ITV News is gearing-up for an exciting sporting calendar with the appointment of Tim Ewart as Sports Editor. Ewart, formerly Africa Correspondent for the channel, will lead a new combined Sports unit for ITV1 and the ITV News Channel, supported by a six strong team, as part of a major new sports drive for ITV News.
Ewart will take on a wide-ranging brief covering the whole sporting arena when he takes up his position in September, focusing on the forthcoming events of the rugby world cup; 2004 Olympics, plus London’s Olympic bid; Euro 2004 and the World Cup. Ewart will also be tasked with getting under the skin of stories, looking at boardroom battles and the politics behind the sporting headlines.
ITV News will shortly announce the appointment of a senior level deputy to work with Tim to compliment the team already in place, consisting of Alex Thomas, Nick Bashford and Joanna Gasiorowska as sports reporters, plus Felicity Barr who will continue to front ITV’s weekend sports bulletins and a video journalist, Simon Ellis-Jones.
Tim Ewart has been Africa Correspondent since the beginning of 1998, most recently reporting on the Zimbabwe crisis, including the furore surrounding the England cricket team’s decision not to play in Zimbabwe.
Tim, 54, first joined ITN in 1981 and spent the 80’s and early 90’s as a foreign correspondent. He was based in Moscow for two years, spent nearly four years in Washington and two in Warsaw. Tim left ITN in 1993 before re-joining in 1996 as a Senior News Correspondent.
Jonathan Munro, Assistant editor, ITV News said: ‘At a time when sport is taking centre stage of the news agenda, we’re bringing in one of our biggest hitters to front our coverage. Sport is a massive talking point with our viewers and with ITV the home of Premiership, Champions League, Formula One and the rugby world cup, this underlines our determination to ensure our viewers gain the quality of reporting they deserve.’
Tim Ewart said: ‘It’s a brilliant opportunity for me and I’m very excited about it. ITN has had some outstanding people covering sport in the past: Trevor McDonald, Mark Austin and Jeremy Thompson and I know what an important role it is. I’m a big sports fan and can’t wait to get going.’
Neil Connery will take over as Africa Correspondent, based in Johannesburg, with John Irvine moving over to Bangkok as Asia Correspondent and Julian Manyon will be returning to the Jerusalem Bureau for a second stint as Middle East Correspondent.
For further information contact:
ITV News Press Office
Lucy Goodwin
Tel: 020 7430 4825