ALISTAIR MUNRO
Laurencekirk,Aberdeenshire
Summary
Results-driven news desk lead with expertise in media communications and crisis management. Led a team of communications officers to respond effectively to high-stakes inquiries, ensuring accurate and timely information dissemination. Established strong relationships with media outlets and internal departments to enhance news coverage.
Overview
36
36
years of professional experience
Work History
News Desk Lead
Police Scotland
03.2025 - Current
- One of four news desk leads for the Corporate Communications team at Police Scotland.
- As lead I am responsible for leading co-ordinating the communications officers on dealing with police officer requests for appeals – including high risk missing persons, serious crime incidents, etc – and responding to requests from media outlets.
- I also have direct responsibility with my own team of several communications officers, dealing with administration issues, including holiday requests, sickness, etc, and any issues they have to raise on a daily basis.
Editor
Shetland Times
03.2021 - 03.2024
- Overseeing management roles in producing a weekly newspaper, in charge of a team of four reporters, and a deputy.
- Producing a newspaper of usually 32-48 pages per week, sometimes more.
- Liaising with various departments in a busy newspaper environment, including pre-press page designers and advertising teams, as well as management.
- Working with numerous organisations and press officers and communications teams, including in the UK and Scottish governments.
- Leading the agenda for major news stories - from transport, health, windfarms, spaceports, etc, to the return of major local events following the Covid pandemic, including Up Helly Aa.
- Recently I have overseen The Tall Ships Races visiting Shetland, one of the biggest events in the islands in the last decade, as well as covering the Island Games.
Senior Reporter
Press and Journal
10.2017 - 03.2021
- Regular stand-in news editor for Highland edition, leading a newsroom of half a dozen journalists, assigning jobs, including dealing with photographers and freelancers, and mentoring trainee reporters.
- Currently learning new skills as P&J prepares to launch a new project targeting online audience, with particular focus on social media and aiming to help a healthy audience growth on website and online subscriptions.
- Highlights of last 12 months include: Fatal Accident Inquiry into Super Puma crash off Sumburgh; Covid; windfarms; spaceports.
Highlands and Islands Correspondent
The Scotsman
01.2012 - 01.2017
- Covering major national stories affecting the region, particularly crofting, fishing, tourism, windfarms, health, Skye Bridge Tolls, transport/A9 dualling, etc.
- Played major role in paper’s drive to increase online content, particularly news and features for website and posting to stories to social media.
Agency Partner and News Editor
Copyline Press Agency
01.2001 - 01.2012
- Reporting on the biggest stories from the region for the national press – dailies and Sundays – including murders, major High Court trials, Robin Cook tragedy, etc, regularly making splashes.
- As news editor I was responsible for a small team, setting the daily agenda, reacting to the requests of national newspaper desks, and administration.
Reporter
Daily Record
01.2000 - 12.2000
- Major stories included suicide of Lockerbie orphan and Martin O’Neil signing as Celtic manager.
- Regularly asked to write Leader editorial.
Reporter
Evening Express
01.1997 - 12.2000
- Chief court reporter.
- Relied on to cover the major stories in Aberdeen and north-east, including murders, High Court, road crash tragedies, oil industry, aviation, prison exclusive, etc.
Senior Reporter
Aberdeen Independent
01.1996 - 12.1997
- Joined at its launch as a new weekly newspaper set up to challenge Aberdeen Journals publications.
- Young Journalist of the Year runner-up at BT Scottish Press Awards.
Freelance
Copyline Press Agency
01.1995 - 12.1996
- First taste of working as a freelance in Inverness, covering stories in the Highlands for the national press.
Junior Reporter
The Shetland Times
01.1990 - 01.1995
- Joined the paper two weeks after 16th birthday learning my trade under the guidance of editor Vaila Wishart.
- Won Young Journalist of the Year 1994 at the Highlands and Islands Press Awards, the same year the paper won Newspaper of the Year.
- Covered a host of topics from top council stories, health board, community councils, court, Sullom Voe, fishing industry including several sinkings, and the various klondyker crises, to name a few.
- Major stories included Braer disaster – first reporter on the scene – and the Puma helicopter crash of 1993, tragically killing a local pilot.
Education
NCTJ - Proficiency via attending block release course
NAPIER POLYTECHNIC
01.1991
ENGLISH STANDARD GRADE -
SANDWICK JH SCHOOL
01.1990
MATHS STANDARD GRADE -
SANDWICK JH SCHOOL
01.1990
PHYSICS O GRADE -
SANDWICK JH SCHOOL
01.1990
GEOGRAPHY O GRADE -
SANDWICK JH SCHOOL
01.1990
BIOLOGY O GRADE -
SANDWICK JH SCHOOL
01.1990
ACCOUNTS O GRADE -
SANDWICK JH SCHOOL
01.1990
SCOTVEC MODULES - Media studies, Photography
SANDWICK JH SCHOOL
01.1990
DUNROSSNESS PRIMARY SCHOOL
01.1986
Skills
- Team leadership experience
- Co-ordinating enquiries from media outlets
- Crisis management
- Online experience
- Providing exclusives and splashes
- Extensive list of contacts
- Ability to attract new sources of news
- Newsroom diary administration experience
- Mentoring trainees
Volunteer Experience
- Regularly led Highland newsroom of P&J as acting news editor and a mentor to trainee journalists.
- Set the daily agenda as news editor of Copyline Press Agency.
- Helped promote new girls’ football team in which my daughters are members.
- Provided assistance and talks at Drummond school (for children with special needs) and Smithton Primary (where my daughters attend).
- Assisted at a local Brownies group attended by my daughters.
- Was previously a Boys’ Brigade leader, earning President’s Badge.
References
- Bob Dow, Communications & marketing manager at Galliford Try Investments/ Hub North Scotland Ltd, bob@bobdowmedia.co.uk, 07721 444945
- Steve Smith, Head of News and Content Management at Police Scotland, steve.smith@scotland.pnn.police.uk, 07775 505103
Hobbies and interests
- Football - including supporting one of my three daughters who plays for Montrose Under-14 Girls Team.
- Walking/hill walking
- Nature
- Collecting - books/comics/stamps/coins
- Theatre
Timeline
News Desk Lead
Police Scotland
03.2025 - Current
Editor
Shetland Times
03.2021 - 03.2024
Senior Reporter
Press and Journal
10.2017 - 03.2021
Highlands and Islands Correspondent
The Scotsman
01.2012 - 01.2017
Agency Partner and News Editor
Copyline Press Agency
01.2001 - 01.2012
Reporter
Daily Record
01.2000 - 12.2000
Reporter
Evening Express
01.1997 - 12.2000
Senior Reporter
Aberdeen Independent
01.1996 - 12.1997
Freelance
Copyline Press Agency
01.1995 - 12.1996
Junior Reporter
The Shetland Times
01.1990 - 01.1995
NCTJ - Proficiency via attending block release course
NAPIER POLYTECHNIC
ENGLISH STANDARD GRADE -
SANDWICK JH SCHOOL
MATHS STANDARD GRADE -
SANDWICK JH SCHOOL
PHYSICS O GRADE -
SANDWICK JH SCHOOL
GEOGRAPHY O GRADE -
SANDWICK JH SCHOOL
BIOLOGY O GRADE -
SANDWICK JH SCHOOL
ACCOUNTS O GRADE -
SANDWICK JH SCHOOL
SCOTVEC MODULES - Media studies, Photography
SANDWICK JH SCHOOL
DUNROSSNESS PRIMARY SCHOOL