John MacKay: What really happens before ‘Good Evening’

After more than three decades as one of Scotland’s most recognisable news presenters, John MacKay will read the News at Six for the last time on Friday. Here, he reflects on what it’s like to present news from his perspective and the moments leading up to going live on air.

“Five…”

“Roll titles.”

“Four…three…two…one…”

“On air.”

Is the autocue in the right place? Check.

Do I have the right story on my tablet? Check.

“Three…two…”

Breathe in at two. That’ll be enough to get through the first sentence.

“One…zero.”

“Coming to camera one.”

Look up. Engage with the camera.

“Go one. John cue. Animate (graphics in video wall).”

“Good evening.”

We’re now live to hundreds of thousands of viewers.

A lot has gone into this moment. The production team have been working since early in the morning. All that effort by so many people and I’m the face of it.

I’m coming to the end of the first link.

“Stand by B…B roll.”

The first report is broadcast.

“John, take a seat.”

I move from the standing position next to our video wall to the seat behind the desk. Check mics haven’t slipped, jacket is sitting properly and the tie isn’t squint. The details matter. Nothing should distract from the news being delivered.

The first report is coming to an end.

“Coming to John on Camera One MCU (medium close-up).”

The report ends.

“Cue.”

I read from the autocue following the camera as the operator glides it across the studio floor. The autocue is controlled from the gallery, but it follows my reading pace.

Behind the scenes of the News at Six STV News

“Stand by A…A roll”

“We’re 42 (seconds) under.”

We never go on air with a programme exactly to time. You need extra seconds for the time it takes for a report to roll, for me to breathe, for delays throwing to live locations or reporters going over by a few seconds. Hitting zero in a live isn’t easy.

We progress through the programme. Sometimes a report won’t make its hit time – it’s place in running order.

“Hospital is moving down.”

“Go to Politics next. Politics next.”

We reach the opts. The opts are the part of the programme when the programme splits so different areas get news more relevant to them. The East opt will have been recorded shortly before. As it plays out in the eastern part of the country, I will be reading different stories live in the west. The timing has to be exact to the second.

“Is Raman in the studio yet?”

Sports presenter Raman Bhardwaj is never in the studio, always delaying to the last moment to get the latest line. He bursts in a whirl of instructions to the gallery, fixing his jacket, cables and whatever else.

“You have 20 seconds into sport.”

The timing dictates any banter between us. The audience always enjoys it, but time doesn’t always allow it.

Through the weather to the end of the programme.

“John on Camera Two next.”

“Seven seconds for the bye.”

“Camera Two, standby. Cue John.”