Channel 4 News assigns health & social care and sports briefs

21 June 2011

Channel 4 News: Victoria Macdonald and Keme Nzerem

Channel 4 News has announced two new roles within its onscreen team, as part of a series of changes to the programme.

Last year Channel 4 News announced that it would expand its coverage in social affairs and sports as part of a renewed commitment to reflecting the issues Modern Britain cares about.

Victoria Macdonald, currently Social Affairs Correspondent, will take on the newly-created role of Health & Social Care Correspondent. This role will focus on the delivery of health care and the impact on patients, including treatments, drugs, and ethical issues. It also includes social care and the welfare of the elderly, the disabled and the vulnerable.  Previously a Sunday Telegraph journalist, Victoria Macdonald has been at the programme since 1999. Most recently, she has broken stories on ADHD drugs being prescribed to children under six and on how GPs stood to profit from the planned NHS reforms.

Reporter Keme Nzerem will become Sports Reporter. After ten years at the programme, he has been tasked with leading a new focus on sports news. The role is expected to combine sports action - highlights of matches and events - with original journalism and investigative projects. Disabled sport will also be a key area of the agenda, in reflection of Channel 4's role as broadcaster of the Paralympic Games. Reporting in this area will explore some of the key controversies and debates in order to engage with the disabled sports community and beyond.

These changes are part of a period of change that has already seen the programme's website relaunched, and a series of new appointments. Cathy Newman will become the programme's third regular presenter alongside Jon Snow and Krishnan Guru-Murthy. Matt Frei will also join from the BBC as Washington Correspondent, and he will also present the programme on occasion throughout the year. And the programme has also appointed Newsnight's Jackie Long to the newly created role of Social Affairs Editor. 

Victoria Macdonald, Health & Social Care Correspondent, Channel 4 News, said: "The reforms and upheavals in health and social care affect everyone in one way or another.  From the plans for the NHS, to the massive changes in the welfare system, to the problems thrown up by the ageing population, it will be my job to report and analyse what is going on and explain how it will impact on all of us."

Keme Nzerem, Sports Reporter, Channel 4 News, said: "Our sports coverage should reflect the way our viewers feel about sport, and that means ranging from unparalleled excitement to well-informed scepticism. Our coverage will champion the values we bring to every story - dogged determination to get to the truth, with a spot of mischief. It's going to be great to put a Channel 4 News stamp on this area of the news agenda."

Martin Fewell, Deputy Editor, Channel 4 News, added: "Creating these new roles is a signal of our intent to expand our coverage in these areas. We know that the issues in health and social care are top of the list when it comes to viewer concerns - and on more than one occasion this year, sport news has headlined our programme, whether that be through FIFA, Olympic tickets or cricket match fixing. Expect to see even more from us in these areas now we have the best people on the case."

Dorothy Byrne, Head of News & Current Affairs at Channel 4, says: "Victoria has undertaken a number of important and revelatory investigations into this field, and health and social care are currently at the forefront of the agenda. We've created the new role to reflect this and, more importantly, Victoria's achievements in this area. And Keme's passion for sport and his fresh take on the sports agenda have convinced us that with him in this specialist role, Channel Four News can bring new attitude to sports reporting in this country."