Donald MacCormick
Encyclopedia
Donald MacCormick was a Scottish
broadcast journalist
.
MacCormick's father was a Glasgow
teacher who died when Donald was six. As a result he became close to the family of his uncle John MacCormick
, a lawyer and advocate for Scottish devolution.
After graduating in English from the University of Glasgow
, where he was a member of the Labour
Club with Donald Dewar
and John Smith, he was a teacher at the High School of Glasgow
from 1962 to 1967.
He began his media career in Scotland in 1967, working at Grampian Television
as a news reporter and then later, on political programmes both for ITV and BBC. In 1975, he moved to London and became a presenter on BBC1's new Tonight programme and a series of national roles followed. Most significantly, along with John Tusa
and Peter Snow
, he made up the triumvirate that anchored Newsnight
in its early years. MacCormick also chaired BBC1's Question Time
, presented the Money Programme and for several years was a commentator on the BBC's live coverage of the party political conferences
.
Moving to London Weekend Television
in the early 1990s, MacCormick hosted a lunchtime news analysis programme and conducted a major discussion series during the First Gulf War. He later returned to Scotland to present three seasons of political programmes for Scottish Television
in Glasgow. On radio, he hosted his own Sunday morning topical magazine programme on London News Direct.
MacCormick had moved into the corporate sector, interviewing executives for company videos, chairing conferences and working in media training.
On 28 March 2009 Donald MacCormick returned to the BBC to present an evening on BBC Parliament
. The Night The Government Fell
marked the 30th anniversary of the vote of no confidence in the Labour Government headed by James Callaghan
. 30 years previously MacCormick had presented a live programme in Westminster covering these same events.
MacCormick died of a heart attack
on 12 July 2009. He was divorced from Lis MacKinlay, by whom he had three children. He was married to Liz Elton from 1978 until his death; they had two children. All five children survive MacCormick.
Former Liberal Democrat leader Sir Menzies Campbell, who first met MacCormick at Glasgow University in 1959, paid tribute to the broadcaster saying: "Donald MacCormick was a prince among broadcasters. His style was always civil but insistent. He was always thoroughly prepared and his kind of journalism characterised all that is best in the BBC."
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,...
broadcast 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...
.
MacCormick's father was a Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
teacher who died when Donald was six. As a result he became close to the family of his uncle John MacCormick
John MacCormick
John MacDonald MacCormick was a lawyer and advocate of Home Rule in Scotland.-Early life:...
, a lawyer and advocate for Scottish devolution.
After graduating in English from the University of Glasgow
University of Glasgow
The University of Glasgow is the fourth-oldest university in the English-speaking world and one of Scotland's four ancient universities. Located in Glasgow, the university was founded in 1451 and is presently one of seventeen British higher education institutions ranked amongst the top 100 of the...
, where he was a member of the 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...
Club with Donald Dewar
Donald Dewar
Donald Campbell Dewar was a British politician who served as a Labour Party Member of Parliament in Scotland from 1966-1970, and then again from 1978 until his death in 2000. He served in Tony Blair's cabinet as Secretary of State for Scotland from 1997-1999 and was instrumental in the creation...
and John Smith, he was a teacher at the High School of Glasgow
High School of Glasgow
The High School of Glasgow is an independent, co-educational day school in Glasgow, Scotland. Founded as the Choir School of Glasgow Cathedral in around 1124, it is the oldest school in Scotland, and the twelfth oldest in the United Kingdom. It remained part of the Church as the city's grammar...
from 1962 to 1967.
He began his media career in Scotland in 1967, working at Grampian Television
Grampian Television
Grampian Television is the ITV franchisee for the North and North East of Scotland. Its coverage area includes the Scottish Highlands , Inverness, Aberdeen, Dundee and parts of north Fife...
as a news reporter and then later, on political programmes both for ITV and BBC. In 1975, he moved to London and became a presenter on BBC1's new Tonight programme and a series of national roles followed. Most significantly, along with John Tusa
John Tusa
Sir John Tusa is a British arts administrator, and radio and television journalist. From 1980 to 1986 he was a main presenter of BBC 2's Newsnight programme. From 1995 until 2007 he was managing director of the City of London's Barbican Arts Centre...
and Peter Snow
Peter Snow
Peter Snow, CBE is a British television and radio presenter. He is the grandson of First World War general Sir Thomas D'Oyly Snow, and cousin of Jon Snow, the main presenter of Channel 4 News, nephew of schoolmaster and bishop George D'Oyly Snow, and the brother-in-law of historian-writer Margaret...
, he made up the triumvirate that anchored 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....
in its early years. MacCormick also chaired BBC1's Question Time
Question Time (TV series)
Question Time is a topical debate BBC television programme in the United Kingdom, based on Any Questions?. The show typically features politicians from at least the three major political parties as well as other public figures who answer questions put to them by the audience...
, presented the Money Programme and for several years was a commentator on the BBC's live coverage of the party political conferences
Party conference
The terms party conference , political convention , and party congress usually refer to a general meeting of a political party. The conference is attended by certain delegates who represent the party membership...
.
Moving to London Weekend Television
London Weekend Television
London Weekend Television was the name of the ITV network franchise holder for Greater London and the Home Counties including south Suffolk, middle and east Hampshire, Oxfordshire, south Bedfordshire, south Northamptonshire, parts of Herefordshire & Worcestershire, Warwickshire, east Dorset and...
in the early 1990s, MacCormick hosted a lunchtime news analysis programme and conducted a major discussion series during the First Gulf War. He later returned to Scotland to present three seasons of political programmes for Scottish Television
Scottish Television
Scottish Television is Scotland's largest ITV franchisee, and has held the ITV franchise for Central Scotland since 31 August 1957. It is the second oldest ITV franchisee still active...
in Glasgow. On radio, he hosted his own Sunday morning topical magazine programme on London News Direct.
MacCormick had moved into the corporate sector, interviewing executives for company videos, chairing conferences and working in media training.
On 28 March 2009 Donald MacCormick returned to the BBC to present an evening on BBC Parliament
BBC Parliament
BBC Parliament is a British television channel from the BBC. Its remit is to make accessible to all the work of the parliamentary and legislative bodies of the United Kingdom and the European Parliament...
. The Night The Government Fell
1979 vote of no confidence against the government of James Callaghan
The 1979 vote of no confidence in the government of James Callaghan was a vote of no confidence in the British Labour Government of James Callaghan which occurred on 28 March 1979. The vote was brought by opposition leader Margaret Thatcher and was lost by the Labour Government by one vote ,...
marked the 30th anniversary of the vote of no confidence in the Labour Government headed by James Callaghan
James Callaghan
Leonard James Callaghan, Baron Callaghan of Cardiff, KG, PC , was a British Labour politician, who was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1976 to 1979 and Leader of the Labour Party from 1976 to 1980...
. 30 years previously MacCormick had presented a live programme in Westminster covering these same events.
MacCormick died of a heart attack
Myocardial infarction
Myocardial infarction or acute myocardial infarction , commonly known as a heart attack, results from the interruption of blood supply to a part of the heart, causing heart cells to die...
on 12 July 2009. He was divorced from Lis MacKinlay, by whom he had three children. He was married to Liz Elton from 1978 until his death; they had two children. All five children survive MacCormick.
Former Liberal Democrat leader Sir Menzies Campbell, who first met MacCormick at Glasgow University in 1959, paid tribute to the broadcaster saying: "Donald MacCormick was a prince among broadcasters. His style was always civil but insistent. He was always thoroughly prepared and his kind of journalism characterised all that is best in the BBC."
External links
- Donald MacCormick tribute at Lasting Tribute
- Obituary in The Telegraph