Ranald MacDonald

Chesborough Ranald Macdonald (born 27 June 1938) known personally and professionally as Ranald Macdonald, is a retired Australian journalist, media executive, broadcaster and educator. Macdonald served as Managing Director of David Syme & Co. Limited (publisher of The Age newspaper in Melbourne, Australia) from 1964 to 1983 and as editor-in-chief from 1966 to 1970. From 1995 until 1999 he served as the Chairman of the Boston University College of Communication Department of Journalism. Early life Macdonald was born in Melbourne, Australia, to Hamish Claude Henry Macdonald and Nancy Alison Syme, on 27 June 1938. He spent his early years in Wantabadgery West, near Wagga Wagga in New South Wales, where the family neighbours included Sir Keith Murdoch and his family, cousins of his mother Nancy. His father Hamish, a captain in the Second Australian Imperial Force, 2/19th Battalion, was killed in the Fall of Singapore on 19 January 1942, leaving three children — Ranald and two sisters, Jean and Morna. It was two years before the family had confirmation of his death. His mother Nancy later re-married Colonel E.H.B. (Ted) Neill, known as "The Colonel" and they had one child, James. The Colonel had shared rooms at Jesus College, Cambridge University with Hamish Macdonald.