Former Tabloid Editor Finds New Purpose Delivering Good News
Alan Muir, the former editor of the Scottish Sun, now shares uplifting stories as part of the People's Postcode Lottery winners' team. After a 40-year career in journalism, Muir describes this new role as “life-affirming.”
From Hard News to Positive Stories
Journalists often face difficult news, but Muir and his colleagues focus solely on joy and celebration. He heads a team including communications officer Pamela Stirling and reporter Craig Stewart, who together operate much like a newsroom.
“It’s turning the clock back 40-odd years for me to being a junior reporter knocking a door – there’s no difference at all,” Muir said. “It’s what I always loved to do… every single week is different.”
Delivering Big Wins Across Great Britain
- Muir progressed from reporter to editor in 30 years at the Scottish Sun.
- Now, he personally meets winners and informs them of their prizes, sometimes shares of up to a million pounds.
- The team produces stories for local and national media, after gaining winners' permission.
- Last year, they traveled 120,000 miles to reach winners at their homes throughout Great Britain.
Balancing Deadlines and Personal Stories
With winners announced daily, the team works under tight deadlines to create engaging stories that capture the excitement of winning. Muir sees this as a return to his early journalism days at the Ayr Advertiser in the 1980s.
Author’s Summary: Alan Muir reinvents his journalism career by delivering uplifting winner stories for the Postcode Lottery, blending experience with heartfelt community connections.