Nik Gowing
Encyclopedia
Nik Keith Gowing is a British
television journalist
. He was educated at the Simon Langton Grammar School
in Canterbury
and Latymer Upper School
in London
, followed by Bristol University.
A foreign affairs specialist and presenter at ITN
from 1978, Gowing became Diplomatic Editor for the flagship Channel 4 News
from 1989. During his time with the BBC
, Gowing has since presented The World Today
(1996–2000), Europe Direct, HARDtalk
, Dateline London
, as well as Simpson's World.
At the time of the death of Princess Diana
in 1997, Gowing anchored coverage for over seven hours, reportedly only having had 40 minutes sleep before being driven back to Television Centre
to present. BBC World
was being simulcast for the first ever time with the BBC domestic channel BBC One
, making up a global audience of around half a billion, to whom he announced her death.
His coverage of the aftermath of the September 11th 2001 attacks won the 2002 Hotbird Award. He had been on air for six hours. He is also a Member of Council of the Royal United Services Institute
.
, author of the two volume work Independence and Deterrence: Britain and Atomic Energy, 1945–52, who died in 1998. After attending grammar schools in London and Canterbury, Gowing read geography at Bristol University.
At University he worked on local radio
; he then joined Thomson Regional Newspapers in Newcastle
.
He and his wife Judy have two children and live in west London
.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
television journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
. He was educated at the Simon Langton Grammar School
Simon Langton Grammar School for Boys
Simon Langton Grammar School for Boys is a selective boys school of over 1000 pupils and staff, located in the outskirts of Canterbury, Kent. It holds both Foundation and Grammar school status and has 'specialist college' status in science....
in Canterbury
Canterbury
Canterbury is a historic English cathedral city, which lies at the heart of the City of Canterbury, a district of Kent in South East England. It lies on the River Stour....
and Latymer Upper School
Latymer Upper School
Latymer Upper School, founded by Edward Latymer in 1624, is a selective independent school in Hammersmith, West London, England, lying between King Street and the Thames. It is a day school for 1,130 pupils – boys and girls aged 11–18; there is also the Latymer Preparatory School for boys and girls...
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, followed by Bristol University.
A foreign affairs specialist and presenter at 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...
from 1978, Gowing became Diplomatic Editor for the flagship Channel 4 News
Channel 4 News
Channel 4 News is the news division of British television broadcaster Channel 4. It is produced by ITN, and has been in operation since the broadcaster's launch in 1982.-Channel 4 News:...
from 1989. During his time with the BBC
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...
, Gowing has since presented The World Today
The World Today (BBC World Service)
The World Today is BBC World Service's high profile, Sony Radio Academy Award winning, early morning news and current affairs programme, which as of the 27th March 2011 will be broadcast from 0300 to 0830 daily. It consists of news bulletins on the hour and half hour, serious international...
(1996–2000), Europe Direct, HARDtalk
HARDtalk
Hardtalk is a flagship BBC television programme, consisting of in-depth half-hour one-on-one interviews.It is broadcast four days a week on BBC World News and the BBC News channel. Launched in 1997, much of its worldwide fame is due to its global reach via BBC World...
, Dateline London
Dateline London
Dateline London is a weekly news discussion programme shown on both BBC News and BBC World News. The programme, presented by Gavin Esler, with Nik Gowing and Lyse Doucet acting as relief presenters, features a roundtable panel of foreign and British journalists who discuss the week's top news...
, as well as Simpson's World.
At the time of the death of Princess Diana
Death of Diana, Princess of Wales
On 31 August 1997, Diana, Princess of Wales, died as a result of injuries sustained in a car accident in the Pont de l'Alma road tunnel in Paris, France. Her companion, Dodi Fayed, and the driver of the Mercedes-Benz W140, Henri Paul, were pronounced dead at the scene of the accident. Fayed's...
in 1997, Gowing anchored coverage for over seven hours, reportedly only having had 40 minutes sleep before being driven back to Television Centre
BBC Television Centre
BBC Television Centre at White City in West London is the headquarters of BBC Television. Officially opened on 29 June 1960, it remains one of the largest to this day; having featured over the years as backdrop to many BBC programmes, it is one of the most readily recognisable such facilities...
to present. BBC World
BBC World
BBC World News is the BBC's international news and current affairs television channel. It has the largest audience of any BBC channel in the world...
was being simulcast for the first ever time with the BBC domestic channel BBC One
BBC One
BBC One is the flagship television channel of the British Broadcasting Corporation in the United Kingdom. It was launched on 2 November 1936 as the BBC Television Service, and was the world's first regular television service with a high level of image resolution...
, making up a global audience of around half a billion, to whom he announced her death.
His coverage of the aftermath of the September 11th 2001 attacks won the 2002 Hotbird Award. He had been on air for six hours. He is also a Member of Council of the Royal United Services Institute
Royal United Services Institute
The Royal United Services Institute for Defence and Security Studies , officially still known by its old name, the Royal United Services Institution, is a British defence and security think tank. It was founded in 1831 by The Duke of Wellington.RUSI describes itself asIt won Prospect Magazine's...
.
Personal life and early career
Nik Gowing is the son of Professor Margaret GowingMargaret Gowing
Professor Margaret Gowing, CBE, was an English historian.- Overview :Margaret Gowing was involved with the production of several volumes of the officially sponsored History of the Second World War, published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office in conjunction with Longman's, Green and Co...
, author of the two volume work Independence and Deterrence: Britain and Atomic Energy, 1945–52, who died in 1998. After attending grammar schools in London and Canterbury, Gowing read geography at Bristol University.
At University he worked on local radio
Local radio
Local radio can refer to:In the UK:*BBC Local Radio*Independent Local RadioIn Australia:*ABC Local Radio by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation...
; he then joined Thomson Regional Newspapers in Newcastle
Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne is a city and metropolitan borough of Tyne and Wear, in North East England. Historically a part of Northumberland, it is situated on the north bank of the River Tyne...
.
He and his wife Judy have two children and live in west London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
.
Published work
- The Wire, Hutchinson (31 May 1988), ISBN 978-0091673703
- A novel about the infiltration of the secret police into PolandPolandPoland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
's Solidarity movement, based on Gowing's extensive knowledge of Solidarity's activities.- The Loop, Hutchinson (5 Aug 1993), ISBN 978-0091749910
- A thriller, again based on Gowing's first-hand journalistic experience, set in the new RussiaRussiaRussia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
. A highly-decorated KGBKGBThe KGB was the commonly used acronym for the . It was the national security agency of the Soviet Union from 1954 until 1991, and was the premier internal security, intelligence, and secret police organization during that time.The State Security Agency of the Republic of Belarus currently uses the...
colonel, who fought to defend the communistCommunismCommunism is a social, political and economic ideology that aims at the establishment of a classless, moneyless, revolutionary and stateless socialist society structured upon common ownership of the means of production...
system, must survive in a world of turmoil and anarchy.- "Real-time media is changing our world: Cheap 'go-anywhere' cameras and phones are challenging the credibility of governments, corporations and the traditional media." The Guardian, 11 May 2009
- Skyful of Lies & Black Swans, 2009, Reuters Institute for the Study of JournalismReuters Institute for the Study of JournalismThe Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism was founded in the Department of Politics and International Relations at University of Oxford in 2006 to conduct scholarly and professional research on news media and operate the Thomson Reuters Fellowship Programme and host academic research fellows...