Kirsty Lang
Encyclopedia
Kirsty Lang is a British
journalist and broadcaster currently working for the BBC
. Lang was raised in various parts of the world; her family were evacuated from Nigeria at the time of the Biafran war
in 1967.
, and first joined the BBC as a graduate trainee in 1986, having gained an MA in Journalism from City University, London
following a degree in International Relations from the London School of Economics
. In 1989 she became a Central European correspondent for the World Service and later a reporter on the BBCs Newsnight
.
After a spell as a member of a team working in Paris for The Sunday Times
, she became a co-presenter/reporter for Channel 4 News
(1998-2002). She returned to the BBC
when the digital channel BBC Four
was established in 2002 and has presented The World, an evening news programme (now replaced by World News Today).
Lang is a regular presenter of Radio Four's
Front Row
and has also been a stand-in anchor for The World Tonight
and other programmes.
Lang also contributes, on occasion, to various publications, and was chair of the Orange Prize for Fiction
in 2008.
with whom she has a son and two stepchildren.
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 currently working for 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...
. Lang was raised in various parts of the world; her family were evacuated from Nigeria at the time of the Biafran war
Nigerian Civil War
The Nigerian Civil War, also known as the Nigerian-Biafran War, 6 July 1967–15 January 1970, was a political conflict caused by the attempted secession of the southeastern provinces of Nigeria as the self-proclaimed Republic of Biafra...
in 1967.
Career
Lang was educated at Dartington Hall SchoolDartington Hall
The Dartington Hall Trust, near Totnes, Devon, United Kingdom is a charity specialising in the arts, social justice and sustainability.The Trust currently runs 16 charitable programmes, including The Dartington International Summer School and Schumacher Environmental College...
, and first joined the BBC as a graduate trainee in 1986, having gained an MA in Journalism from City University, London
City University, London
City University London , is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom. It was founded in 1894 as the Northampton Institute and became a university in 1966, when it adopted its present name....
following a degree in International Relations from the London School of Economics
London School of Economics
The London School of Economics and Political Science is a public research university specialised in the social sciences located in London, United Kingdom, and a constituent college of the federal University of London...
. In 1989 she became a Central European correspondent for the World Service and later a reporter on the BBCs 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....
.
After a spell as a member of a team working in Paris for The Sunday Times
The Sunday Times (UK)
The Sunday Times is a Sunday broadsheet newspaper, distributed in the United Kingdom. The Sunday Times is published by Times Newspapers Ltd, a subsidiary of News International, which is in turn owned by News Corporation. Times Newspapers also owns The Times, but the two papers were founded...
, she became a co-presenter/reporter for Channel 4 News
Channel 4 News
Channel 4 News is the news division of British television broadcaster Channel 4. It is produced by ITN, and has been in operation since the broadcaster's launch in 1982.-Channel 4 News:...
(1998-2002). She returned 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...
when the digital channel BBC Four
BBC Four
BBC Four is a British television network operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation and available to digital television viewers on Freeview, IPTV, satellite and cable....
was established in 2002 and has presented The World, an evening news programme (now replaced by World News Today).
Lang is a regular presenter of Radio Four's
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...
Front Row
Front Row (radio)
Front Row is a radio programme broadcast on BBC Radio 4. The BBC describes the programme as a "live magazine programme on the world of arts, literature, film, media and music." It is broadcast each week day between 7.15 and 7.45 and has a of highlights available for download. Shows usually include...
and has also been a stand-in anchor for The World Tonight
The World Tonight
The World Tonight is a British current affairs radio programme broadcast on BBC Radio 4, every weekday evening, which started out as an extension of the 10pm news. It features news, analysis and comment on domestic and world issues...
and other programmes.
Lang also contributes, on occasion, to various publications, and was chair of the Orange Prize for Fiction
Orange Prize for Fiction
The Orange Prize for Fiction is one of the United Kingdom's most prestigious literary prizes, annually awarded to a female author of any nationality for the best original full-length novel written in English, and published in the United Kingdom in the preceding year...
in 2008.
Personal life
Kirsty Lang is married to the journalist and Balkans specialist Misha GlennyMisha Glenny
Misha Glenny is a British journalist who specializes in southeastern Europe and global organized crime.-Biography:Glenny is the son of the late Russian studies academic Michael Glenny...
with whom she has a son and two stepchildren.
External links
- "The Baby I Just Had to Have" Evening Standard, 13 February 2006 - autobiographical article on single motherhood