Sophie Long
Encyclopedia
Sophie Long is an English
journalist
who works for BBC News
, mainly appearing as a presenter on the BBC News Channel.
when her parents moved there. After graduating from King's College London
with a degree in War Studies, she worked as an election monitor in Cambodia
. Long returned to the UK, working for Reuters
news agency before moving to ITN as a newsroom assistant in London
.
, Long studied for a diploma in broadcast journalism at Falmouth College of Arts. On graduation, she worked at BBC Radio Cornwall
and as a reporter for Spotlight
, before joining the BBC's News Training Scheme, working for BBC Radio Shropshire
and BBC Hereford and Worcester
.
Long then became a news presenter for Midlands Today
breakfast and lunchtime slots, before returning to Plymouth
to become a main presenter on Spotlight. Long also presented the South West issue of The Politics Show
, before moving to be a stand-in presenter and News Correspondent on the BBC News Channel. She soon gave up reporting to cover Annita McVeigh
's maternity leave, presenting between 7pm and 10pm on Fridays, and between 7pm and midnight on Saturdays and Sundays alongside Chris Lowe
, as well as occasionally filling in during the week. She became the presenter of the weekend on the 4-7pm shift on Saturdays and worked as a general relief presenter, particularly on weekday afternoons alongside Jon Sopel and Julian Worricker
respectively. She has presented BBC Breakfast
, BBC Weekend News, the 8pm summary and daytime BBC One news updates.
In May 2010 she travelled with Nick Clegg during the general election campaign, and in March 2011 reported live for the BBC News Channel from Central London during the ant-cuts protest march.
On July 27, 2011, she provided reports and coverage from the Olympic Park site, which is home to various venues and stadia for the 2012 Summer Olympic Games in London, UK, on the day the UK celebrated the year to go milestone.
In Nov 2011, Sophie travelled to the Middle East on a fact finding mission, visiting campaigning groups in Israel and the West Bank, and meeting Israeli and Palestinian leaders}}
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
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...
who works for BBC News
BBC News
BBC News is the department of the British Broadcasting Corporation responsible for the gathering and broadcasting of news and current affairs. The department is the world's largest broadcast news organisation and generates about 120 hours of radio and television output each day, as well as online...
, mainly appearing as a presenter on the BBC News Channel.
Early life
Long was born in Torquay, and in part raised in Weston-super-MareWeston-super-Mare
Weston-super-Mare is a seaside resort, town and civil parish in the unitary authority of North Somerset, which is within the ceremonial county of Somerset, England. It is located on the Bristol Channel coast, south west of Bristol, spanning the coast between the bounding high ground of Worlebury...
when her parents moved there. After graduating from King's College London
King's College London
King's College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and a constituent college of the federal University of London. King's has a claim to being the third oldest university in England, having been founded by King George IV and the Duke of Wellington in 1829, and...
with a degree in War Studies, she worked as an election monitor in Cambodia
Cambodia
Cambodia , officially known as the Kingdom of Cambodia, is a country located in the southern portion of the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia...
. Long returned to the UK, working for Reuters
Reuters
Reuters is a news agency headquartered in New York City. Until 2008 the Reuters news agency formed part of a British independent company, Reuters Group plc, which was also a provider of financial market data...
news agency before moving to ITN as a newsroom assistant 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...
.
Journalism career
After gaining a BBC scholarship, the first bursary endowed in honour of the late Jill DandoJill Dando
Jill Wendy Dando was an English journalist, television presenter and newsreader who worked for the BBC for 14 years. She was murdered by gunshot outside her home in Fulham, West London; her killer has never been identified....
, Long studied for a diploma in broadcast journalism at Falmouth College of Arts. On graduation, she worked at BBC Radio Cornwall
BBC Radio Cornwall
BBC Radio Cornwall is the BBC Local Radio service for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly in the United Kingdom. It broadcasts from its studios on Phoenix Wharf in Truro on 95.2 in the east, 96.0 on the Isles of Scilly and 103.9 in the west MHz FM, as well as on DAB.Andrew George, MP for St Ives, has...
and as a reporter for Spotlight
Spotlight (BBC South West News)
Spotlight is the BBC's regional news programme for the southwest of England, covering Cornwall, Devon, West Dorset, and Somerset. There is also a special version of the programme for viewers in the Channel Islands. The main version of the programme broadcasts between 18:30 and 18:58 on weekdays,...
, before joining the BBC's News Training Scheme, working for BBC Radio Shropshire
BBC Radio Shropshire
BBC Radio Shropshire is the BBC Local Radio service for the English county of Shropshire. Launched on 23 April 1985 it broadcasts from its studios in Shrewsbury on 96 , 90 , 95 , 104.1 FM and DAB...
and BBC Hereford and Worcester
BBC Hereford and Worcester
BBC Hereford and Worcester is the BBC Local Radio service for the English counties of Herefordshire and Worcestershire. It broadcasts from its studios in both Worcester and Hereford on 104 , 104.4 104.6 and 94.7 FM; as well as 738 and 1584 MW on AM...
.
Long then became a news presenter for Midlands Today
Midlands Today
Midlands Today is the BBC's regional television news programme for the West Midlands region, which covers the north of Gloucestershire, Herefordshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire, Worcestershire and the West Midlands county...
breakfast and lunchtime slots, before returning to Plymouth
Plymouth
Plymouth is a city and unitary authority area on the coast of Devon, England, about south-west of London. It is built between the mouths of the rivers Plym to the east and Tamar to the west, where they join Plymouth Sound...
to become a main presenter on Spotlight. Long also presented the South West issue of The Politics Show
The Politics Show
The Politics Show is an hour long BBC One television political programme broadcast in the United Kingdom on Sundays. The programme usually starts at midday, but is often earlier or later when sporting events clash in the schedules. It was launched in 2003 and was originally presented by Jeremy...
, before moving to be a stand-in presenter and News Correspondent on the BBC News Channel. She soon gave up reporting to cover Annita McVeigh
Annita McVeigh
Annita McVeigh is a newsreader on the BBC's 24 hour channel BBC News.-Early life:McVeigh completed the NUJ National Council for the Training of Journalists Pre-entry course at the Belfast College of Further and Higher Education 1991-1992...
's maternity leave, presenting between 7pm and 10pm on Fridays, and between 7pm and midnight on Saturdays and Sundays alongside Chris Lowe
Chris Lowe (journalist)
John Christopher Lowe is a news presenter who worked for BBC News for 37 years until his retirement on 4 January 2009.-Education:...
, as well as occasionally filling in during the week. She became the presenter of the weekend on the 4-7pm shift on Saturdays and worked as a general relief presenter, particularly on weekday afternoons alongside Jon Sopel and Julian Worricker
Julian Worricker
Julian Worricker is a British journalist, currently working as a presenter of You and Yours on BBC Radio 4 and a relief presenter on BBC News, the corporation's 24 hour rolling news channel...
respectively. She has presented BBC Breakfast
BBC Breakfast
BBC Breakfast is the morning television news programme simulcast on BBC One and the BBC News channel. It is presented live from BBC Television Centre in White City, West London, and contains a mixture of news, sport, weather, business and feature items...
, BBC Weekend News, the 8pm summary and daytime BBC One news updates.
In May 2010 she travelled with Nick Clegg during the general election campaign, and in March 2011 reported live for the BBC News Channel from Central London during the ant-cuts protest march.
On July 27, 2011, she provided reports and coverage from the Olympic Park site, which is home to various venues and stadia for the 2012 Summer Olympic Games in London, UK, on the day the UK celebrated the year to go milestone.
In Nov 2011, Sophie travelled to the Middle East on a fact finding mission, visiting campaigning groups in Israel and the West Bank, and meeting Israeli and Palestinian leaders}}