercules the Bear
Women get legal right to claim housekeeping
Concerns over Chernobyl explosion
Gartcosh closure
1987
Barlinnie riots
General Election 1987
Industrial unrest over privatisation aids threat
Demolition of Apollo Theatre
Sunday opening of shops
1988
Orkney tales
Refugee concerns
Glasgow Garden Festival
Piper Alpha
Jim Sillars wins Govan by-election
David Murray buys Rangers
Lockerbie bombing
1989
NHS restructuring proposals
Bellgrove train crash
Annual Scotland England football rivalry under threat
Rangers sign first Catholic
House of Commons televised
Channel Tunnel concerns for Scotland
1990
Eastwood helicopter crash
Rangers invited to join European Super League
Ten die in plane crash on Harris
Neil Kinnock - Scottish Assembly free to raise taxes
Genetic fingerprinting
Offside rule changed
1991
First Gulf War
Downing Street mortar attack
Orkney child abuse allegations
Council Tax replaces Poll Tax
Newton rail crash
1992
Ravenscraig closure
General Election 1992
Scottish Super League
Changes to goalkeeper passback rules
Barcelona Olympics
ERM crisis
1993
Braer disaster
`Not Proven' campaign
Rangers in new Champions League
British football's most expensive signing
Nelson Mandela in Glasgow
1994
Celtic takeover by Fergus McCann
Frederick West's Scottish victims
John Smith's death
Tridents submarines on the Clyde
Gordon Brown steps aside for Tony Blair
First T-in-the-Park
Girl Guide bus crash
National Lottery launch
Catholic Church sex abuse scandal
1995
Ecstasy deaths
M77 motorway
Local Government reorganisation
Death of Davie Cooper
Rising poverty
Skin cancer increasing
Braveheart premiere
Quebec Referendum
Big freeze
1996
Killer asbestos
Rising drug deaths
Dunblane
Last Polaris submarine
Greenock torture trial
Oasis at Loch Lomond
Labour propose Referendum on Devolution
Glasgow sick city of Europe
First commercial windfarm
E-coli outbreak
1997
General Election 1997
Conservative wipeout in Scotland
Death of Princess Diana
Devolution Referendum
Hamilton curfew
1998
Housing shortage World Cup 1998
Edinburgh tram proposal
Scottish Six ruled out
1999 1
First Scottish Parliament election
Donald Dewar becomes Scotland's first First Minister
Opening of Scottish Parliament
Glasgow Airport crash
Scotland v England European Championship qualifiers
2000
Clause 28 row
Fuel crisis
Donald Dewar's death
Henry McLeish becomes First Minister
First Minister meets the Pope
Madonna's wedding
2001
Lockerbie Bomber conviction
Foot and Mouth outbreak
Resignation of First Minister Henry McLeish
Jack McConnell becomes First Minister
2002
Lockerbie Bomber's appeal
Champions League Final in Glasgow
French school bus crash
Firefighters' strike
Cowgate blaze
Catholic schools row
2003
Iraq War
Scottish Parliament elections 2003
Celtic in UEFA Cup Final
Holyrood building fiasco
2004
Rosepark Care Home fire
Alex Salmond returns as SNP leader
Holyrood Inquiry
Opening of new Scottish Parliament building
2005
Auschwitz anniversary
Make Poverty History march
G8 Summit at Gleneagles
Civil Partnerships
2006
Smoking ban
Bird Flu scare
East European immigration
2007
Scottish Parliament election 2007
Madeleine McCann disappears
Alex Salmond becomes First Minister
Gordon Brown becomes Prime Minister
Glasgow chosen to host Commonwealth Games
2008
Death Row Scot returns home
Rangers in UEFA Cup Final
Wendy Alexander resigns as Scottish Labour leader
Banking crisis
2009
RBS post worst losses in UK financial history
North Sea helicopter crash
Lockerbie Bomber freed
Peter Tobin sentenced to life
2010
General Election 2010
Coalition Government
Pope Benedict visits Scotland
Ed Miliband new Labour leader in UK
Big Freeze
Tommy Sheridan convicted
2011
Scottish Parliament elections 2011
SNP majority Scottish Government
Launch of Scotland Tonight
Hurricane Bawbag
2012
Scottish Independence debate
Rangers go bust
Death of Lockerbie Bomber
Olympic Torch in Scotland
Andy Murray wins first Grand Slam Olympic
Homecoming parade
Kevin Bridges interview
Oscar Pistorius interview
Andy Murray interview
2013
Death of Margaret Thatcher
STV Independence debates
Andy Murray wins Wimbledon
Scottish Government white paper on Independence
Clutha tragedy
Death of Nelson Mandela
2014
Commonwealth Games in Glasgow
Scottish Independence Referendum
Johann Lamont resigns as Scottish Labour Leader
Nicola Sturgeon becomes First Minister
George Square tragedy
2015
General Election 2015
Conservative majority government
SNP landslide in Scotland
Death of Charles Kennedy
Debate on more powers for Scotland