As Holyrood magazine's senior politics and innovation reporter, Kirsteen Paterson specializes in making Scottish policymaking accessible to general audiences. Her work sits at the intersection of three key areas:
Recent accolades include the 2023 Scottish Parliamentary Journalist of the Year award for her investigation into lobbying transparency. Paterson maintains an active presence on Bluesky (@kirsteenpaterson.bsky.social), often sharing early-stage policy analysis and crowdsourcing community experiences.
Paterson's journalism career began in the trenches of local newspapers, where she developed her signature approach of grounding complex issues in community experiences. After seven years at Metro honing her skills in accessible political reporting, she joined The National's launch team in 2015. Here she pioneered the outlet's social affairs coverage, earning recognition for her 2018 investigation into fuel poverty's impact on elderly Scots.
Her 2022 move to Holyrood marked a strategic shift toward institutional analysis. As digital editor and senior reporter, Paterson now operates at the nerve center of Scottish policymaking. Colleagues describe her as having "X-ray vision for spotting how committee room decisions translate to high street consequences."
This exclusive political scoop revealed the Scottish Conservative leader's plan to abandon Holyrood for Westminster, sending shockwaves through Scottish politics. Paterson's forensic timeline reconstruction showed how Ross's constituency maneuvers conflicted with his public statements about political commitment. The article's impact was immediate - within 48 hours, three MSPs announced leadership bids, and the Scottish Parliament launched an ethics review of dual mandates.
Paterson's obituary for the late drugs policy minister became the definitive account of McKelvie's career, blending political analysis with personal tributes from rehabilitation advocates. By contrasting the minister's legislative battles with her private health struggles, the piece sparked national conversations about workplace accommodations in politics. Healthcare charities reported a 300% increase in policy consultation requests following publication.
This deep dive into Scotland's digital health strategy exposed the gap between political rhetoric and technological reality. Through interviews with 23 NHS clinicians and data scientists, Paterson revealed how legacy IT systems undermine AI deployment. Her analysis of Estonia's integrated health platform became required reading for three Holyrood committees, directly influencing Scotland's 2024 eHealth investment priorities.
Paterson prioritizes stories demonstrating clear connections to Holyrood's legislative calendar. Her recent exposé on pharmacy deserts in the Highlands succeeded because it mapped medication access issues to three active bills. Pitches should include specific references to committee inquiries or ministerial portfolios.
The journalist's tech coverage focuses on practical applications rather than speculative ventures. Her award-winning series on Shetland's tidal energy partnerships worked because it showed exact kilowatt outputs and household savings. Include measurable outcomes when proposing innovation stories.
Paterson's LGBTQ+ housing investigation succeeded by linking discrimination patterns to regional economic policies. Effective pitches demonstrate how social issues intersect with multiple government departments - for example, connecting school meal programs to local agriculture subsidies.
Her Nordic social policy comparisons have become editorial staples. A recent piece on Norwegian prison reforms gained traction by contrasting recidivism rates with Scottish figures. When pitching international stories, include clear Scotland-specific policy implications.
While Paterson covers UK-wide issues, she filters them through a distinctly Scottish lens. Her Brexit impact analysis focused exclusively on fishing communities east of Edinburgh. Pitches should demonstrate understanding of devolved vs reserved powers.
"The clearest voice explaining how legislation changes lives" - Scottish Press Awards citation
2023 Scottish Parliamentary Journalist of the Year: Won for her investigation into MSP lobbying transparency, this award recognizes reporting that directly influences legislative reform. The judging panel noted her "unmatched ability to translate committee reports into front-page news."
Clements Family Prize for Investigative Journalism: Awarded during her time at Edinburgh Napier University, this early-career honor foreshadowed her talent for data-driven storytelling. The prize committee praised her undercover exposé on care home staffing ratios as "a masterclass in ethical investigative techniques."
Foreign Press Association Mention of Excellence: Received international recognition for her explainer series on Scotland's net-zero transition, particularly the episode comparing carbon capture projects in Aberdeen and Stavanger. This rare honor for a regional journalist underscores her global perspective on local issues.
At PressContact, we aim to help you discover the most relevant journalists for your PR efforts. If you're looking to pitch to more journalists who write on Politics, here are some other real estate journalist profiles you may find relevant:
