Channel 4 News appoints BBC London reporter Paraic O’Brien
Channel 4 News has announced that BBC London’s Investigations Reporter Paraic O’Brien is set to join the 7pm programme as a reporter.
Currently working at BBC London as Investigations Reporter, also working for Newsnight and the One Show on occasion, Paraic joins following a significant series of changes to the 7pm bulletin. He will join the London newsroom – in a further boost to the programme’s team of UK journalists.
Working in television news for 10 years, Paraic was the first BBC reporter on the ground in Brixton and Croydon as riots broke out this summer. He has also covered the Pope’s meeting with victims of clerical abuse for the BBC News Channel and worked on a Newsnight investigation into the English Defence League. Previously, he worked for BBC Radio reporting for Radio 4. He joined the BBC as a trainee in 2001.
At Channel 4 News, he will take responsibility for stories across the editorial agenda. Paraic will be tasked with bringing a range of domestic stories to audiences with insight, analysis and distinctive character. He will also generate content for the Channel 4 News website and engage with viewers through social media, in common with the rest of the onscreen team.
He is the latest to join the programme’s team of journalists reporting on the UK in a year that has seen Jackie Long join as Social Affairs Editor and Morland Sanders join as North of England Correspondent. Separately, Matt Frei has taken the role of Washington Correspondent, (also joining Jon Snow, Krishnan Guru-Murthy and Cathy Newman on the presenting team) and Liam Dutton has joined as the programme’s first ever Weather Presenter.
Jim Gray, Editor, Channel 4 News, says: “The reporter role at Channel 4 News is a demanding one – requiring the versatility to apply distinctive, memorable journalism across the editorial agenda to domestic stories, and on occasion, beyond. We think Paraic’s tremendous onscreen presence and proven skill for investigation means he will fit the bill perfectly.”
Paraic O’Brien, Reporter, Channel 4 News says: “Channel 4 News still manages to surprise. It surprises with its scoops, it surprises with its storytelling. It’s a fantastic time to be joining the programme, and I’ll be looking to tell stories with the creativity and character that Channel 4 News’ remit allows and indeed, encourages.”