John Tusa

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Sir John Tusa (born 2 March 1936) is a Czech-born British television journalist and manager of arts and broadcasting organisations. Previously a presenter of the BBC Newsnight (from its inception in 1979) and 24 hours TV programmes, he went on to become managing director of the BBC World Service (1986-1993). Following this he became a newsreader on BBC television for 2 years. Since 1995 he has been managing director (1995-current) of the Barbican Arts Centre in the City of London and is also chairman of the board of the Wigmore Hall in London.

Born in Czechoslovakia in March, 1936, Tusa moved to England with his family in 1939. His father, also John Tusa, was managing director of British Bata Shoes, established by the Czech shoe company, which, following its international pattern, also created a pioneering work-living community around its factory in Tilbury, Essex. John Tusa, Senior, flew on a Bata company plane on a rather precarious flight out of Czechoslovakia, via Poland, Yugoslavia and France, two days before the German occupation of Czechoslovakia, which took place on 15 March 1939. He then became general manager of the Bata factory and its associated village in East Tilbury, where his son grew up.

John Tusa Jnr. was educated at St. Faith's School, Cambridge, and at Gresham's School, Holt and then at Trinity College, Cambridge, before joining the BBC as a trainee in 1960. He continues to write and broadcast widely. Among his written output, he wrote two books jointly with his historian wife Ann Tusa: The Nuremberg Trial (1983) and The Berlin Blockade (1988).

John Tusa's most recent book is Engaged with the Arts: Writings from the Frontline (published I.B.Tauris, London & New York, February 2007. ISBN 978 1 84511 424 4) which explores ways that the arts can be encouraged within a cultural and political climate in which funding is ever threatened.

After retiring from his BBC World Service post, John Tusa has been critical of some BBC policies. He deprecated the former director general John Birt's focus and management style and has been vociferous about subsequent decisions to pare down World Service activities in Europe, including the Czech section [[1]].

John Tusa was awarded a knighthood in the Queen's birthday honours list in June 2003.