Fergus Walsh
Encyclopedia
Fergus Walsh has been the BBC
's medical correspondent since 2006. He has won several awards for medical journalism, and has been commended for his work in making important health topics more understandable to the public.
by his Irish parents, who emigrated in the 1950s. His father, Michael, who worked as a baker, died after an accident in May 2010. His Mother, Ita, is also deceased.
, in High Wycombe, and graduated from Leeds University with a degree in English Literature in 1983.
Walsh completed a post-graduate course in Broadcast Journalism at University College Falmouth
, in Cornwall. He has said that until beginning the course he had 'no burning ambition' to become a journalist, but that afterwards he 'Couldn't wait to be a reporter'.
, Nottingham
, Norfolk
and Bristol
, and (for one day) Derby
. He began working for the BBC in 1984, as a radio reporter on home and legal affairs. He has said that what attracted him to the role was 'the immediacy of radio…discovering and reporting on events as they happen'. His first national report was for Radio 4 News, on the subject of a mass trespass by members of CND. In 1990, he moved to television and worked briefly as political, diplomatic and education correspondent.
and BBC Radio 5 Live.
In 2009, he started a blog called Fergus On Flu, which examined the H1N1 swine flu pandemic. In June 2010, this was re-launched as Fergus's Medical Files, which covers medical and health issues.
Also in 2009, Walsh appeared as himself, in 'A Short Stay in Switzerland', a 90-minute BBC TV dramatisation of the events leading up to the death by assisted suicide of Dr Anne Turner.
In late 2010, he presented an appeal on behalf of LEPRA
, a charity which seeks to prevent and treat Lymphatic Filariasis.
In December 2009, he received an honorary degree
, a Doctorate of Civil Law (DCL) from Newcastle University. His citation stated that Walsh 'has done more than any other journalist to facilitate public comprehension of the most challenging health issues of our times.'
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
's medical correspondent since 2006. He has won several awards for medical journalism, and has been commended for his work in making important health topics more understandable to the public.
Family Background
Walsh was brought up in BuckinghamshireBuckinghamshire
Buckinghamshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan home county in South East England. The county town is Aylesbury, the largest town in the ceremonial county is Milton Keynes and largest town in the non-metropolitan county is High Wycombe....
by his Irish parents, who emigrated in the 1950s. His father, Michael, who worked as a baker, died after an accident in May 2010. His Mother, Ita, is also deceased.
Education
He attended the Royal Grammar SchoolRoyal Grammar School
Royal Grammar School may refer to:* Clitheroe Royal Grammar School* Colchester Royal Grammar School* Lancaster Royal Grammar School* Royal Grammar School, Guildford* Royal Grammar School, High Wycombe* Royal Grammar School, Newcastle...
, in High Wycombe, and graduated from Leeds University with a degree in English Literature in 1983.
Walsh completed a post-graduate course in Broadcast Journalism at University College Falmouth
University College Falmouth
University College Falmouth is a British university college in Falmouth, Cornwall. Founded in 1902, it had previously been the Falmouth School of Art and then Falmouth College of Arts until it received taught degree-awarding powers in March 2005...
, in Cornwall. He has said that until beginning the course he had 'no burning ambition' to become a journalist, but that afterwards he 'Couldn't wait to be a reporter'.
Career
Walsh worked as a freelance journalist during the 1980s, in OxfordOxford
The city of Oxford is the county town of Oxfordshire, England. The city, made prominent by its medieval university, has a population of just under 165,000, with 153,900 living within the district boundary. It lies about 50 miles north-west of London. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through...
, Nottingham
Nottingham
Nottingham is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England. It is located in the ceremonial county of Nottinghamshire and represents one of eight members of the English Core Cities Group...
, Norfolk
Norfolk
Norfolk is a low-lying county in the East of England. It has borders with Lincolnshire to the west, Cambridgeshire to the west and southwest and Suffolk to the south. Its northern and eastern boundaries are the North Sea coast and to the north-west the county is bordered by The Wash. The county...
and Bristol
Bristol
Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...
, and (for one day) Derby
Derby
Derby , is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands region of England. It lies upon the banks of the River Derwent and is located in the south of the ceremonial county of Derbyshire. In the 2001 census, the population of the city was 233,700, whilst that of the Derby Urban Area was 229,407...
. He began working for the BBC in 1984, as a radio reporter on home and legal affairs. He has said that what attracted him to the role was 'the immediacy of radio…discovering and reporting on events as they happen'. His first national report was for Radio 4 News, on the subject of a mass trespass by members of CND. In 1990, he moved to television and worked briefly as political, diplomatic and education correspondent.
Current Role
Walsh has been the BBC's medical Correspondent since 2006. He appears mainly on the BBC's 6PM and 10PM News and across the News Channel. He can also be heard on BBC Radio 4's Today programmeToday programme
Today is BBC Radio 4's long-running early morning news and current affairs programme, now broadcast from 6.00 am to 9.00 am Monday to Friday, and 7.00 am to 9.00 am on Saturdays. It is also the most popular programme on Radio 4 and one of the BBC's most popular programmes across its radio networks...
and BBC Radio 5 Live.
Non-Presenting Work
In June 2007, he was one of a number of medical journalists who gave evidence to Parliament as part of the scrutiny of the Human Tissue and Embryos Bill. Much of his evidence related to the degree of public acceptance of activities such as gender-selection of children, and gene therapy.In 2009, he started a blog called Fergus On Flu, which examined the H1N1 swine flu pandemic. In June 2010, this was re-launched as Fergus's Medical Files, which covers medical and health issues.
Also in 2009, Walsh appeared as himself, in 'A Short Stay in Switzerland', a 90-minute BBC TV dramatisation of the events leading up to the death by assisted suicide of Dr Anne Turner.
In late 2010, he presented an appeal on behalf of LEPRA
LEPRA
LEPRA Health in Action is a health and medical development charity fighting diseases of poverty and working towards a world without leprosy...
, a charity which seeks to prevent and treat Lymphatic Filariasis.
Journalistic Philosophy
When describing how he approached stories on sometimes sensitive topics, Walsh argued that 'To avoid scaring people, the script is crucial - it has to be balanced. I want to look back, six months from now, and not cringe at our stories'. He has also said that in general, 'You have to keep a certain emotional distance from the events in front of you; otherwise it would be impossible to report objectively. You can care deeply about whom or what you are covering, but you must not let your feelings cloud your judgement or prevent you from being an independent observer. On controversial topics, you have to play devil's advocate and ask people direct and often difficult questions'.Awards
He has won five broadcasting awards from the Medical Journalists' Association.In December 2009, he received an honorary degree
Honorary degree
An honorary degree or a degree honoris causa is an academic degree for which a university has waived the usual requirements, such as matriculation, residence, study, and the passing of examinations...
, a Doctorate of Civil Law (DCL) from Newcastle University. His citation stated that Walsh 'has done more than any other journalist to facilitate public comprehension of the most challenging health issues of our times.'