McDonald Launches as a Media Consultant

One of the casualties from a recent round of compulsory redundancies at the publishers of The Herald newspaper has set himself up as a PR and media consultant.

Barry McDonald has set himself up as Tartan Penguin Media, with a particular emphasis on assisting businesses and organisations in the Stirling area with their PR and media relations.

Since he was made redundant, the former senior features writer at The Herald and sister titles, the Evening Times and Sunday Herald, has done some freelance writing for, among others, the Big Issue in Scotland magazine and Glasgow-based magazines outfit, DC Publishing. 

One of half a dozen journalists sacked, just before Christmas, he is pursuing – with the help of the National Union of Journalists – an industrial tribunal case against the Herald & Times Group. 

He is promoting Tartan Penguin Media as a “plain speaking public relations service”. He has built up a network of freelance PR people and former journalists he can draw upon, should the need arise.

He told allmediascotland.com: “It's a bespoke service which can help businesses attract greater media exposure as well as attract new clients and customers. We'll cut through the hype and get their message direct to the right people. I know the key people to speak to, whether it be local newspapers, national titles, magazines, online, radio or television.

“Tartan Penguin Media also offers a full social media and media consultancy service. The team carries decades of experience in newspaper interviewing, live radio and live television.”