Barber began his career in journalism in 1978 as a reporter for "The Scotsman". In 1981, after being named Young Journalist of the Year in the British Press Awards, he became a business correspondent at "The Sunday Times", having been interviewed by its editor Frank Giles. By 1982 he was the Enterprising Britain correspondent (a title used to denote the position that became known as industrial correspondent). The co-writer of several books, his works includes a history of Reuters news agency ("The Price of Truth", 1985) and the Westland affair ("Not with Honour", 1986).