Andrew Brown (media strategist)
Encyclopedia
Andrew Brown is a Scottish
former journalist
and broadcaster
who is now a media strategist with EDF Energy
. He is the younger brother of Gordon Brown
, the former UK Prime Minister
.
Brown studied journalism at Edinburgh University, edited the student newspaper, and was president of the Edinburgh University Students' Association
. He began working for BBC Scotland as a news reporter in 1977, before moving to London to work for Gordon Brown as a research assistant in 1983. In 1987 he joined the BBC's Newsnight
programme as an assistant producer. In 1989 he joined Channel 4 News
, becoming a programme editor in 1994. In 1996 he joined ITN, becoming the editor of Powerhouse, one of its political programmes.
In 2003 Brown left the news industry and joined PR company Weber Shandwick
as director of media strategy
. In 2004 he joined French energy firm EDF Energy, as head of media relations
, where he held the position of director of corporate communications.
Brown has two elder brothers, John and Gordon. He is married to Clare Rewcastle Brown
.
In 2009 Andrew Brown and his wife were associated with a financial scandal, when former Prime Minister Gordon Brown
came under scrutiny for using taxpayer's money to pay his own family to manage his housekeeping. Andrew Brown and his wife were the recipients of this money. However, Clare publicly defended the arrangement, saying the claims were groundless, and calling the negative publicity her husband received "pretty damn unfair."
of Labour
's later administrations by the nuclear industry.
newspaper in May 2009 accused Brown of benefitting from expenses claims made by Prime Minister Gordon Brown. The claim led to libel proceedings being brought by Brown against the paper, with the paper subsequently admitting that the claim had been "entirely false".
Scottish people
The Scottish people , or Scots, are a nation and ethnic group native to Scotland. Historically they emerged from an amalgamation of the Picts and Gaels, incorporating neighbouring Britons to the south as well as invading Germanic peoples such as the Anglo-Saxons and the Norse.In modern use,...
former journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
and broadcaster
Presenter
A presenter, or host , is a person or organization responsible for running an event. A museum or university, for example, may be the presenter or host of an exhibit. Likewise, a master of ceremonies is a person that hosts or presents a show...
who is now a media strategist with EDF Energy
EDF Energy
EDF Energy is an integrated energy company in the United Kingdom, with operations spanning electricity generation and the sale of gas and electricity to homes and businesses throughout the United Kingdom...
. He is the younger brother of Gordon Brown
Gordon Brown
James Gordon Brown is a British Labour Party politician who was the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Leader of the Labour Party from 2007 until 2010. He previously served as Chancellor of the Exchequer in the Labour Government from 1997 to 2007...
, the former UK Prime Minister
Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the Head of Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom. The Prime Minister and Cabinet are collectively accountable for their policies and actions to the Sovereign, to Parliament, to their political party and...
.
Brown studied journalism at Edinburgh University, edited the student newspaper, and was president of the Edinburgh University Students' Association
Edinburgh University Students' Association
Edinburgh University Students' Association provides services, representation and welfare support to matriculated students of the University of Edinburgh, Scotland.-Composition:...
. He began working for BBC Scotland as a news reporter in 1977, before moving to London to work for Gordon Brown as a research assistant in 1983. In 1987 he joined the BBC's Newsnight
Newsnight
Newsnight is a BBC Television current affairs programme noted for its in-depth analysis and often robust cross-examination of senior politicians. Jeremy Paxman has been its main presenter for over two decades....
programme as an assistant producer. In 1989 he joined Channel 4 News
Channel 4 News
Channel 4 News is the news division of British television broadcaster Channel 4. It is produced by ITN, and has been in operation since the broadcaster's launch in 1982.-Channel 4 News:...
, becoming a programme editor in 1994. In 1996 he joined ITN, becoming the editor of Powerhouse, one of its political programmes.
In 2003 Brown left the news industry and joined PR company Weber Shandwick
Weber Shandwick
Weber Shandwick is a public relations firm.-History:Weber Shandwick is a formation of three previous companies:*The Weber Group - Cambridge, Massachusetts in 1987, leveraging emerging technologies such as the mobile phone and the internet into the world of communications, which made the company a...
as director of media strategy
Media strategy
Media strategy, as used in the advertising or content delivery industries, is concerned with how messages will be delivered to consumers or niche markets...
. In 2004 he joined French energy firm EDF Energy, as head of media relations
Media relations
Media relations involves working with various media for the purpose of informing the public of an organization's mission, policies and practices in a positive, consistent and credible manner. Typically, this means coordinating directly with the people responsible for producing the news and features...
, where he held the position of director of corporate communications.
Brown has two elder brothers, John and Gordon. He is married to Clare Rewcastle Brown
Clare Rewcastle Brown
Clare Rewcastle Brown is a British investigative journalist. Born in the Malaysian state of Sarawak, she is the founder of Sarawak Report and Radio Free Sarawak which are openly critical of the Barisan Nasional-led state government of Sarawak....
.
In 2009 Andrew Brown and his wife were associated with a financial scandal, when former Prime Minister Gordon Brown
Gordon Brown
James Gordon Brown is a British Labour Party politician who was the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Leader of the Labour Party from 2007 until 2010. He previously served as Chancellor of the Exchequer in the Labour Government from 1997 to 2007...
came under scrutiny for using taxpayer's money to pay his own family to manage his housekeeping. Andrew Brown and his wife were the recipients of this money. However, Clare publicly defended the arrangement, saying the claims were groundless, and calling the negative publicity her husband received "pretty damn unfair."
Nuclear lobbying
The role of Brown has been discussed by the media in the context of the energy policy of the 1997-2010 Labour government and in particular the lobbyingLobbying
Lobbying is the act of attempting to influence decisions made by officials in the government, most often legislators or members of regulatory agencies. Lobbying is done by various people or groups, from private-sector individuals or corporations, fellow legislators or government officials, or...
of Labour
Labour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
's later administrations by the nuclear industry.
MPs' expenses libel case
An article published in the Scotland on SundayScotland on Sunday
Scotland on Sunday is a Scottish Sunday newspaper, published in Edinburgh by The Scotsman Publications Ltd and consequently assuming the role of Sunday sister to its daily stablemate The Scotsman...
newspaper in May 2009 accused Brown of benefitting from expenses claims made by Prime Minister Gordon Brown. The claim led to libel proceedings being brought by Brown against the paper, with the paper subsequently admitting that the claim had been "entirely false".