Ben Hunte
Ben Hunte | |
---|---|
File:Ben Hunte - Attitude Magazine Cover 2019.jpg | |
Born | London | 18 October 1992
Education | University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus (BSc) City, University of London (MA) |
Occupation | Vice News Senior Reporter |
Website | benhunte |
Ben Hunte[1] is a British journalist, presenter and senior reporter at Vice News.[2] He previously worked for the BBC and was the broadcaster's first LGBT correspondent. He went on to be the BBC's West Africa correspondent.[3]
Early life and education
Hunte was born in London to Caribbean parents.[4]
He studied at the University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus on an all-expenses-paid scholarship, graduating in 2014 with a Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience. During his time there, he became president of the Students' Association and was co-founding editor of the student magazine Ignite.[5] He later graduated with a Master of Arts in Broadcast Journalism from City, University of London, which he also attended on a full scholarship.
Hunte has since received an Alumni Laureate Award from the University of Nottingham, and an XCity Award from City University.[6][7]
Career
While working in strategy at Google, Hunte started a YouTube channel and social media presence.[8] After hitting 50,000 subscribers he left Google to become a full-time influencer and trained to be a journalist. Starting at BBC News as an intern, Hunte went on to be a news anchor for BBC News Africa and hosted What's New?, the BBC's first programme and digital service for children.[9]
In 2019, Hunte became the BBC's first official LGBT correspondent,[10][11] reporting for all BBC and BBC News platforms.
In 2020, Hunte took the top spot in the Guardian and DIVA Magazine's Pride Power List.[12] Hunte was also awarded "Journalist of the Year" by One Young World,[13] and was a finalist for Specialist Journalist of the Year at the British Journalism Awards,[14] as well as Young Talent of the Year at the Royal Television Society Awards.[15]
He then took on the role of the network's West Africa correspondent in March 2021, reporting from across the continent, in places such as Dakar, Senegal.[16]
After working with the BBC for five years, Hunte announced his departure in September 2021 to join Vice News as a Senior Reporter.[17]
Personal life
Hunte has talked extensively about life as a Black gay man and the abuse he receives being in the public eye,[18][19] as well as his experiences of sexual abuse.[20][21]
He appeared on the cover of Attitude's 25th anniversary edition in March 2019,[22] and in the Evening Standard's ES Magazine.[23]
References
- ^ "Ben Hunte is the BBC's first LGBT correspondent". Evening Standard. 2019-04-03. Retrieved 2019-05-15.
- ^ "Ben Hunte - contributor page". Vice.com. Retrieved 2021-09-17.
- ^ "Ben Hunte, West Africa correspondent". BBC.co.uk. Retrieved 2021-09-08.
- ^ Flynn, Paul (4 April 2019). "BBC's first LGBT correspondent Ben Hunte: 'I've never felt lonelier than in those few weeks after being outed as a gay man'". Evening Standard. Retrieved 26 February 2021.
- ^ "Ben Hunte received a 2019 Recent Graduate Award at Alumni Laureate Award in the UK". University of Nottingham. 20 December 2019. Retrieved 26 February 2021.
- ^ O'Gorman, Kate. "XCity Award shortlist: Ben Hunte". XCity Plus. Retrieved 26 February 2021.
- ^ "Ben Hunte announced as the first LGBT Correspondent for BBC News". BBC Media Centre. 13 December 2018. Retrieved 26 February 2021.
- ^ "Did couple vlogging on YouTube ruin my relationship?". BBC News. 2018-02-13. Retrieved 2021-10-07.
- ^ "BBC News names first LGBT correspondent". 2018-12-13. Retrieved 2019-06-02.
- ^ Moore, Matthew (2018-12-14). "First LGBT correspondent Ben Hunte to boost BBC's youth appeal". The Times. ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 2019-06-02.
- ^ Mayhew, Freddy (2018-12-13). "BBC News appoints its first LGBT correspondent who says new role is 'dream come true'". Press Gazette. Retrieved 2019-06-02.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "Ben Hunte - Pride Power List".
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "Ben Hunte - One Young World Awards".
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "British Journalism Awards 2020 shortlist announced". Press Gazette. 2020-11-13. Retrieved 2021-10-07.
- ^ "Ben Hunte - Royal Television Society Awards".
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "BBC NEWS BEN HUNTE TO LEAVE ROLE AFTER TWO YEARS". attitude.co.uk. 2021-11-03. Retrieved 2021-09-08.
- ^ "BBC journalists Ben Hunte and Sophia Smith Galer join Vice World News". Press Gazette. 2021-09-06. Retrieved 2021-09-08.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "BBC's LGBTQ correspondent reveals level of homophobic abuse he receives". Gay Times. 2019-02-24. Retrieved 2019-06-01.
- ^ "BBC Presenter Ben Hunte reveals homophobic and racist trolls target him". Metro. 2019-02-24. Retrieved 2019-06-01.
- ^ "BBC News reporter Ben Hunte opens up about surviving childhood sexual abuse". Attitude.co.uk. 2019-05-10. Retrieved 2019-06-01.
- ^ "To confront stigma, BBC's Ben Hunte opens up about childhood abuse trauma". Gay Star News. 2019-05-09. Retrieved 2019-06-01.
- ^ "BBC News' first ever LGBT Correspondent Ben Hunte on how he's bringing queer issues to the masses". Attitude.co.uk. 2019-03-28. Retrieved 2019-06-01.
- ^ Flynn, Paul (2019-04-04). "Ben Hunte is the BBC's first LGBT correspondent". www.standard.co.uk. Retrieved 2021-10-07.
External links
- ^ "BBC NEWS Press Team - We'll be recruiting for a new LGBT correspondent shortly". twitter.co.uk. 2021-09-06. Retrieved 2021-09-08.
- 1991 births
- Living people
- 21st-century British journalists
- Alumni of City, University of London
- Black British writers
- British male journalists
- English people of Guyanese descent
- English people of Jamaican descent
- English gay writers
- Journalists from London
- LGBT Black British people
- LGBT journalists from the United Kingdom
- LGBT people from England
- People from Walthamstow
- People from Woodford, London
- 21st-century LGBT people