naughtie began his career as a journalist in 1975 at the aberdeen "press & journal", moving to the london offices of "the scotsman" in 1977. the following year he joined the paper's westminster staff, and became its chief political correspondent. in 1981, he worked for "the washington post" as the laurence stern fellow on its national staff. he joined "the guardian" in 1984, and became its chief political correspondent in 1985.