Celebrating John MacKay

John MacKay has been one of Scotland’s most recognisable broadcast journalists for more than three decades. Born in Glasgow in 1966, he began his career in print journalism before moving into radio and television, first with the BBC and then with STV, where he has been a cornerstone of the news team since 1994.

As main anchor of STV News at Six and presenter of the current affairs programme Scotland Tonight, John became a trusted voice in homes across Central Scotland, guiding viewers through countless landmark events and political changes with calm authority and clarity.

Beyond news presenting, he has produced documentaries and online content, and earned affection from audiences for his distinctive style and professionalism. His signature greeting became familiar to generations of viewers.

A talented author as well as a broadcaster, John’s novels have drawn on his Hebridean roots, and his first, The Road Dance, was adapted into an award-winning film. In 2026 he will step down from STV to focus on his writing and creative projects, marking the end of an extraordinary chapter in Scottish journalism.

This page honours a remarkable career defined by commitment, insight and connection with the public.

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Scotland Today & Yesterday

John MacKay

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About the Book:

This book is the story of a changing Scotland as it was heard and seen by the people of Scotland. We all may have our ideas about where we are headed as nation and a society, but none of us knows. That makes what lies ahead so fascinating. Just like what’s gone before. JOHN MacKAY

John MacKay is one of Scotland’s best known broadcasters. His career as a reporter and presenter has spanned from the Thatcher Years to the Independence Referendum and beyond. MacKay has been witness to the major stories in the country’s recent past.

These include the tragedies of Lockerbie and Dunblane; the creation of the Scottish Parliament; the drama of elections and referendums; interviews with Prime Ministers and First Ministers; sporting triumphs and tears; the Queen’s death in Scotland; and much of the colour in between.

MacKay’s career has been nothing if not varied. Using archive scripts, interview transcripts, recollections and personal diaries, he tells the story of one of the most tumultuous periods in Scotland’s peacetime history.

Reviews:

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 BOOKS

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About the Author:

JOHN MACKAY is a Scottish broadcast journalist and STV News presenter. John is co-anchor on STV News at Six and presenter on Scotland Tonight, the country’s most popular news and current affairs programmes. A highly-respected journalist with over 30 years’ experience, John has covered many of the biggest news stories in Scotland in recent times and has been witness to Scotland’s transformation as a society and a nation. John’s fiction writing draws upon the oral traditions of his Hebridean background with a trilogy of bestselling novels set in the Isle of Lewis, the first of which has been adapted for the big screen.