Jon Snow

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This article is about the British newscaster. For other people named Jon or John Snow, see John Snow.

Jon Snow (born September 28, 1947) is a British television newscaster on Channel 4 News, produced by ITN. He is the cousin of now-retired BBC television news presenter Peter Snow.^[1]

1 Early life
2 Journalist
3 Memorable
4 Other roles
5 Trivia
6 References
7 External links

[edit] Early life

Jon Snow was born in Ardingly, Sussex. His father was an Anglican clergyman and schoolteacher, and he was brought up at Ardingly College, a public school, where his father was headmaster. He later attended a St Edward's School in Oxford, another public school. His father would later become Bishop of Whitby.

After mixed success in his first attempt to pass his A level qualifications he moved to Yorkshire Coast College, Scarborough later where he obtained the necessary qualifications to gain a place studying law at University of Liverpool. However, he did not complete the degree, being rusticated for his part in a student protest, and opting not to return. After leaving Liverpool he worked for New Horizon Youth Centre, a day centre for young drug addicts in central London - an organisation he has remained involved with and subsequently became chairman of.

[edit] Journalist

He then joined the radio station LBC as a journalist, and then moved on to news organisation, ITN in 1976. In 1979 he was briefly engaged to fellow ITN journalist Anna Ford, who later became an equally high profile television news presenter. He has been the partner of human rights lawyer Madeleine Colvin for many years.

He served as ITN's Washington correspondent (1983-1986) and diplomatic editor (1986-1989) before becoming the main presenter of Channel 4 News in 1989. In 1992 he was the main anchor for ITN's Election Night programme, broadcast on ITV; he presented the programme alongside Sir Robin Day, Alastair Stewart, and Julia Somerville. (Previously ITN's programme had typically been presented by Sir Alastair Burnet, who left ITN in 1991. The 1992 election night programme was the only one hosted by Snow, he was replaced by Jonathan Dimbleby from 1997 onwards.) He has won several RTS Awards - two for reports from El Salvador, one for his reporting of the Kegworth air disaster, and two as "Presenter of the Year".

In 2006 he returned to radio, presenting Jon Snow Reports on Oneword Radio, a weekly show and podcast.

[edit] Memorable

One of the most memorable moments of Snow's presentation of the Channel 4 News came in 2003 when at the height of the "dodgy dossier" affair Alastair Campbell walked into the studio to rebut statements by the BBC. With no notes or preparation he questioned Campbell about the affair.^[2]

[edit] Other roles

Snow is a trustee of the National Gallery and, in this capacity, sits as a trustee also of the Tate Gallery. In the released papers of trustee meetings of the latter institution, Snow was the only trustee to seriously question the gallery's purchase of The Upper Room by Chris Ofili.

He is a Patron of Prisoners Abroad, a UK charity which supports British citizens detained outside of the UK.

He holds the ceremonial post of chancellor of Oxford Brookes University, and regularly attends ceremonial events at the University. He is also an honorary professor and guest lecturer on Stirling University's Film & Media Studies course.^[3]

From February 15, 2006 he is an honorary fellow of the Royal Institute of British Architects, an annually-conferred lifetime honour which allows recipients to use the initials Hon FRIBA after their name.^[4]

He became President of the Cyclists' Touring Club in January 2007, succeeding Phil Liggett.^[5]

[edit] Trivia

He declined an OBE, then investigated and presented a Channel 4 documentary Secrets of the Honours System.
He is well-known for his individual style, particularly colourful silk neckties and (often matching) socks.
He is a supporter of Brighton and Hove Albion F.C., and wore the official club tie for a number of broadcasts in the run up to the Second Division Playoff Final in 2004.
He is fond of cinnamon whirls.
He has an honorary degree at Aberdeen University in recognition of his services to broadcasting.
Refuses to wear any symbol which may represent his views on air; in the run up to Remembrance Day he condemned "Poppy Fascism" because "in the end there really must be more important things in life than whether a news presenter wears symbols on his lapels." ^[6]