Justin Webb
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Justin Oliver Webb (born 3 January 1961[1]) is a British journalist who has worked for the BBC since 1984.
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[edit] Early life
Webb was educated at Sidcot School, a Friends' school in Somerset, and the London School of Economics, where he was editor of student newspaper The Beaver.
[edit] Broadcasting
In December 2007 he became North American Editor for BBC News, a role newly created in time for the American presidential election of 2008. .[2] He replaced Matt Frei who moved to present the new World News America bulletin. Webb was previously the BBC's chief Washington correspondent from 2001.[3]
He raised eyebrows within the BBC in 2006 when, at a seminar on impartiality, he claimed the corporation was anti-American and treated the US with "scorn and derision", according it "no moral weight".[4] He has also presented a Radio 4 series on anti-Americanism.[5]
Webb joined the BBC as a graduate trainee in 1984 working in Northern Ireland for BBC Radio Ulster based in Belfast. He then worked as a reporter for BBC Radio 4's Today programme, before becoming a foreign affairs correspondent based in London and covering news around the world. He reported on the Gulf War and the war in Bosnia, the collapse of the Soviet Union and the first democratic elections in South Africa.
Before arriving in Washington he was a BBC News presenter based in London and the main presenter on BBC One's Breakfast News programme from 1992 to 1997. He also presented the BBC's One and Six O'Clock News bulletins and presented BBC Radio 4's The World Tonight from 1997-1998. From 1998 he spent three years working as the BBC's Europe correspondent based in Brussels. During that time he reported on the workings of the European Commission and Parliament, the politics surrounding Britain's decision on whether to join the single currency and the enlargement on the European Union. From there he moved to North America for the BBC from 2001 to present day.
Since November 2007, Webb has maintained a regularly-updated blog on the BBC website.
[edit] Today programme
In October 2009, he will replace Edward Stourton on the BBC's influential Today programme.[6]
[edit] Personal life
Webb currently lives in Washington DC with his wife Sarah and their children Martha, Sam and Clara. His son Sam fell ill over Christmas 2008 and was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes mellitus and as a result, Webb experienced the United States healthcare system first-hand.[7]
[edit] References
- ^ Who's Who 2008
- ^ [1] BBC Website accessed November 19, 2007
- ^ [2] BBC Website accessed February 8, 2008
- ^ [3] The American Expatriate blog. Website accessed November 19, 2007
- ^ [4] Media Guardian article Monday November 5 2007. Website accessed November 18, 2007
- ^ [5] BBC News Website. Website accessed December 12, 2008
- ^ Webb, Justin (2009-01-05). "Health care heartbreak". BBC. http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/justinwebb/2009/01/health_care_heatbreak.html. Retrieved on 2009-01-05.
[edit] External links
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