Samira Ahmed facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Samira Ahmed
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Ahmed in 2022
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| Born | 15 June 1968 Wandsworth, London, England
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| Alma mater | St Edmund Hall, Oxford City University, London |
| Occupation | Journalist, documentarian and news presenter |
Samira Ahmed (born 15 June 1968) is a well-known British journalist, writer, and broadcaster. She works for the BBC, where she hosts popular shows like Front Row on Radio 4. She also presents Newswatch on the BBC News channel and BBC One. Samira often creates radio documentaries too.
In March 2020, she was named the best audio presenter by the British Broadcasting Press Guild. Samira has written for many British newspapers and magazines, including The Guardian and The Independent. She also wrote a regular column for New Humanist. From 2000 to 2011, she was a reporter and presenter for Channel 4 News.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Samira Ahmed was born in Wandsworth, south London. Her parents are Athar and Lalita Ahmed. Her mother, Lalita, was also a TV presenter, actor, chef, and writer. She worked for the BBC World Service.
Samira went to Wimbledon High School, which is a private school for girls. While there, she was the editor of the school magazine.
University Studies
Samira studied English at St Edmund Hall, Oxford University. In 2019, the university made her an honorary fellow. During her time at Oxford, she edited two student magazines, Isis and Union. She also won a special journalism prize called the Philip Geddes Journalism Prize.
After university, she earned a diploma in Newspaper Journalism from City University, London. Samira looked up to Lucy Mathen, who was the first female Asian reporter on BBC television. Lucy worked on John Craven's Newsround, a show for children.
Samira Ahmed's Journalism Career
Samira started her career at the BBC in 1990 as a news trainee. By 1992, she was working as a reporter for radio shows like Today. She later became a presenter for BBC World and a reporter for Newsnight.
From 1996 to 1997, Samira was the BBC's correspondent in Los Angeles. She reported on important legal cases, like the O. J. Simpson civil trial.
Moving to Channel 4 and Freelance Work
Samira briefly worked in Berlin for a German broadcaster before returning to the BBC. She then joined Channel 4 News in April 2000 and became a presenter in July 2002. In June 2011, she decided to leave Channel 4 and work as a freelance journalist. This means she worked for herself and could choose different projects.
Awards and Achievements
In 2009, Samira won the "Broadcaster of the Year" award at the Stonewall Awards. She also won Celebrity Mastermind, a TV quiz show, twice! In December 2010, her specialist topic was Laura Ingalls Wilder, who wrote the Little House on the Prairie books. She won again in 2019, dressed in a Space 1999 costume.
From 2012 to 2013, she presented Sunday Morning Live on BBC One. In October 2012, Samira also became the presenter of Newswatch on the BBC News Channel.
She has been a visiting professor of journalism at Kingston University. She also writes regularly for The Big Issue magazine.
Recent Projects and Discoveries
In September 2019, Samira interviewed famous author Margaret Atwood about her book The Testaments. This interview was shown in over 1,000 cinemas around the world.
In June 2020, BBC Four aired Art of Persia, a three-part series presented by Samira. It explored the history and culture of Iran. Samira is a big fan of the puppet shows created by Gerry and Sylvia Anderson. She even voiced a character named Juliette Destiny in a show called Nebula-75, and the character looked like her!
In November 2021, Samira interviewed Paul McCartney and poet Paul Muldoon about their book. On April 3, 2023, Samira shared an exciting discovery. She found the earliest complete recording of The Beatles performing live in the UK! A 15-year-old student named John Bloomfield made the recording at Stowe School in 1963.
Samira has also helped people look at the work of Mary Whitehouse, a campaigner for good morals, in a new way. She studied Mary Whitehouse's diaries from 30 years.
Recognitions and Roles
Samira has received honorary doctorates from several universities, including City, University of London, and Kingston University.
She is a trustee for the Centre for Women's Justice, which helps women. She also helps choose the famous blue plaques for Historic England, which mark important places. Samira is also on the advisory board for the National Science and Media Museum.
Working for Fair Pay
In 2019, Samira Ahmed took legal action against the BBC. She believed she was not being paid fairly compared to male colleagues doing similar work. In January 2020, a tribunal agreed with her. In February 2020, it was announced that a fair agreement had been reached with the BBC. Samira said that a 1975 TV show about sexism in newsrooms inspired her during this process. Her case was seen as very important for helping women get equal pay everywhere.
Personal Life
Samira Ahmed lives in London and has a son and a daughter. From 2023 to 2024, she was a trustee for Humanists UK, a charity that supports humanism.
See also
In Spanish: Samira Ahmed para niños
