Julie MacDonald (British Journalist)
Encyclopedia
Julie MacDonald is a Scottish journalist and presenter, currently working freelance
with Al Jazeera English and Channel 5.
MacDonald trained as a journalist at City University, London
. Her Radio credits began at LBC
– as producer of The Simon Bates Breakfast Show and Nick Ferrari
in the Morning. Moving into TV – Julie began her TV journalist career (2000–2001) with the ITV News Channel
and went on (‘02) to become Channel 5 entertainment correspondent and fronting the channel’s flagship breakfast show and news bulletins, including Core News and The Edit for 5 News.
MacDonald moved away from network news in 2003, when she became one of the BBC
Liquid News reporters and weekend presenter, reporting on entertainment stories of the day for BBC Three
and BBC News. Julie continued to work in Radio as a member of Simon Mayo
’s Five Live Panel, a weekly team contributing their views on TV and media news. She occasionally also worked alongside Jono Coleman on LBC’s early weekend shows. In 2004, MacDonald worked red carpet events for the ITN produced London Tonight
on ITV1 London
, also reporting on the day’s news output.
In 2005, Julie signed up to the Al Jazeera English News Channel as a News Anchor to be based at its headquarters in Doha. Julie was one of the original Al Jazeera News Readers when the channel launched in November 2006. After spending two years at the headquarters in Doha
, she now one of the News Anchors and programme presenters in the UK. Recent programmes include Artsworld on Al Jazeera.
MacDonald is also attached to the Sky Living project Conversations with a Serial Killer as an investigative journalist. In 2005, Julie trained as a Life Coach and now runs her own coaching practice.
In 2010 she began newsreading and reporting for the Sky News
produced 5 News for Channel 5.
Freelancer
A freelancer, freelance worker, or freelance is somebody who is self-employed and is not committed to a particular employer long term. These workers are often represented by a company or an agency that resells their labor and that of others to its clients with or without project management and...
with Al Jazeera English and Channel 5.
MacDonald trained as a journalist at City University, London
City University, London
City University London , is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom. It was founded in 1894 as the Northampton Institute and became a university in 1966, when it adopted its present name....
. Her Radio credits began at LBC
LBC
LBC Radio operates two London-based radio stations, with news and talk formats. LBC was Britain's first legal commercial Independent Local Radio station, providing a service of news and information to London. It began broadcasting on 8 October 1973, a week ahead of Capital Radio...
– as producer of The Simon Bates Breakfast Show and Nick Ferrari
Nick Ferrari
Nick Ferrari is a radio presenter who currently hosts the weekday breakfast show from 0700-1000 UTC on the London-based talk and phone-in radio station LBC 97.3. He also has a regular column in the Sunday Express and is a regular guest on The Alan Titchmarsh Show on ITV1...
in the Morning. Moving into TV – Julie began her TV journalist career (2000–2001) with the ITV News Channel
ITV News Channel
The ITV News Channel was a 24-hour television news channel in the United Kingdom which broadcast from 1 August 2000 to 23 December 2005. It was available on Sky, NTL:Telewest, Freeview and analogue cable, presenting national and international news plus regular business, sport, entertainment and...
and went on (‘02) to become Channel 5 entertainment correspondent and fronting the channel’s flagship breakfast show and news bulletins, including Core News and The Edit for 5 News.
MacDonald moved away from network news in 2003, when she became one of the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
Liquid News reporters and weekend presenter, reporting on entertainment stories of the day for BBC Three
BBC Three
BBC Three is a television network from the BBC broadcasting via digital cable, terrestrial, IPTV and satellite platforms. The channel's target audience includes those in the 16-34 year old age group, and has the purpose of providing "innovative" content to younger audiences, focusing on new talent...
and BBC News. Julie continued to work in Radio as a member of Simon Mayo
Simon Mayo
Simon Mayo is an English radio presenter who has worked for BBC Radio since 1981. As of January 2010, Mayo is presenter of Simon Mayo Drivetime on BBC Radio 2 and, with Mark Kermode, presenter of Kermode and Mayo's Film Reviews on BBC Radio 5 Live.In 2008, Mayo was recognised as the "radio...
’s Five Live Panel, a weekly team contributing their views on TV and media news. She occasionally also worked alongside Jono Coleman on LBC’s early weekend shows. In 2004, MacDonald worked red carpet events for the ITN produced London Tonight
London Tonight
London Tonight is a regional news programme broadcast on ITV London . Produced by ITN, the programme is broadcast at 6pm every weeknight, also including local sports news and local features of interest.Like all regional news programmes on ITV in England and Wales and Channel Television, it uses...
on ITV1 London
ITV London
ITV London is the on-air brand name used by ITV Broadcasting Limited for the two Channel 3 broadcast franchises, Carlton Television and London Weekend Television in the London ITV region.-History:...
, also reporting on the day’s news output.
In 2005, Julie signed up to the Al Jazeera English News Channel as a News Anchor to be based at its headquarters in Doha. Julie was one of the original Al Jazeera News Readers when the channel launched in November 2006. After spending two years at the headquarters in Doha
Doha
Doha is the capital city of the state of Qatar. Located on the Persian Gulf, it had a population of 998,651 in 2008, and is also one of the municipalities of Qatar...
, she now one of the News Anchors and programme presenters in the UK. Recent programmes include Artsworld on Al Jazeera.
MacDonald is also attached to the Sky Living project Conversations with a Serial Killer as an investigative journalist. In 2005, Julie trained as a Life Coach and now runs her own coaching practice.
In 2010 she began newsreading and reporting for the Sky News
Sky News
Sky News is a 24-hour British and international satellite television news broadcaster with an emphasis on UK and international news stories.The service places emphasis on rolling news, including the latest breaking news. Sky News also hosts localised versions of the channel in Australia and in New...
produced 5 News for Channel 5.