Callum Baird

Notable work and positions

Newsquest Scotland — Editor-in-Chief (since 2022)
The National / Glasgow Times — former Managing Editor (2019–2022)
The National — former Editor (2015–2019); former Deputy Editor (2014–2015)
The Herald — former Sports Writer / Sub-Editor (2013–2014)

Biography

Callum Baird holds a Master of Arts in Multimedia Journalism from Glasgow Caledonian University, graduating in 2013. He joined Newsquest that year, beginning as a sports writer and sub-editor on The Herald's sports desk.

In November 2014, Baird became deputy editor of The National, the Newsquest-owned pro-independence daily launched in Scotland that year. He was promoted to editor of The National in September 2015, succeeding Richard Walker, who stepped down from editing both The National and the Sunday Herald following a reduction of about 20 positions across Newsquest's Herald and Evening Times titles. In November 2019, Baird was promoted to managing editor, overseeing both The National and the Glasgow Times.

In September 2022, Newsquest appointed Baird editor-in-chief of Newsquest Scotland, succeeding Donald Martin, who stepped down after more than 30 years editing various UK titles. Announcing the appointment, Newsquest said Baird had had “a hugely positive impact” on the business since joining in 2013. As editor-in-chief, Baird has overall responsibility for Newsquest's Scottish news brands, including The Herald, The National, the Glasgow Times, the Greenock Telegraph, Rangers Review and Celtic Way, and describes himself as leading editorial teams of up to 160 journalists. In that capacity, he has appointed a series of editors across the group's titles, including Catherine Salmond at The Herald in 2022 and Stacey Mullen at the Glasgow Times and Laura Webster at The National in December 2022. Glasgow Caledonian University named Baird an Alumnus of the Year.

Career highlights

1. Editor-in-Chief, Newsquest Scotland, since 2022. Took overall responsibility for The Herald, The National, the Glasgow Times and other Scottish Newsquest titles, succeeding Donald Martin.

2. Editor, The National, 2015–2019. Led Scotland's only pro-independence daily newspaper, succeeding founding editor Richard Walker.

3. Glasgow Caledonian University Alumnus of the Year. Recognised by his alma mater for his career in Scottish journalism.