[2] He has said that he returned to his political roots working at the Labour weekly Tribune around 1964,[2] where he was appointed as the circulation manager by Michael Foot.

Originally taken on as a researcher,[6] he was with Granada Television from 1967 to 1986[3] where he was soon appointed joint editor of World in Action with John Birt;[7] Macdonald had an association with the programme for many years.

Also member of House of Lords' Select Committees on Economic Affairs (2004–2008), and Communications (2009–2012).Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Humanist Group.

In 2011, he was invited to deliver the MacMillan Memorial Lecture to the Institution of Engineers and Shipbuilders in Scotland and chose the subject "Bridging the Infrastructure Gap".

He also served as a Governor of the British Film Institute, a member of the council (2006–2008) and of Court (2009–) at the University of Sussex and is Patron of the Dystonia Society.