| Sophie Long | |
|---|---|
| Born | Sophie Long 1976 (age 35–36) Torquay |
| Occupation | Journalist, Newsreader |
| Ethnicity | English |
| Notable credit(s) | Spotlight BBC News Channel |
Sophie Long (born 1977 in Torquay),[1] is an English journalist who works for BBC News, mainly appearing as a presenter on the BBC News Channel.
Long was born in Torquay, and in part raised in Weston-super-Mare when her parents moved there. After graduating from King's College London with a degree in War Studies, she worked as an election monitor in Cambodia. Long returned to the UK, working for Reuters news agency before moving to ITN as a newsroom assistant in London.
After gaining a BBC scholarship, the first bursary endowed in honour of the late Jill Dando,[2] Long studied for a diploma in broadcast journalism at Falmouth College of Arts. On graduation, she worked at BBC Radio Cornwall and as a reporter for Spotlight,[3] before joining the BBC's News Training Scheme, working for BBC Radio Shropshire and BBC Hereford and Worcester.
Long then became a news presenter for Midlands Today breakfast and lunchtime slots, before returning to Plymouth to become a main presenter on Spotlight.[4] Long also presented the South West issue of The Politics Show, before moving to be a stand-in presenter and News Correspondent on the BBC News Channel. She soon gave up reporting to cover Annita McVeigh's maternity leave, presenting between 7pm and 10pm on Fridays, and between 7pm and midnight on Saturdays and Sundays alongside Chris Lowe, as well as occasionally filling in during the week. She became the presenter of the weekend on the 4-7pm shift on Saturdays and worked as a general relief presenter, particularly on weekday afternoons alongside Jon Sopel and Julian Worricker respectively. She has presented BBC Breakfast, BBC Weekend News, the 8pm summary and daytime BBC One news updates.
In May 2010 she travelled with Nick Clegg during the general election campaign, and in March 2011 reported live for the BBC News Channel from Central London during the ant-cuts protest march.
On July 27, 2011, she provided reports and coverage from the Olympic Park site, which is home to various venues and stadia for the 2012 Summer Olympic Games in London, UK, on the day the UK celebrated the year to go milestone.
In Nov 2011, Sophie travelled to the Middle East on a fact finding mission with the Britain Israel Communications and Research Centre (BICOM), visiting campaigning groups in Israel and the West Bank, and meeting Israeli and Palestinian leaders.[5]