Lis Howell
Encyclopedia
Lis Howell is director of broadcasting at City University, London, running the broadcasting and television journalism programmes, and also deputy head of the journalism department. She is an award-winning journalist who went on to become a senior executive in British television and also writes murder-mystery novels.
The City broadcasting courses turn out 70 postgraduates a year, several of whom get production jobs within the established news broadcasters (for instance, BBC
, ITV
, ITN, Channel Four, Sky News
and CNN
).
Howell was born in Liverpool in 1951 and was educated at the Liverpool Institute for Girls
and the University of Bristol
, where she read English Literature. She got a diploma in teacher training from Leeds Trinity & All Saints
college, carrying out work experience at Radio Leeds. Soon after, in 1974, Radio Leeds offered her a reporting job.
Three years later she became the first woman reporter at Border Television
, where she was also a presenter. She went to Granada Television
in 1979, then Tyne Tees Television
from 1981 to 1984. She then decided to quit journalism, opting to become the village postmistress at Mawbray
, in northern Cumbria, opening a small restaurant in the adjoining barn and having a baby, Alex, in 1984.
The following year she worked her way back into television, by suggesting to Border TV a programme on a mother and her baby living in a remote country area, which led to a series, Border Babes. She did another series of six shows and was then offered the job of Border’s Head of News, the first woman to be appointed to the job. She was later deputy programme controller and in 1989 was joint winner with ITN of a Royal Television Society
award for coverage of the Lockerbie air disaster
, where she broke the story and organised the incoming footage from the scene.
She became managing editor of Sky News later that year and was sent to Saudi Arabia
to organise the company’s coverage of the first Gulf War
.
She was appointed director of programmes in 1992 for breakfast television channel GMTV
, which launched on January 1, 1993, and quickly became the subject of controversy over what was termed the “F Factor”. After a Sunday Times journalist was given access to production meetings she was quoted in the press for saying that television presenters needed to be fanciable. Soon after, in February 1993, with a financial crisis hitting the new channel, she was sacked by the newly-installed chairman, Greg Dyke.
Two months later (April 1993) Howell became director of programmes at the newly-launched satellite television channel UK Living (later renamed Living TV), largely geared to women viewers and set up by four UK and US television companies and later run through the newly-set-up Flextech
. She subsequently became vice president of Flextech with responsibility for the channels Living, Trouble, Bravo and Challenge.
She quit in 1999 over policy issues and went to Harvard Business School to take the Advance Management course. She also set up a mainly-women’s website, bowlofcherries, which among other things organised events in central London. It is now being revamped as a directory for women contributors to television and radio.
As a media commentator, Howell has appeared on several television and radio programmes and written for Broadcast
magazine and the Financial Times
Creative Business special reports. She has also written articles about her work – for instance, launching a website and becoming a university lecturer – and been quoted on the skills needed by television presenters.
Howell is a member of the Local Network TV Committee, chaired by former BBC direct Greg Dyke
, which was set up in October 2010 to look into the creation of local television channels. She was chair of the Edinburgh International Television Festival
in 1999 and has chaired a judging panel for the Royal Television Society’s journalism award from 2006. She has also been a judge for, among others, the UK’s Muslim News Awards for Excellence. She is a member of Bafta
.
The City broadcasting courses turn out 70 postgraduates a year, several of whom get production jobs within the established news broadcasters (for instance, 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...
, 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...
, ITN, Channel Four, Sky News
Sky 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...
and CNN
CNN
Cable News Network is a U.S. cable news channel founded in 1980 by Ted Turner. Upon its launch, CNN was the first channel to provide 24-hour television news coverage, and the first all-news television channel in the United States...
).
Howell was born in Liverpool in 1951 and was educated at the Liverpool Institute for Girls
Liverpool Institute High School for Girls
Liverpool Institute High School for Girls, Blackburne Place, Liverpool, England, was a girls' grammar school that was established in 1874 and closed in 1984. It was situated to the north-east of Liverpool Cathedral in the area close to the University of Liverpool, off Catherine Street .-History:The...
and the University of Bristol
University of Bristol
The University of Bristol is a public research university located in Bristol, United Kingdom. One of the so-called "red brick" universities, it received its Royal Charter in 1909, although its predecessor institution, University College, Bristol, had been in existence since 1876.The University is...
, where she read English Literature. She got a diploma in teacher training from Leeds Trinity & All Saints
Leeds Trinity & All Saints
Leeds Trinity University College is an independent higher education institution which offers foundation and undergraduate degrees, as well as postgraduate qualifications...
college, carrying out work experience at Radio Leeds. Soon after, in 1974, Radio Leeds offered her a reporting job.
Three years later she became the first woman reporter at Border Television
Border Television
Border Television is the ITV franchise holder for the Border region, spanning the England/Scotland border and covering Dumfries & Galloway region, a small part of the south-west area of Ayrshire, the Scottish Borders, parts of north and west Northumberland and the majority of Cumbria...
, where she was also a presenter. She went to Granada Television
Granada Television
Granada Television is the ITV contractor for North West England. Based in Manchester since its inception, it is the only surviving original ITA franchisee from 1954 and is ITV's most successful....
in 1979, then Tyne Tees Television
Tyne Tees Television
Tyne Tees Television is the ITV television franchise for North East England and parts of North Yorkshire. As of 2009, it forms part of a non-franchise ITV Tyne Tees & Border region, shared with the ITV Border region...
from 1981 to 1984. She then decided to quit journalism, opting to become the village postmistress at Mawbray
Mawbray
Mawbray is a village in northern Cumbria, United Kingdom. It is located on the Solway Plain, approximately halfway between the coastal towns of Maryport and Silloth. The B5300, known locally as the "coast road" runs to the west of the village. The name "Mawbray" is believed to be derived from...
, in northern Cumbria, opening a small restaurant in the adjoining barn and having a baby, Alex, in 1984.
The following year she worked her way back into television, by suggesting to Border TV a programme on a mother and her baby living in a remote country area, which led to a series, Border Babes. She did another series of six shows and was then offered the job of Border’s Head of News, the first woman to be appointed to the job. She was later deputy programme controller and in 1989 was joint winner with ITN of a Royal Television Society
Royal Television Society
The Royal Television Society is a British-based educational charity for the discussion, and analysis of television in all its forms, past, present and future. It is the oldest television society in the world...
award for coverage of the Lockerbie air disaster
Pan Am Flight 103
Pan Am Flight 103 was Pan American World Airways' third daily scheduled transatlantic flight from London Heathrow Airport to New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport...
, where she broke the story and organised the incoming footage from the scene.
She became managing editor of Sky News later that year and was sent to Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia , commonly known in British English as Saudi Arabia and in Arabic as as-Sa‘ūdiyyah , is the largest state in Western Asia by land area, constituting the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula, and the second-largest in the Arab World...
to organise the company’s coverage of the first Gulf War
Gulf War
The Persian Gulf War , commonly referred to as simply the Gulf War, was a war waged by a U.N.-authorized coalition force from 34 nations led by the United States, against Iraq in response to Iraq's invasion and annexation of Kuwait.The war is also known under other names, such as the First Gulf...
.
She was appointed director of programmes in 1992 for breakfast television channel GMTV
GMTV
GMTV was the national Channel 3 breakfast television contractor, broadcasting in the United Kingdom from 1 January 1993 to 3 September 2010. It became a wholly owned subsidiary of ITV plc. in November 2009. Shortly after, ITV plc announced the programme would end...
, which launched on January 1, 1993, and quickly became the subject of controversy over what was termed the “F Factor”. After a Sunday Times journalist was given access to production meetings she was quoted in the press for saying that television presenters needed to be fanciable. Soon after, in February 1993, with a financial crisis hitting the new channel, she was sacked by the newly-installed chairman, Greg Dyke.
Two months later (April 1993) Howell became director of programmes at the newly-launched satellite television channel UK Living (later renamed Living TV), largely geared to women viewers and set up by four UK and US television companies and later run through the newly-set-up Flextech
Flextech
Living TV Group was a British television content subsidiary of British Sky Broadcasting. It is now defunct as a company but Sky Living, Sky Livingit, Sky Living Loves and Challenge are still in operation by BSkyB.-Overview:...
. She subsequently became vice president of Flextech with responsibility for the channels Living, Trouble, Bravo and Challenge.
She quit in 1999 over policy issues and went to Harvard Business School to take the Advance Management course. She also set up a mainly-women’s website, bowlofcherries, which among other things organised events in central London. It is now being revamped as a directory for women contributors to television and radio.
Teacher, media commentator, judge
Howell joined the City University journalism department as a visiting lecturer in television in 2002, started the postgraduate programme on Television Current Affairs in 2003, later becoming Director of Broadcasting while running both the current affairs and broadcast journalism courses.As a media commentator, Howell has appeared on several television and radio programmes and written for Broadcast
Broadcast
Broadcast or Broadcasting may refer to:* Broadcasting, the transmission of audio and video signals* Broadcast, an individual television program or radio program* Broadcast , an English electronic music band...
magazine and the Financial Times
Financial Times
The Financial Times is an international business newspaper. It is a morning daily newspaper published in London and printed in 24 cities around the world. Its primary rival is the Wall Street Journal, published in New York City....
Creative Business special reports. She has also written articles about her work – for instance, launching a website and becoming a university lecturer – and been quoted on the skills needed by television presenters.
Howell is a member of the Local Network TV Committee, chaired by former BBC direct Greg Dyke
Greg Dyke
Gregory "Greg" Dyke is a British media executive, journalist and broadcaster. Since the 1960s, Dyke has a long career in the UK in print and then broadcast journalism. He is credited with introducing 'tabloid' television to British broadcasting, and reviving the ratings of TV-am...
, which was set up in October 2010 to look into the creation of local television channels. She was chair of the Edinburgh International Television Festival
Edinburgh International Television Festival
The Edinburgh International Television Festival, founded in 1976, is held annually over the British August bank holiday weekend at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre....
in 1999 and has chaired a judging panel for the Royal Television Society’s journalism award from 2006. She has also been a judge for, among others, the UK’s Muslim News Awards for Excellence. She is a member of Bafta
British Academy of Film and Television Arts
The British Academy of Film and Television Arts is a charity in the United Kingdom that hosts annual awards shows for excellence in film, television, television craft, video games and forms of animation.-Introduction:...
.
Lis Howell novels
Howell has written five murder mystery novels, drawing on her experience as a television director and, more recently, as a church-goer and member of Bart’s Choir and Bart’s Chamber Choir in London.-
- After the Break. Hodder & Stoughton, 1994. ISBN 0340616989. ISBN 978-0340616987.
- The Director’s Cut. Hodder & Stoughton, 1995. ISBN 0340616997. ISBN 978-0340616994.
- A Job to Die For. Hodder & Stoughton, 1997. ISBN 0 340 61700 4
- The Flower Arranger at All Saints. Constable & Robinson, 2007. ISBN 978-1-84529-470-0. ISBN 1-84529-470-X
- The Chorister at the Abbey. Constable & Robinson, 2008. UK ISBN 978-1-84529-473-1. US ISBN 978-1-56947-508-9.