Julian Pettifer
Encyclopedia
Julian Pettifer OBE
(born 21 July 1935 in Malmesbury, England
) is a British television
journalist. He was President of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds
and is Vice President of the Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts
. He was voted Bafta 'Reporter of the Year' for his coverage of the war in Vietnam
in 1968.
After Marlborough College
and St John's College, Cambridge
, he started work in television during the early days of ITV
, as one of the original Southern Television
announcers in 1958. He later moved to the BBC
as a globe-trotting reporter for programmes such as Tonight
, 24 Hours
and Panorama
. He also wrote and presented a number of documentaries for both BBC and ITV, including Diamonds in the Sky, on the subject of international air travel; Automania, a history of the motor car, and Missionaries.
A growing interest in the environment led to him writing and presenting programmes about the environment and wildlife including Naturewatch for Central Television, Nature, and The Living Isles for the BBC. He continued to report on current affairs, contributing reports for BBC Two's Assignment and Correspondent programmes, and a highly-praised film for Channel 4
that re-examined the reporting of the Vietnam war. He presented BBC Radio 4
's Asiafile and now presents their Crossing Continents
.
Pettifer was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2010 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...
(born 21 July 1935 in Malmesbury, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
) is a British television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
journalist. He was President of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds
Royal Society for the Protection of Birds
Bird Notes and News was first published in April 1903.The title changed to 'Bird Notes' in 1947. In the 1950s, there were four copies per year . Each volume covered two years, spread over three calendar years...
and is Vice President of the Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts
Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts
The Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts or RSWT is a registered charity, incorporated by Royal Charter to promote conservation and manage environmental funds...
. He was voted Bafta 'Reporter of the Year' for his coverage of the war in Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
in 1968.
After Marlborough College
Marlborough College
Marlborough College is a British co-educational independent school for day and boarding pupils, located in Marlborough, Wiltshire.Founded in 1843 for the education of the sons of Church of England clergy, the school now accepts both boys and girls of all beliefs. Currently there are just over 800...
and St John's College, Cambridge
St John's College, Cambridge
St John's College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. The college's alumni include nine Nobel Prize winners, six Prime Ministers, three archbishops, at least two princes, and three Saints....
, he started work in television during the early days of ITV
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
, as one of the original Southern Television
Southern Television
Southern Television was the first ITV broadcasting licence holder for the south and south-east of England from 30 August 1958 until the night of 31 December 1981. The company was launched as Southern Television Limited and the title Southern Television was consistently used on-air throughout its life...
announcers in 1958. He later moved to the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
as a globe-trotting reporter for programmes such as Tonight
Tonight (1957 TV series)
Tonight was a BBC television current affairs programme presented by Cliff Michelmore and broadcast in Britain live on weekday evenings from February 1957 to 1965. The producers were the future Controller of BBC1 Donald Baverstock and the future Director-General of the BBC Alasdair Milne...
, 24 Hours
24 Hours
24 Hours and 24 Heures is a chain of free daily newspapers published in Canada by Sun Media, a subsidiary of Quebecor Media...
and Panorama
Panorama (TV series)
Panorama is a BBC Television current affairs documentary programme, which was first broadcast in 1953, and is the longest-running public affairs television programme in the world. Panorama has been presented by many well known BBC presenters, including Richard Dimbleby, Robin Day, David Dimbleby...
. He also wrote and presented a number of documentaries for both BBC and ITV, including Diamonds in the Sky, on the subject of international air travel; Automania, a history of the motor car, and Missionaries.
A growing interest in the environment led to him writing and presenting programmes about the environment and wildlife including Naturewatch for Central Television, Nature, and The Living Isles for the BBC. He continued to report on current affairs, contributing reports for BBC Two's Assignment and Correspondent programmes, and a highly-praised film for 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...
that re-examined the reporting of the Vietnam war. He presented 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 Asiafile and now presents their Crossing Continents
Crossing Continents
Crossing Continents is a half-hour BBC Radio 4 documentary programme, focusing on foreign affairs issues through on-location journalism and interviews from various parts of the world...
.
Pettifer was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2010 Birthday Honours.