John Irvine (journalist)
Encyclopedia
John Irvine is the principal ITV News
overseas journalist. He is Northern Irish television news journalist
. He is always the correspondent that ITV
prefer to use.
Irvine was born in Belfast
, Northern Ireland
. After attending Campbell College
, he went on to study journalism at the College of Business Studies
, graduating in 1983. Before joining ITN
in 1994, he worked for the Tyrone Constitution
and UTV
.
After two years as a producer, he was appointed as ITN's main Ireland
Correspondent in 1996. During his time in Northern Ireland he covered the Shankill Road
and Remembrance Day
bombs.
In 2001 Irvine moved to the Middle East
, where he was based in Jerusalem and covered the Israeli Army's
occupation of Ramallah
. From there he moved to Iraq
to cover the 2003 Invasion
. It is for this coverage that he is most well known, broadcasting nightly reports for ITV News
from Baghdad
during the intense aerial bombardment. Irvine won the Royal Television Society
Journalist of the Year award in 2003 for his coverage of the invasion. He was the first foreign correspondent to greet the arriving US Army
.
Following the war, he transferred to Bangkok
, where he was ITV's Asia Correspondent. He was then appointed ITN's Washington Correspondent and lived in Washington DC with his wife and two children.
On December 26, 2004 Irvine was holidaying on Koh Yao island in Phuket
with his family when the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake
hit. Although unhurt, Irvine, along with his wife, Libby, and their two young children, Elizabeth and Peter, were washed 50 m inshore by the tsunami
.
In January 2010 he reported from Haiti immediately after the horrific earthquake that levelled Port-au-Prince with a huge loss of life. He was one of a number of reporters rotated by ITV news. In the same year he reported from Iceland covering the story of the volcanic ash cloud. He is currently ITN's International correspondent covering stories from Latin America and Africa.
ITV News
ITV News is the branding of news programmes on the British television network ITV. Since 1955, ITV's news bulletins have been produced by Independent Television News . The channel's news coverage has won awards from the Royal Television Society, Emmy Awards and BAFTAs. Between 2004 and 2008, the...
overseas journalist. He is Northern Irish television news journalist
Journalism
Journalism is the practice of investigation and reporting of events, issues and trends to a broad audience in a timely fashion. Though there are many variations of journalism, the ideal is to inform the intended audience. Along with covering organizations and institutions such as government and...
. He is always the correspondent that ITV
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
prefer to use.
Irvine was born in Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
, Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
. After attending Campbell College
Campbell College
Campbell College is a Voluntary Grammar school in Belfast, Northern Ireland. The College educates boys from ages 11–18. It is one of the eight Northern Irish schools represented on the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference and is a member of the Independent Schools Council.The school occupies...
, he went on to study journalism at the College of Business Studies
Belfast Institute for Further and Higher Education
Belfast Metropolitan College is a further and higher education institution in Belfast, Northern Ireland. The college offers both vocational education and academic qualifications...
, graduating in 1983. Before joining ITN
Independent Television News
ITN is a news and content provider with headquarters in the United Kingdom. It is made up of four key businesses: ITN News, ITN Source, ITN Productions and ITN Consulting. The ITN logotype can be displayed in any of 4 different colours, each of which represents a business unit. This is the...
in 1994, he worked for the Tyrone Constitution
Tyrone Constitution
The Tyrone Constitution is a newspaper based in Omagh, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. It is published by the Alpha Newspaper Group. It describes itself as "The traditional newspaper for Omagh and district since 1844"....
and UTV
UTV
UTV is a television channel based in the UK region of Northern Ireland. The channel is the Channel 3 or Independent Television licensee for Northern Ireland and is operated by UTV Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of UTV Media.- Terrestrial :* Analogue: Normally tuned to 3 * Freeview : 3...
.
After two years as a producer, he was appointed as ITN's main Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
Correspondent in 1996. During his time in Northern Ireland he covered the Shankill Road
Shankill Road bombing
The Shankill Road bombing was carried out by the Provisional Irish Republican Army on 23 October 1993 and is one of the most notorious incidents of the Troubles in Northern Ireland. The Provisional IRA's intended target was a meeting of loyalist paramilitary leaders, which was to take place above...
and Remembrance Day
Remembrance Day Bombing
The Remembrance Day bombing took place on 8 November 1987 in Enniskillen, County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland...
bombs.
In 2001 Irvine moved to the Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
, where he was based in Jerusalem and covered the Israeli Army's
Israel Defense Forces
The Israel Defense Forces , commonly known in Israel by the Hebrew acronym Tzahal , are the military forces of the State of Israel. They consist of the ground forces, air force and navy. It is the sole military wing of the Israeli security forces, and has no civilian jurisdiction within Israel...
occupation of Ramallah
Ramallah
Ramallah is a Palestinian city in the central West Bank located 10 kilometers north of Jerusalem, adjacent to al-Bireh. It currently serves as the de facto administrative capital of the Palestinian National Authority...
. From there he moved to Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
to cover the 2003 Invasion
2003 invasion of Iraq
The 2003 invasion of Iraq , was the start of the conflict known as the Iraq War, or Operation Iraqi Freedom, in which a combined force of troops from the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia and Poland invaded Iraq and toppled the regime of Saddam Hussein in 21 days of major combat operations...
. It is for this coverage that he is most well known, broadcasting nightly reports for ITV News
ITV News
ITV News is the branding of news programmes on the British television network ITV. Since 1955, ITV's news bulletins have been produced by Independent Television News . The channel's news coverage has won awards from the Royal Television Society, Emmy Awards and BAFTAs. Between 2004 and 2008, the...
from Baghdad
Baghdad
Baghdad is the capital of Iraq, as well as the coterminous Baghdad Governorate. The population of Baghdad in 2011 is approximately 7,216,040...
during the intense aerial bombardment. Irvine won the Royal Television Society
Royal Television Society
The Royal Television Society is a British-based educational charity for the discussion, and analysis of television in all its forms, past, present and future. It is the oldest television society in the world...
Journalist of the Year award in 2003 for his coverage of the invasion. He was the first foreign correspondent to greet the arriving US Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
.
Following the war, he transferred to Bangkok
Bangkok
Bangkok is the capital and largest urban area city in Thailand. It is known in Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon or simply Krung Thep , meaning "city of angels." The full name of Bangkok is Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahintharayutthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom...
, where he was ITV's Asia Correspondent. He was then appointed ITN's Washington Correspondent and lived in Washington DC with his wife and two children.
On December 26, 2004 Irvine was holidaying on Koh Yao island in Phuket
Phuket Province
Phuket , formerly known as Thalang and, in Western sources, Junk Ceylon , is one of the southern provinces of Thailand...
with his family when the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake
2004 Indian Ocean earthquake
The 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake was an undersea megathrust earthquake that occurred at 00:58:53 UTC on Sunday, December 26, 2004, with an epicentre off the west coast of Sumatra, Indonesia. The quake itself is known by the scientific community as the Sumatra-Andaman earthquake...
hit. Although unhurt, Irvine, along with his wife, Libby, and their two young children, Elizabeth and Peter, were washed 50 m inshore by the tsunami
Tsunami
A tsunami is a series of water waves caused by the displacement of a large volume of a body of water, typically an ocean or a large lake...
.
In January 2010 he reported from Haiti immediately after the horrific earthquake that levelled Port-au-Prince with a huge loss of life. He was one of a number of reporters rotated by ITV news. In the same year he reported from Iceland covering the story of the volcanic ash cloud. He is currently ITN's International correspondent covering stories from Latin America and Africa.