Felicity Barr
Encyclopedia
Felicity Barr is a British journalist
working for Al Jazeera English.
, before she specialised in sports reporting, covering events in sport since 1994 when she worked as a freelance journalist. Five years after starting in radio
, she moved to television
and in 1996 joined Meridian Broadcasting
as presenter for sports programme A406.
in 1999, covering sporting events and she also presented LWT's Goals Extra programme. Barr joined ITV News
in the summer of 2001 as its first ever female sports correspondent. Her first major assignment was covering the Wimbledon
tennis
tournament. During her time at ITV News, her role was extended to a relief newsreader on weekends and the ITV Lunchtime and Evening News. In the summer of 2004, Barr covered the Olympic Games
live from Athens
.
Until late 2005, she combined her role as sports presenter on the News At Ten Thirty with Trevor McDonald
, with her duties as a newsreader on the now defunct ITV News Channel
, anchoring weekdays with Steve Scott
. Barr regularly anchored live from key locations such as Westminster during major stories for both the ITV News Channel and mainstream ITV Bulletins. She was also a regular guest on Richard & Judy
on Channel 4
.
Barr currently presents the mid-week late afternoon and evening news from London for the English language Al Jazeera English service which launched on 15 November 2006. In November 2008, she anchored the US Election on location in Ohio. She has presented Talk to Al Jazeera, where she was one of the first TV journalists to interview the freed FARC hostage Ingrid Betancourt. She has also hosted The Listening Post, Al Jazeera's media show.
correspondent Paul Harrison on 19 September 2009.
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...
working for Al Jazeera English.
Early career
Barr trained as a journalist at 2-Ten FM2-Ten FM
Heart Berkshire was an Independent Local Radio station, serving Berkshire and North Hampshire from studios in Reading.-About:...
, before she specialised in sports reporting, covering events in sport since 1994 when she worked as a freelance journalist. Five years after starting in radio
Radio
Radio is the transmission of signals through free space by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space...
, she moved to television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
and in 1996 joined Meridian Broadcasting
Meridian Broadcasting
Meridian Broadcasting is the holder of the ITV franchise for the South and South East of England. The station is owned and operated by ITV plc, under the licensee of ITV Broadcasting Limited....
as presenter for sports programme A406.
Television career
Barr moved to the London News NetworkLondon News Network
London News Network was a television news and facilities organisation in London. It was created in 1992 as a joint operation between London's two ITV contractors, Carlton Television and London Weekend Television, with each company holding a 50% stake...
in 1999, covering sporting events and she also presented LWT's Goals Extra programme. Barr joined ITV News
ITV News
ITV News is the branding of news programmes on the British television network ITV. Since 1955, ITV's news bulletins have been produced by Independent Television News . The channel's news coverage has won awards from the Royal Television Society, Emmy Awards and BAFTAs. Between 2004 and 2008, the...
in the summer of 2001 as its first ever female sports correspondent. Her first major assignment was covering the Wimbledon
The Championships, Wimbledon
The Championships, Wimbledon, or simply Wimbledon , is the oldest tennis tournament in the world, considered by many to be the most prestigious. It has been held at the All England Club in Wimbledon, London since 1877. It is one of the four Grand Slam tennis tournaments, the other three Majors...
tennis
Tennis
Tennis is a sport usually played between two players or between two teams of two players each . Each player uses a racket that is strung to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over a net into the opponent's court. Tennis is an Olympic sport and is played at all levels of society at all...
tournament. During her time at ITV News, her role was extended to a relief newsreader on weekends and the ITV Lunchtime and Evening News. In the summer of 2004, Barr covered the Olympic Games
Olympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
live from Athens
Athens
Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
.
Until late 2005, she combined her role as sports presenter on the News At Ten Thirty with Trevor McDonald
Trevor McDonald
Sir Trevor McDonald OBE is a Trinidadian-British newsreader and journalist. He had a long career as a news presenter with ITN...
, with her duties as a newsreader on the now defunct ITV News Channel
ITV News Channel
The ITV News Channel was a 24-hour television news channel in the United Kingdom which broadcast from 1 August 2000 to 23 December 2005. It was available on Sky, NTL:Telewest, Freeview and analogue cable, presenting national and international news plus regular business, sport, entertainment and...
, anchoring weekdays with Steve Scott
Steve Scott (journalist)
Steve Scott is a legendary British newsreader. He was educated at Clifton College and began his career in local radio. Scott currently employed by ITN where he presents on the weekend ITV News bulletins and is the Sports Editor.-ITN:...
. Barr regularly anchored live from key locations such as Westminster during major stories for both the ITV News Channel and mainstream ITV Bulletins. She was also a regular guest on Richard & Judy
Richard & Judy
Richard & Judy was a British magazine/chat show which was presented by married couple Richard Madeley and Judy Finnigan. It originally aired on Channel 4 from 2001 to 2008 but later moved to digital channel Watch in October 2008. It featured the world's most famous stars, along with their Book Club...
on Channel 4
Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...
.
Barr currently presents the mid-week late afternoon and evening news from London for the English language Al Jazeera English service which launched on 15 November 2006. In November 2008, she anchored the US Election on location in Ohio. She has presented Talk to Al Jazeera, where she was one of the first TV journalists to interview the freed FARC hostage Ingrid Betancourt. She has also hosted The Listening Post, Al Jazeera's media show.
Charity interests
Barr is a celebrity supporter of the charity Action for Children, formerly the National Children's Home.Personal life
Barr married Sky NewsSky News
Sky News is a 24-hour British and international satellite television news broadcaster with an emphasis on UK and international news stories.The service places emphasis on rolling news, including the latest breaking news. Sky News also hosts localised versions of the channel in Australia and in New...
correspondent Paul Harrison on 19 September 2009.
External links
- Omaar to host daily show for Al Jazeera Press Gazette, 10 February 2006
- Ms Felicity Barr Authorised Biography Debretts's People of Today