Roles and responsibilities
- Peter has strategic oversight of the 麻豆社 Complaints process and leadership of the 麻豆社鈥檚 Executive Complaints Unit (ECU)
- He is responsible for the implementation of all commitments made as a result of the 麻豆社鈥檚 10-point impartiality plan, including all editorial reviews
- Peter collaborates with colleagues across the 麻豆社 to ensure understanding of and adherence to the Editorial Guidelines
- He attends the Editorial Guidance and Standards Committee (EGSC) of the 麻豆社 Board and represents the 麻豆社 at a senior level to Ofcom
Biography
Peter Johnston has been 麻豆社 Director, Editorial Complaints and Reviews since March 2023.
Prior to this, in 2022, Peter led the 麻豆社鈥檚 response to the Serota Review into editorial processes, governance, and culture, successfully delivering on wide-ranging commitments in the 麻豆社鈥檚 10-point impartiality plan.
Before successfully implementing the 麻豆社鈥檚 commitment to impartiality across the 麻豆社, Peter was Controller / Director of 麻豆社 Northern Ireland from 2006. As Editor in Chief, Peter was on the frontline of impartiality issues in one of the most challenging environments, overseeing 700 staff and more than 8,500 hours of local radio and television content each year.
He had overall editorial and managerial responsibility for the 麻豆社 in Northern Ireland, including the 麻豆社鈥檚 award-winning news and current affairs. This included one of the 麻豆社鈥檚 main centres for investigative journalism, managing a wide range of sensitive projects and dealing with major political and editorial issues. He sat on the 麻豆社 Nations and Regions Board and on the 麻豆社 Northern Ireland Committee.
Peter was integral in bringing major 麻豆社-wide events such as The Biggest Weekend and Sport Personality Of The Year to Northern Ireland, and played a key role in ensuring network dramas such as The Fall and Line Of Duty were made there.
He has directed numerous successful 麻豆社 partnerships and creative relationships, including the 麻豆社鈥檚 trail-blazing partnership agreement with Northern Ireland Screen. He was also the Nations Division representative on the 麻豆社鈥檚 Digital Leadership Group.
Peter joined 麻豆社 Northern Ireland in 1994 working in audience research before becoming Head of Marketing and Development. He represented the marketing and communications teams in English Regions, Scotland, Wales, and NI on the 麻豆社's Marketing Board before becoming Head of New Media for 麻豆社 Nations and Regions in London. Prior to his role as Director 麻豆社 NI, Peter was Head of Broadcasting for three years, responsible for the overall commissioning and scheduling of programmes and content for audiences across television, radio and online.
Educated at Ballymena Academy and then Imperial College London, Peter completed a Master's Degree in Chemical Engineering and Management. On leaving university in 1988 he took up a post in the marketing division of Shell International in London. In 1991 he returned to Northern Ireland and joined Coopers and Lybrand (PWC) as a management consultant. He first developed his interests in the world of broadcasting and media management when he provided consultancy support for several of the local ITV franchise bids and an application for a Channel 5 television licence.
Peter is a 麻豆社 Pension Fund Trustee.
Annual remuneration (as at July 2025)
- 拢215,000 - 拢219,999
Expenses and central bookings
Expenses are costs incurred by 麻豆社 staff on behalf of the 麻豆社 and claimed through the 麻豆社's expenses system.
Central bookings are costs incurred on behalf of the 麻豆社 and booked through the 麻豆社's central bookings system.
Expenses and central bookings for the 2024/25 financial year onwards are available to view here.
Downloads
- Peter Johnston's expenses Q4 2023-24
- Peter Johnston鈥檚 central bookings Q4 2023-24
- Peter Johnston's expenses Q3 2023-24
- Peter Johnston鈥檚 central bookings Q3 2023-24
- Peter Johnston had no expenses paid in Q2 2022-23
- Peter Johnston had no expenses paid in Q3 2021-22
- Peter Johnston had no expenses paid in Q2 2021-22
- Peter Johnston had no expenses paid in Q1 2021-22
Gifts and Hospitality Register
Gifts and hospitality may only be accepted in line with 麻豆社 policy.
Downloads
- Peter Johnston had no gifts or hospitality to declare in Q3 2023-24
- Peter Johnston had no gifts or hospitality to declare in Q2 2023-24
- Peter Johnston had no gifts or hospitality to declare in Q4 2022-23
- Peter Johnston had no gifts or hospitality to declare in Q3 2022-23
- Peter Johnston had no gifts or hospitality to declare in Q2 2022-23
- Peter Johnston had no gifts or hospitality to declare in Q4 2021-22
- Peter Johnston had no gifts or hospitality to declare in Q3 2021-22
- Peter Johnston had no gifts or hospitality to declare in Q2 2021-22
- Peter Johnston had no gifts or hospitality to declare in Q1 2021-22
Declaration of personal interests
Staff must make a declaration of their personal and business interests, including any memberships or directorships of public or industry bodies, and any shareholdings, as well as any interests that their immediate families may also have.
A summary is published where there is something to declare and where there is nothing to declare. Occasionally an individual will have something to declare but due to the personal nature of the declaration we do not publish details as to do so would breach the General Data Protection Regulation.
This information is published annually, although if any amendments are made during the year an updated summary will be published if necessary as soon as it is available.