Nik Gowing

Overview

Nik Gowing was educated at the Simon Langton Grammar School in Canterbury and Latymer Upper School in London, followed by the University of Bristol.

A foreign affairs specialist and presenter at ITN from 1978, Gowing became Diplomatic Editor for the flagship Channel 4 News from 1989. During his time with the BBC, Gowing has since presented The World Today (1996–2000), Europe Direct, HARDtalk, Dateline London, as well as Simpson's World.

At the time of the death of Princess Diana in 1997, Gowing anchored coverage for over seven hours, reportedly only having had 40 minutes sleep before being driven back to Television Centre to present. BBC World was being simulcast for the first ever time with the BBC domestic channel BBC One, making up a global audience of around half a billion, to whom he announced her death.

Gowing was on air for six hours during the BBC's coverage of the aftermath of the September 11th 2001 attacks, which led to the channel receiving the 2002 Hotbird Award.

He is also a Member of Council of the Royal United Services Institute. In April 2014 he announced he would be semi-retiring from BBC but will still present special events and relief.

Personal life and early career

Nik Gowing is the son of Professor Margaret Gowing, author of the two volume work Independence and Deterrence: Britain and Atomic Energy, 1945–52, who died in 1998. After attending grammar schools in London and Canterbury, Gowing read geography at the University of Bristol.

At university, he worked on local radio; he then joined Thomson Regional Newspapers in Newcastle.

He and his wife Judy have two children and live in west London.

Published work

The Wire, Hutchinson (31 May 1988), ISBN 978-0-09-167370-3

A novel about the infiltration of the secret police into Poland's Solidarity movement, based on Gowing's extensive knowledge of Solidarity's activities.

The Loop, Hutchinson (5 Aug 1993), ISBN 978-0-09-174991-0

A thriller, again based on Gowing's first-hand journalistic experience, set in the new Russia. A highly-decorated KGB colonel, who fought to defend the communist system, must survive in a world of turmoil and anarchy.

"Real-time media is changing our world: Cheap 'go-anywhere' cameras and phones are challenging the credibility of governments, corporations and the traditional media." The Guardian, 11 May 2009

Skyful of Lies & Black Swans, 2009, Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism