Reid then became a journalist and broadcaster, writing opinion columns for various newspapers including "The Daily Mirror", "The Herald", "The Sun" and "The Scotsman". He also presented a chat show, 'The Reid Report", for Grampian Television. In 1984 he wrote and presented a series of documentaries entitled "Reid About the USSR", for which his previous status within the Communist Party gave him unprecedented access. The series resulted in two BAFTAs. In 2000 Reid helped to establish the "Scottish Left Review", a bimonthly publication. He also wrote a column in "Tribune" under the title "As I Please", previously used by George Orwell in the same magazine.