Ben de Pear named new Editor of Channel 4 News

Channel  News Election

ITN has today announced that Ben de Pear will become the new Editor of Channel 4 News.

Ben, who joined Channel 4 News in 2005, is replacing Jim Gray, who left in June after editing the programme for 14 years.

de Pear joined C4 News as a Senior Foreign Producer, before becoming the head of the foreign news unit.

He led the programme’s investigation into the end of Sri Lanka’s civil war which has prompted a UN investigation and global calls for a war crimes tribunal. This formed the basis of last year’s award-winning Sri Lanka’s Killing Fields – produced by ITN for Channel 4.

“Channel 4 News is the programme I’ve always wanted to work for, so I feel truly honoured to be given the opportunity to lead this remarkable team,” said Ben.

“I want us to continue to do what we do best, and even take it up a level – to take risks, to challenge authority and to hold the powerful to account.”

Previously, de Pear worked at Sky News – initially as a foreign producer and latterly as the channel’s Africa Editor based in Johannesburg. During his time at Sky, he obtained the only interview with Robert Mugabe since the turn of the century. He also produced Sky News’ RTS-winning coverage of the Kosovo conflict in 1999, and the fall of Baghdad in 2003.

John Hardie, Chief Executive of ITN said: “Ben is an incredible journalistic talent. But just as importantly, he understands the Channel 4 News spirit – its passion, its personality. It is hard to describe, but it is in his DNA.

“The opportunity to lead Channel 4 News was one that attracted some incredible talent from across the industry. We were impressed by the enthusiasm and vision we saw throughout the process, but in the end, Ben de Pear brought something unique.”

Posted by on Tuesday 10 July 2012
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