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Margaret Gilmore’s long and distinguished career in television, radio and newspapers includes most recently seven years as senior Home Affairs Correspondent for BBC News. She has covered many high profile stories for the flagship Six and Ten O’Clock News Bulletins – including the July 7th bombings for which the BBC won a prestigious BAFTA award. She specialises in security, terrorism, the media and environmental issues. SKILLS - Broadcasting, public speaking, interviewing
- Making and presenting films and videos
- Expertise on security and environment issues
- Writing articles, reports, scripts
- Assimilating and analysing and investigating complex documents and reports
- Predicting and advising on media and public reaction to developments
- Networking, strong contacts in many fields
- Full understanding of and ability to penetrate government, civil service, industry
- Ability to produce work reliably to a deadline
- Media training and crisis consultancy (executive level)
- Chairing Conferences
- Managing small team, delivering projects to deadline, on budget
EMPLOYMENT April 2007 – present FREELANCE WRITER, BROADCASTER, CONSULTANT Writing and reporting on security and other issues, writing and delivering speeches, conference moderator, presenting videos, Associate Fellow RUSI, consultant and analyst 2000 – April 2007 HOME AND LEGAL AFFAIRS CORRESPONDENT BBC TV NEWS Senior correspondent working mainly for the prime time Six and Ten O’Clock News bulletins on BBC 1, covering and giving in-depth analysis, often at very short notice and live on television, on terrorism, security, policing, crime, criminal justice, race relations, immigration, asylum, courts, public order, civil defence and emergency planning etc. Wide knowledge of all these areas. Met regularly with Home Secretary and other Home office ministers and their civil service and political advisers. Also met other government Ministers including Lord Chancellor, Director of Public Prosecutions and at times, Prime Minister. Forged close links with contacts at the highest levels in Government, the police, the judiciary, MI5 etc. Analysed lengthy reports and policy documents at speed, investigating stories such as the 7/7 London bomb attacks, the de Menezes Stockwell shooting, and allegations of Loans for Peerages, exploring social trends, frequent public speaking, lecture and conference engagements. Largely managed own time and heavy workload, ‘though often working within a team of colleagues, to managers and editors above. Played a prominent role in the BBC’s 7/7 coverage for which the BBC won a prestigious BAFTA award and a Royal Television Society Award. 1997 – 2000 ENVIRONMENT CORRESPONDENT BBC NEWS Senior correspondent working across BBC national and world radio and television, covering and giving in-depth analysis in the UK and abroad on issues including climate change, global warming, sustainable development, water regulation, floods and flood control, gm crops, BSE, agriculture etc. Often worked out of Brussels on EU developments. Contacts at the highest level in the Government, Environment Agency, water companies and environment and wildlife groups. Frequent public speaking and conference engagements. Environment Journalist of the Year 1997 in the British Environment and Media Awards. Sat on panel choosing Environment Book of the Year awards. Have maintained deep interest in this area.
1995 – 1997 BBC NEWS CORRESPONDENT Travelled widely in the UK and abroad covering breaking news stories for radio and television, and did regular stints in BBC Bureaux in Jerusalem, Moscow and New York. Subjects included Brixton Riots, Newbury Bypass, Middle East affairs, and the divorce and death of Princess Diana.
1993 – 1995 BBC “PANORAMA” Correspondent making and presenting current affairs programmes often on controversial social and foreign issues, including, single mothers, the ageing population, Cold War spies.
1989 – 1992 ITV, “THIS WEEK” Correspondent on prime time national current affairs programmes. Worked in war zones including Somalia and the Middle East, and Lebanon (while British hostages were still in captivity), covered anti-Semitism in Europe and the Guildford Four, and did a two part series on the American Mafia which achieved “This Week’s” highest ratings in its thirty year history. Was only Western Correspondent in East Berlin in weeks before the fall of the Berlin Wall and stayed until its fall. 1987 - 1989 BBC “NEWSNIGHT” Correspondent, travelled UK and world covering and making films about serious news and current affair issues, often interviewing world leaders. Countries visited include China, Japan, Burma, Israel, Lebanon, Ireland, the US, and most of Europe. Also travelled frequently to cover the troubles in Northern Ireland.
1986 – 1987 BBC BREAKFAST NEWS Correspondent, covering UK, Northern Ireland and abroad.
1984 – 1985 BBC NORTHERN IRELAND Two highly formative years living and working in Northern Ireland, at height of troubles, when there was a general loyalist death threat against BBC employees over the Anglo-Irish Agreement. Frequently interviewed key players including Gerry Adams, Ian Paisley, John Hume, Douglas Hurd, Chris Patten etc. 1979 – 1985 INDEPENDENT RADIO NEWS Radio reporter, initially in Ipswich, then Bristol and finally at IRN in London and broad.
1977 – 1979 KENSINGTON NEWS AND POST Reporter on local paper, covering local issues and court cases. Specialised in Notting Hill Carnival.
EDUCATION 1965 - 1972 St Brandon’s School, Clevedon, Somerset. 1972 – 1974 North London Collegiate School, Edgware Middx. 1974 – 1977 Westfield Coll, London University, BA Hons Degree, English. FAMILY DETAIL BORN: 9.2.56 in Zululand, South Africa, NATIONALITY: British. Married to Eamonn Matthews, Current Affairs Producer and Managing Director of the independent TV production company Quicksilver Media. They have one son. INTERESTS Family and friends, supporting Reading Football Club, playing the piano. Chairman of Douai Park LTA Tennis Club. Read Margaret's comments on her own skills ...
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