Justin Webb

Justin Oliver Webb (born 3 January 1961 [Who's Who 2008] ) is a British journalist who has worked for the BBC since 1984. He was educated at Sidcot School, a Friend's School in Avon, and the London School of Economics, where he was editor of the student newspaper, The Beaver.

In December 2007 he became North American Editor for BBC News, a role newly created in time for the American presidential election which began taking place in 2008. . [ [http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/broadcasting/a79293/bbc-appoints-north-america-editor.html] BBC Website accessed November 19, 2007] He replaced Matt Frei who moved to present the new World News America bulletin. Webb was previously the BBC's chief Washington correspondent from 2001. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/newswatch/ukfs/hi/newsid_3560000/newsid_3568900/3568925.stm] BBC Website accessed February 8, 2008]

He raised eyebrows within the BBC in 2006 when, at a seminar on impartiality, he claimed the corporation was anti-American and treated the US with "scorn and derision", according it "no moral weight". [ [http://theamericanexpatinuk.blogspot.com/2006/01/justin-webb-apologizes-for-offending.html] The American Expatriate blog. Website accessed November 19, 2007] He has also presented a Radio 4 series on anti-Americanism. [ [http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2007/nov/05/bbc.television?gusrc=rss&feed=media] Media Gurdian article Monday November 5 2007. Website accessed November 18, 2007]

Webb joined the BBC as a graduate trainee in 1984 working in Northern Ireland for BBC Radio Ulster based in Belfast. He then worked as a reporter for BBC Radio 4's "Today" programme, before becoming a foreign affairs correspondent based in London and covering news around the world. He reported on the Gulf War and the war in Bosnia, the collapse of the Soviet Union and the first democratic elections in South Africa.

Before arriving in Washington he was a BBC News presenter based in London and the main presenter on BBC One's "Breakfast News" programme from 1992 to 1997. He also presented the BBC's "One" and "Six O'Clock News" bulletins and presented BBC Radio 4's "The World Tonight" from 1997-1998. From 1988 he spent three years working as the BBC's Europe correspondent based in Brussels. During that time he reported on the workings of the European Commission and Parliament, the politics surrounding Britain's decision on whether to join the single currency and the enlargement on the European Union.

Since November 2007, Webb has maintained a regularly-updated blog on the BBC website.

References

Reflist

External links

* [http://www.bbcworld.com/content/template_clickpage.asp?pageid=178 BBC World biography]
* [http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/justinwebb/ Justin Webb's BBC blog]