Reach plc has appointed Neil McIntosh as editor-in-chief, Scotland, and named Gary Rogers as its first director of newsroom transformation, as the publisher continues to reshape its editorial strategy around digital innovation and AI.
McIntosh will join later this month to oversee Reach’s Scottish titles, including the Daily Record, Sunday Mail, EdinburghLive and GlasgowLive. He will also edit the Daily Record. A well-known figure in Scottish media, he was previously editor of The Scotsman, where he led a digital overhaul of the title. More recently he launched The Early Line, a daily newsletter for Scotland’s political and business elite.
“Neil brings editorial depth and digital expertise that will help us grow our distinctive Scottish brands and loyal audiences,” said David Higgerson, Reach’s Chief Content Officer.
McIntosh said he was excited to be returning to a major editorial role, and that he looked forward to building on the titles’ tradition of breaking agenda-setting stories.
Alongside McIntosh’s appointment, Reach has created a new senior role to drive long-term newsroom innovation. Rogers, who has held leadership roles at the BBC and advised multiple newsrooms on digital change, will lead Reach’s editorial AI strategy and help integrate emerging technologies across its national, regional and local operations.
“AI is moving quickly,” said Rogers, “but the opportunity to serve audiences with trusted journalism using new tools is huge.”
Source: Noah Wire Services
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
10
Notes:
The narrative was published on 4 August 2025, with no earlier appearances found. The content is original and not recycled. The announcement is based on a press release from Reach plc, which typically warrants a high freshness score.
Quotes check
Score:
10
Notes:
The direct quotes from David Higgerson and Neil McIntosh are unique to this report, with no earlier matches found. This suggests potentially original or exclusive content.
Source reliability
Score:
10
Notes:
The narrative originates from Reach plc’s official website, a reputable organisation. This enhances the credibility of the information presented.
Plausability check
Score:
10
Notes:
The appointments of Neil McIntosh and Gary Rogers are plausible and align with Reach plc’s strategic focus on digital transformation and newsroom innovation. The narrative provides specific details about their previous roles and the company’s plans, which are consistent with industry trends.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH
Summary:
The narrative is original, timely, and sourced from a reputable organisation. The information is plausible and consistent with Reach plc’s strategic objectives. No significant credibility risks were identified.
