Richard Walker (editor)

Walker was born around 1956 and was educated at St Michael's Academy, Kilwinning, Scotland.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2015/feb/22/national-newspaper-scottish-independence-richard-walker |title=The National’s Richard Walker: ‘We can and will be critical of the SNP’ |first=Libby |last=Brooks |work=The Guardian |date=22 February 2015 |accessdate=23 April 2017}} He then went to Napier College, Edinburgh.

In 1990 he became production editor at Spectrum magazine and worked at the Scotland on Sunday. In 1995 he moved to deputy features editor at the Daily Record.

Walker took up the post of deputy editor with the Sunday Herald when it launched in February 1999.{{cite news |url=http://www.prweek.com/article/222308/contact-book-update |title=Contact book update |work=PRWeek |date=17 September 2004 |accessdate=23 April 2017}}{{cite news |url=https://www.commonspace.scot/articles/10828/labour-and-iraq-indyref-how-richard-walker-became-pioneering-scottish-editor |title=From Labour and Iraq to indyref: How Richard Walker became a pioneering Scottish editor |first=Jonathan |last=Rimmer |work=CommonSpace |date=21 April 2017 |accessdate=23 April 2017}} The paper's first editor, Andrew Jaspan left the paper to take up another post in the middle of 2004.{{cite news |url=http://www.scotsman.com/business/companies/media-leisure/jaspan-s-departure-heralds-a-new-age-1-1396125 |title=Jaspan's departure heralds a new age |work=Scotland on Sunday |date=25 July 2004 |accessdate=23 April 2017}} In September of that year, Walker was promoted to editor.{{cite news|url=http://www.pressgazette.co.uk/walker-takes-over-as-heralds-editor/ |title=Walker takes over as Herald's editor |work=Press Gazette |date=16 September 2004 |accessdate=23 April 2017}} In November 2005 the Sunday Herald moved to compact format, the first national quality Scottish Sunday paper to do so.{{cite news|url=http://www.pressgazette.co.uk/herald-joins-tabloid-trend/ |title=Herald joins tabloid trend |first=Hamish |last=Mackay |work=Press Gazette |date=17 November 2005 |accessdate=23 April 2017}}

In May 2011, Walker took a bold editorial decision to publish a large picture of Ryan Giggs on the front page, at the time when a controversial Super-injunction had been granted by the English courts.{{cite news |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/parmyolson/2011/05/23/scotland-herald-editor-says-why-he-published-soccer-stars-photo/ |title=Scotland Herald Editor Says Why He Published Soccer Star's Photo |first=Parmy |last=Olsen |work=Forbes |date=23 May 2011 |accessdate=23 April 2017}} This led to him winning "Scoop of the year" at the Scottish Press Awards in 2012.{{cite news|url=http://www.pressgazette.co.uk/john-mclellan-collects-newspaper-of-the-year-award/ |title=John McLellan collects newspaper of the year award |work=Press Gazette |date=20 April 2012 |accessdate=23 April 2017}}

While he was editor the Sunday Herald took the position of backing Scottish Independence ahead of the referendum held in September 2014, the only UK newspaper title to do so.{{cite news|url=http://www.thedrum.com/news/2014/09/14/sunday-herald-editor-richard-walker-why-paper-became-only-uk-title-back-scottish |title=Sunday Herald editor Richard Walker on why the paper became the only UK title to back Scottish independence |first=Angela |last=Haggerty |work=The Drum |date=14 September 2014 |accessdate=23 April 2017}} The paper saw a rise in sales subsequently.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/greenslade/2014/sep/25/scottish-independence-newspapers |title=Sunday Herald enjoys 111% sales rise after backing Scottish independence |first=Roy |last=Greenslade |work=The Guardian |date=25 September 2014 |accessdate=23 April 2017}}

In February 2015 he was named editor of the year at Newsquest's annual Excellence Awards held in London, with the Sunday Herald also named newspaper of the year.{{cite news |url=http://www.holdthefrontpage.co.uk/2015/news/editor-of-the-year-accolade-for-sunday-news-chief/ |title=Editor of the year accolade for Sunday news chief |first=Paul |last=Linford |website=www.holdthefrontpage.co.uk |date=13 February 2015 |accessdate=23 April 2017}}

In November 2014, The National launched in Scotland, with Walker as its editor. It was the first daily newspaper in Scotland to support Scottish independence.{{cite news |first=Mark |last=Sweney |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2014/nov/21/the-national-pro-independence-newspaper-launch-scotland |title=Pro-independence daily paper the National to launch in Scotland |work=The Guardian |date=21 November 2014 |accessdate=23 April 2017}}

Walker was praised during The National's launch, including that his work "reflects public opinion"{{cite news |first=Peter |last=Preston |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2014/nov/30/national-newspaper-scotland-first-week-success |title=All hail Scotland’s National treasure |publisher=Guardian Media Group |newspaper=The Guardian |date=30 November 2014 |accessdate=30 November 2014 |url-status=live |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141205011429/http://www.theguardian.com/media/2014/nov/30/national-newspaper-scotland-first-week-success |archivedate=5 December 2014 |df=dmy-all }} and including "novelty and boldness",{{cite news |first=Lesley |last=Riddoch |url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/nov/24/national-newspaper-scotland-success-pro-independence |title=Why the National newspaper in Scotland may well be a success |publisher=Guardian Media Group |newspaper=The Guardian |date=24 November 2014 |accessdate=26 November 2014 |url-status=live |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141126110856/http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/nov/24/national-newspaper-scotland-success-pro-independence |archivedate=26 November 2014 |df=dmy-all }} however the paper's association with the Scottish National Party has been criticised, and the party's involvement with its launch was described as "creepy".{{cite news |first=Jack |last=Summers |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2014/11/24/scottish-independence-the-national_n_6211674.html |title=The National Newspaper Launches In Scotland – Cue New Conspiracy Theories |newspaper=The Huffington Post |date=24 November 2014 |accessdate=26 November 2014 |url-status=live |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141126005956/http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2014/11/24/scottish-independence-the-national_n_6211674.html |archivedate=26 November 2014 |df=dmy-all }}

In September 2015, he stood down from editing both titles, following Newsquest's decision to make a reduction of twenty positions across the Herald and Evening Times.{{cite news|url=https://www.commonspace.scot/articles/2491/tributes-pour-richard-walker-stands-down-editor-pro-yes-national-and-sunday-herald |title=Tributes pour in as Richard Walker stands down as editor of pro-Yes The National and Sunday Herald |first=David |last=Jamieson |work=CommonSpace |date=23 September 2015 |accessdate=23 April 2017}} The editor at the Evening Times, Tony Carlin also resigned.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-business-34331296 |title=Sunday Herald and Evening Times editors resign |work=BBC News |date=22 September 2015}} Neil MacKay was promoted to executive editor of the Sunday Herald, Callum Baird to executive editor of The National,

Walker remained as a consulting editor and regular contributor to The National.{{cite news |url=http://www.holdthefrontpage.co.uk/2015/news/daily-editor-bids-farewell-to-readers-as-he-leaves-titles/ |title=New top team announced for newspapers after editors’ departures |first=Helen |last=Lambourne |work=Hold the Front Page |date=1 October 2015 |accessdate=23 April 2017}}

In September 2018 The National launched a Sunday Edition,{{cite web |url=https://www.thenational.scot/news/16735607.welcome-to-scotlands-new-sunday-newspaper/ |title=Welcome to Scotland's new Sunday newspaper! |publisher=The National | date=11 September 2018}} to fill the gap left by the end of the Sunday Herald, with a number of the Sunday Herald's features being incorporated into the new paper. Walker was appointed its editor{{cite web |url=https://www.facebook.com/thenationalnewspaperscotland/videos/a-quick-chat-with-sunday-national-editor-richard-walker-about-a-busy-weekend-for/307235460075981/|title=A quick chat with Sunday National editor Richard Walker|date=2019-10-06 |access-date=2019-11-27}}

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{{succession box | before=Andrew Jaspan | title=Editor of the Sunday Herald | years=2004 – 2015 | after=Neil MacKay }}

{{succession box | before=New position | title=Editor of The National | years=2014 – 2015 | after=Callum Baird }}

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Category:Living people

Category:1950s births

Category:People educated at St Michaels Academy

Category:Alumni of Edinburgh Napier University

Category:Scottish newspaper editors

Category:Year of birth missing (living people)