Mark Easton
Encyclopedia
Mark Richard Erskine Easton (born 12 March 1959 in Bearsden, Glasgow
) is the Home Editor for BBC News
broadcasting on national television and radio news. He also writes a blog for the BBC, 'Mark Easton's UK' which was a finalist at the Online Journalism Awards in 2009 and winner of the Royal Statistical Society award for statistical excellence in journalism in 2010. He heads the BBC's UK Specialists Unit and has also written and presented numerous current affairs programmes including The Happiness Formula. on BBC2 in 2006 and the Crime of Our Lives for BBC Radio 4 in 2007. His programme "Judges in the Dock" for Channel 4 Dispatches saw him named Bar Council Legal Journalist of the Year (Broadcast) 2003-04.
in Winchester
.
He joined his local newspaper, the Southern Evening Echo
, in 1979 having decided upon a career in journalism after winning a game of Waddington'
s "Scoop" as a boy. He worked at Radio Victory
from 1980-1, at Radio Aire
from 1981-2 and at LBC
from 1982-6. He worked at the BBC from 1986-96 as a reporter on London Plus, BBC Breakfast News, Newsnight and Here and Now. From 1996-8 he was the Political Editor of Channel 5 and during 1998-2004 he was the Home and Social Affairs Editor of Channel 4
. Since 2004 he has been the Home Editor of BBC News.
He has a wife and four children.
Bearsden
Bearsden ) is a town in East Dunbartonshire, Scotland. It lies on the northwestern fringe of Greater Glasgow, approximately from the City Centre, and is effectively a suburb, with housing development coinciding with the introduction of a railway line in 1863, and from where the town gets its name...
) is the Home Editor for BBC News
BBC News
BBC News is the department of the British Broadcasting Corporation responsible for the gathering and broadcasting of news and current affairs. The department is the world's largest broadcast news organisation and generates about 120 hours of radio and television output each day, as well as online...
broadcasting on national television and radio news. He also writes a blog for the BBC, 'Mark Easton's UK' which was a finalist at the Online Journalism Awards in 2009 and winner of the Royal Statistical Society award for statistical excellence in journalism in 2010. He heads the BBC's UK Specialists Unit and has also written and presented numerous current affairs programmes including The Happiness Formula. on BBC2 in 2006 and the Crime of Our Lives for BBC Radio 4 in 2007. His programme "Judges in the Dock" for Channel 4 Dispatches saw him named Bar Council Legal Journalist of the Year (Broadcast) 2003-04.
Early life and career
He is the son of Stephen and Fiona Easton. At the age of ten, his parents moved from Scotland to Winchester and he attended Peter Symonds Grammar SchoolPeter Symonds College
Peter Symonds College is a sixth form college in Winchester, Hampshire, in the south of England. It is one of the largest sixth form colleges in Britain.-Admissions:...
in Winchester
Winchester
Winchester is a historic cathedral city and former capital city of England. It is the county town of Hampshire, in South East England. The city lies at the heart of the wider City of Winchester, a local government district, and is located at the western end of the South Downs, along the course of...
.
He joined his local newspaper, the Southern Evening Echo
Southern Daily Echo
The Southern Daily Echo, commonly known as the Daily Echo or simply The Echo, is a local newspaper that covers the area of south-central Hampshire, England, including the city of Southampton...
, in 1979 having decided upon a career in journalism after winning a game of Waddington'
Waddingtons
Waddingtons was a publisher of card and board games in the United Kingdom. The company was founded by John Waddington of Leeds, England and Wilson Barratt, under the name Waddingtons Limited...
s "Scoop" as a boy. He worked at Radio Victory
Radio Victory
Radio Victory was the independent local radio station for Portsmouth in southern England. It was launched on 14 October 1975 and served south Hampshire, West Sussex and the Isle of Wight.-History:...
from 1980-1, at Radio Aire
96.3 Radio Aire
96.3 Radio Aire is the main Independent Local Radio station for Leeds and West Yorkshire. It is the sister station of Magic 828. The station is owned & operated by Bauer Radio and forms part of Bauer's Place Network of stations.-History:...
from 1981-2 and at LBC
LBC
LBC Radio operates two London-based radio stations, with news and talk formats. LBC was Britain's first legal commercial Independent Local Radio station, providing a service of news and information to London. It began broadcasting on 8 October 1973, a week ahead of Capital Radio...
from 1982-6. He worked at the BBC from 1986-96 as a reporter on London Plus, BBC Breakfast News, Newsnight and Here and Now. From 1996-8 he was the Political Editor of Channel 5 and during 1998-2004 he was the Home and Social Affairs Editor of Channel 4
Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...
. Since 2004 he has been the Home Editor of BBC News.
He has a wife and four children.