Jenni Murray
Encyclopedia
Dame Jennifer Susan "Jenni" Murray, DBE
(née
Bailey; born 12 May 1950, Barnsley
, Yorkshire
) is a British
journalist and broadcaster. She attended Barnsley Girls High School and has a degree in French and Drama from Hull University
. Early in her career she worked for BBC Radio Bristol
and the local news programme South Today
and was a newsreader and later one of the presenters of the BBC's Newsnight
programme for two years from 1983.
Murray, a feminist, is best known as a presenter on BBC Radio 4
's Woman's Hour
, which she joined in 1987. She also presents Radio 4's The Message, and was formerly a presenter on the Today
programme. Murray is also a patron of the Family Planning Association
and vice president of Parkinson's UK.
On 21 December 2006, Murray announced at the end of Woman's Hour that she had been diagnosed with breast cancer
. She informed her audience that her prognosis was good; she did indeed return early in 2007. She reported that the most emotionally upsetting moment was losing her hair, and used this as an item on the centrality of hair to definitions of femininity.
In November 2007 it was announced that Murray had been named Patron of British medical research charity, Breast Cancer Campaign
. In 2008, she had a hip replacement following avascular necrosis
(perhaps due to chemotherapy). She is a distinguished supporter of the British Humanist Association.
She was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for services to broadcasting in 1999 and Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) in the 2011 Birthday Honours
.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(née
NEE
NEE is a political protest group whose goal was to provide an alternative for voters who are unhappy with all political parties at hand in Belgium, where voting is compulsory.The NEE party was founded in 2005 in Antwerp...
Bailey; born 12 May 1950, Barnsley
Barnsley
Barnsley is a town in South Yorkshire, England. It lies on the River Dearne, north of the city of Sheffield, south of Leeds and west of Doncaster. Barnsley is surrounded by several smaller settlements which together form the Metropolitan Borough of Barnsley, of which Barnsley is the largest and...
, Yorkshire
Yorkshire
Yorkshire is a historic county of northern England and the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its great size in comparison to other English counties, functions have been increasingly undertaken over time by its subdivisions, which have also been subject to periodic reform...
) is a British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
journalist and broadcaster. She attended Barnsley Girls High School and has a degree in French and Drama from Hull University
University of Hull
The University of Hull, known informally as Hull University, is an English university, founded in 1927, located in Hull, a city in the East Riding of Yorkshire...
. Early in her career she worked for BBC Radio Bristol
BBC Radio Bristol
BBC Radio Bristol is the BBC Local Radio service for the English city of Bristol and the surrounding former Avon area. Launched in September 1970, it broadcasts from Broadcasting House in Bristol on FM frequencies 94.9 MHz , 104.6 MHz , 103.6 MHz , on AM 1548 kHz and on DAB.The...
and the local news programme South Today
South Today
South Today is the BBC's regional television news programme for East Dorset, Hampshire, the Isle of Wight, Berkshire, West Sussex and the western fringes of Surrey...
and was a newsreader and later one of the presenters of the BBC's Newsnight
Newsnight
Newsnight is a BBC Television current affairs programme noted for its in-depth analysis and often robust cross-examination of senior politicians. Jeremy Paxman has been its main presenter for over two decades....
programme for two years from 1983.
Murray, a feminist, is best known as a presenter on BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4 is a British domestic radio station, operated and owned by the BBC, that broadcasts a wide variety of spoken-word programmes, including news, drama, comedy, science and history. It replaced the BBC Home Service in 1967. The station controller is currently Gwyneth Williams, and the...
's Woman's Hour
Woman's Hour
Woman's Hour is a radio magazine programme broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in the United Kingdom.-History:Created by Norman Collins and originally presented by Alan Ivimey the programme was first broadcast on 7 October 1946 on the BBC's Light Programme . It was transferred to its current home in 1973...
, which she joined in 1987. She also presents Radio 4's The Message, and was formerly a presenter on the Today
Today programme
Today is BBC Radio 4's long-running early morning news and current affairs programme, now broadcast from 6.00 am to 9.00 am Monday to Friday, and 7.00 am to 9.00 am on Saturdays. It is also the most popular programme on Radio 4 and one of the BBC's most popular programmes across its radio networks...
programme. Murray is also a patron of the Family Planning Association
Family Planning Association
FPA is a UK registered charity working to enable people to make informed choices about sex and to enjoy sexual health. It is the national affiliate for the International Planned Parenthood Federation in the United Kingdom. It celebrated its 80th anniversary in 2010...
and vice president of Parkinson's UK.
On 21 December 2006, Murray announced at the end of Woman's Hour that she had been diagnosed with breast cancer
Breast cancer
Breast cancer is cancer originating from breast tissue, most commonly from the inner lining of milk ducts or the lobules that supply the ducts with milk. Cancers originating from ducts are known as ductal carcinomas; those originating from lobules are known as lobular carcinomas...
. She informed her audience that her prognosis was good; she did indeed return early in 2007. She reported that the most emotionally upsetting moment was losing her hair, and used this as an item on the centrality of hair to definitions of femininity.
In November 2007 it was announced that Murray had been named Patron of British medical research charity, Breast Cancer Campaign
Breast Cancer Campaign
Breast Cancer Campaign is a breast cancer research charity based in the United Kingdom.The charity's mission is to "beat breast cancer by funding innovative world-class research to understand how breast cancer develops, leading to improved diagnosis, treatment and cure." According to its website,...
. In 2008, she had a hip replacement following avascular necrosis
Avascular necrosis
Avascular necrosis is a disease where there is cellular death of bone components due to interruption of the blood supply. Without blood, the bone tissue dies and the bone collapses...
(perhaps due to chemotherapy). She is a distinguished supporter of the British Humanist Association.
She was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for services to broadcasting in 1999 and Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) in the 2011 Birthday Honours
2011 Birthday Honours
The Birthday Honours 2011 for the Commonwealth Realms were announced on 7 June 2011 in New Zealand and 11 June 2011 in United Kingdom to celebrate the Queen's Birthday of 2011.-Privy Councillors:...
.