Daniel Pearl appointed Deputy Head of News and Current Affairs

Channel 4 has announced the promotion of Daniel Pearl to the role of Deputy Head of News and Current Affairs. 

Pearl will now have responsibility for the day to day oversight of Channel 4 News whilst continuing to edit Dispatches, Channel 4’s award winning current affairs strand.  Pearl will continue to report to Dorothy Byrne, Channel 4's Head of News & Current Affairs.

Since joining Channel 4 in early 2012, Dispatches has had significant success breaking agenda setting stories including ‘Plebgate’ and revelations that undercover police officers were asked to find evidence that could be used to discredit the family of Stephen Lawrence. 

This year Channel 4 Dispatches was awarded a BAFTA and both the home and international current affairs awards at the RTS.  

Dorothy Byrne, Head of News and Current Affairs says:  “This marks Daniel's great contribution to Channel 4’s journalism. Dispatches is in strong form both winning awards and bringing populist investigations to the audience.  He has been a creative powerhouse. "

Pearl has almost 20 years' experience producing, editing and commissioning high profile news and current affairs television.  Prior to joining Channel 4, he was the Deputy Editor at BBC Panorama and has also edited the BBC’s Ten O'clock News and Newsnight.  In 2010 he was appointed to the high-profile role of Editor of the BBC's Prime Ministerial Election Debate.