Campbell unveiled as new £82k face of BBC politics
BBC Scotland has unveiled Glenn Campbell as its new political editor – earning more than £80,000 a year.
The chief political correspondent is replacing Brian Taylor and will take on the new role next month.
Mr Taylor, 65, retired at the end of October after a 35-year career with the BBC.
Mr Campbell, 44, said filling his shoes was a ‘huge privilege and a huge responsibility’, adding that he was ‘really looking forward to getting started’.
The Glasgow University graduate, who grew up on Islay, will take over just four months before the Scottish parliament election.
On August 25, 2014, Mr Campbell moderated t he second independence debate between Alistair Darling and Alex Salmond in Glasgow.
He then hosted the referendum result programme on BBC One Scotland on September 18, 2014.
Mr Campbell has worked at BBC Scotland since 2001.
For most of the time, he has been a political correspondent and more recently chief political correspondent. He has presented a number of results programmes as well as Good Morning Scotland, t he Politics Show and Any Questions and has spent time working at Newsnight, Radio 4, and the World Service.
He has reported from across Europe, the US, Canada and China, and won the Royal Television Society Scoop of the Year Award in 2010 for breaking the story of the release of the Lockerbie bomber. Mr Campbell said: ‘I am already very lucky to be part of a brilliant team at BBC Scotland and, for me, the opportunity to lead our political coverage is the ultimate job in Scottish journalism.
‘It is a huge privilege and a huge responsibility to be appointed political editor and I am really looking forward to getting started.’
BBC Scotland head of news Gary Smith said Mr Campbell was the ‘standout candidate in an outstanding field of both internal and external candidates’.
He added: ‘Glenn’s passion for reporting and analysing political news – and for unearthing new stories – shone through a rigorous recruitment process. Brian Taylor is a tough act to follow but Glenn is a really worthy successor.’
In its job advert, the corporation said it was looking for someone to fill ‘one of the most high-profile roles in Scottish journalism’.
It said the successful candidate would have to ‘look beyond the daily news agenda’ and ‘demonstrate the highest levels of integrity and impartiality at all times’.
Mr Campbell will also be expected to ‘deliver impartial reporting and analysis and consistently achieve high- i mpact journalism’.
The job carries a Band E salary, which means up to £82,144 a year.
‘Lucky to be part of brilliant team’