Making news is all in a day’s work for Colin

A FORMER Thurso High School pupil is appearing on television screens across Scotland as he is now part of the team which delivers the STV six o’clock news.

Colin Stone has started work as a news reporter for STV News in Glasgow as part of its main news shows which broadcast at 6pm and 11pm on weekdays and early evening bulletins at the weekends.

The 24-year-old from Castletown, who previously worked as an entertainment reporter for The Riverside Show on digital channel STV Glasgow, made the move at the beginning of the year.

Now he is working alongside the country’s top news anchors such as John Mackay.

Mr Stone said he would always be thankful for The Riverside Show giving him his big break but said his new role is what he has aspired to be as a journalist.

“I loved working on The Riverside Show,” he said. “But that job was an entertainment role and this is a news role.

“I was approached in December if I had any interest in joining STV News. News is my background and I jumped at the chance and it has resulted in me doing all sorts of things with them which is brilliant.”

Stone’s role involves reporting on news stories throughout the west of Scotland and filming reports before editing them at the STV studios.

He has also taken the news anchor’s chair reading the late-night and weekend bulletins as well as writing news stories and sourcing pictures that make up the live six o’clock broadcast.

His job also involves doing live broadcasts which he has no fears over, having broadcast live every weeknight on The Riverside Show during his 18-month stint.

The only change he has found troublesome is the different dress code.

Mr Stone said: “In my former job, I would be doing daft things and sports activities so I would come into work with jeans and a T-shirt. But now I have to come to work in a suit and tie and it is the biggest change which I’m still getting used to.

“Working on live TV is something which doesn’t faze me as I am now experienced in front of the camera.

“Having the experience from working on The Riverside Show has made the transition very straightforward. But it is a step up and there is more pressure on you to perform, especially being involved in strong news stories.”

Mr Stone’s first few weeks on the job have seen him report on a wide range of stories from the Celtic Connections festival to train bridges collapsing and holocaust memorials at schools.

Among his first jobs was interviewing Celtic winger Gary Mackay-Steven before the side’s Scottish Cup game with East Kilbride.

Mr Stone said: “It was very surreal doing a story about Celtic versus East Kilbride and interviewing Gary Mackay-Steven who was in the year above me at school at Thurso High. It was something that I couldn’t have ever predicted five or 10 years ago.”

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