Sarah Smith
Encyclopedia
Sarah Smith is a Scottish television news reporter who currently serves as the Business correspondent for Britain's Channel 4 News
. She had previously been the channel's Washington correspondent, but moved to her new post in the summer of 2011. Smith was previously the first newsreader on More4 News
on Channel 4
's digital television
sister channel More4
.
Smith has covered stories ranging from the United States presidential elections and the Madrid train bombings (for which Channel 4 News won an International Emmy in 2004), to the resignation of Iain Duncan Smith
and an exclusive interview with Saddam Hussein
's defence lawyer.
leader John Smith
, and of Elizabeth Smith, Baroness Smith of Gilmorehill
. Her mother's status as Baron
ess affords her the right to use "the Honourable" before her forename. The John Smith Memorial Trust, on whose Advisory Council she sits, lists her as "The Hon. Sarah Smith". Her godmother is Glasgow Herald
journalist Ruth Wishart.
. She spent a year living and working in Belfast for BBC Northern Ireland
, during which time she was held at gunpoint by the Ulster Defence Association
(UDA) in its West Belfast headquarters.
In 1991, Smith moved to London as an assistant producer with BBC Youth Programmes, working on Rough Guide, Rapido and Reportage. Two years later she moved to news and current affairs, first as assistant producer with the Public Eye and Here & Now programmes, joining Newsnight as a producer in 1994.
She came to Channel 4 from 5 News where she was reporter for two years. Previously she had worked as a producer for the BBC
on programmes as diverse as Newsnight
, Public Eye and Rough Guides.
, on the island of Iona
, where her father is buried, on 22 September 2007.
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:...
. She had previously been the channel's Washington correspondent, but moved to her new post in the summer of 2011. Smith was previously the first newsreader on More4 News
More4 News
More4 News was a daily news programme on the More4 digital television channel in the United Kingdom, airing Monday to Friday from 8.00pm to 8.30pm from 2005 to 2009.-History:More4 News launched at the inception of the More4 channel on 10 October 2005...
on Channel 4
Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...
's digital television
Digital television
Digital television is the transmission of audio and video by digital signals, in contrast to the analog signals used by analog TV...
sister channel More4
More4
More4 is a digital television channel, run by British broadcaster Channel 4, that launched on 10 October 2005. It is carried on Freeview, on satellite broadcasters Freesat and Sky, UK IPTV broadcaster TalkTalk TV and on UK cable network Virgin Media and in the Republic of Ireland cable networks...
.
Smith has covered stories ranging from the United States presidential elections and the Madrid train bombings (for which Channel 4 News won an International Emmy in 2004), to the resignation of Iain Duncan Smith
Iain Duncan Smith
George Iain Duncan Smith is a British Conservative politician. He is currently the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions and was previously leader of the Conservative Party from September 2001 to October 2003...
and an exclusive interview with Saddam Hussein
Saddam Hussein
Saddam Hussein Abd al-Majid al-Tikriti was the fifth President of Iraq, serving in this capacity from 16 July 1979 until 9 April 2003...
's defence lawyer.
Family
She is the eldest daughter of the late Labour PartyLabour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
leader John Smith
John Smith (UK politician)
John Smith was a British Labour Party politician who served as Leader of the Labour Party from July 1992 until his sudden death from a heart attack in May 1994...
, and of Elizabeth Smith, Baroness Smith of Gilmorehill
Elizabeth Smith, Baroness Smith of Gilmorehill
Elizabeth Smith, Baroness Smith of Gilmorehill DL , is a British peer and patron of the arts. She is the widow of John Smith, the former Labour Party leader....
. Her mother's status as Baron
Baron
Baron is a title of nobility. The word baron comes from Old French baron, itself from Old High German and Latin baro meaning " man, warrior"; it merged with cognate Old English beorn meaning "nobleman"...
ess affords her the right to use "the Honourable" before her forename. The John Smith Memorial Trust, on whose Advisory Council she sits, lists her as "The Hon. Sarah Smith". Her godmother is Glasgow Herald
The Herald (Glasgow)
The Herald is a broadsheet newspaper published Monday to Saturday in Glasgow, and available throughout Scotland. As of August 2011 it had an audited circulation of 47,226, giving it a lead over Scotland's other 'quality' national daily, The Scotsman, published in Edinburgh.The 1889 to 1906 editions...
journalist Ruth Wishart.
Career
Smith began her journalistic career in 1989 as a graduate trainee with BBC ScotlandBBC Scotland
BBC Scotland is a constituent part of the British Broadcasting Corporation, the publicly-funded broadcaster of the United Kingdom. It is, in effect, the national broadcaster for Scotland, having a considerable amount of autonomy from the BBC's London headquarters, and is run by the BBC Trust, who...
. She spent a year living and working in Belfast for BBC Northern Ireland
BBC Northern Ireland
BBC Northern Ireland is the main public service broadcaster in Northern Ireland.The organisation is one of the three national regions of the BBC, together with BBC Scotland and BBC Wales. Based at Broadcasting House, Belfast, it provides television, radio, online and interactive television content...
, during which time she was held at gunpoint by the Ulster Defence Association
Ulster Defence Association
The Ulster Defence Association is the largest although not the deadliest loyalist paramilitary and vigilante group in Northern Ireland. It was formed in September 1971 and undertook a campaign of almost twenty-four years during "The Troubles"...
(UDA) in its West Belfast headquarters.
In 1991, Smith moved to London as an assistant producer with BBC Youth Programmes, working on Rough Guide, Rapido and Reportage. Two years later she moved to news and current affairs, first as assistant producer with the Public Eye and Here & Now programmes, joining Newsnight as a producer in 1994.
She came to Channel 4 from 5 News where she was reporter for two years. Previously she had worked as a producer for 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...
on programmes as diverse as Newsnight
Newsnight
Newsnight is a BBC Television current affairs programme noted for its in-depth analysis and often robust cross-examination of senior politicians. Jeremy Paxman has been its main presenter for over two decades....
, Public Eye and Rough Guides.
Personal life
Smith married Simon Conway, an author and co-chair of the Cluster Munition CoalitionCluster Munition Coalition
The Cluster Munition Coalition is an international civil society movement campaigning against the use, production, stockpiling and transfer of cluster munitions. Cluster munitions are a type of explosive weapon widely stockpiled by more than 80 states...
, on the island of Iona
Iona
Iona is a small island in the Inner Hebrides off the western coast of Scotland. It was a centre of Irish monasticism for four centuries and is today renowned for its tranquility and natural beauty. It is a popular tourist destination and a place for retreats...
, where her father is buried, on 22 September 2007.