BBC From Our Own Correspondent

BBC Radio 4 Weekly Program Adds Depth to International News Reports

Mar 30, 2008

For over 50 years, BBC reporters have expressed themselves through the flagship program, From Our Own Correspondent heard on Radio 4 and the BBC World Service.

The British Broadcasting Corporation, or BBC, has a network of journalists around the world. They are heard, seen and read on radio, television and in print, according to the needs of whatever media outlets they work for. Their mainstream news reporting tends to be focused and to fit the "5W" format - the basic facts, some audio or video clips, or quotes for print, and then on to the next story.

From Our Own Correspondent gives both journalists and audience an opportunity to share deeper, often more personal stories of being in a certain place at a certain time. The weekly program is an opportunity to learn firsthand about how others live, the challenges they face, and the context within which the headline news stories are occurring.

Leading International Journalists Tell The Stories They Choose

Sometimes listening to From Our Own Correspondent can be like running into the principal of the local high school in the grocery store, and recognizing that everyone has a life beyond their public persona. The best reports are like letters from a friend, a perceptive, eloquent friend with an eye for detail and a strong sense of empathy.

Listeners' Favourites

Listed on the series' website, some of the favourite items from the correspondents have included

History Recorded

The fiftieth anniversary webpage for Correspondent gives links to a selection of programs across time and places from the news. Names and places like Nasser, 1956, the Suez Canal. A 1964 retrospective of "the father of modern India", Jawaharlal Nehru. U.S. soldiers in the Vietnam war, 1970. Prague Spring.

Along with these background pieces are reflections on what it means to be a foreign correspondent.

Available Live on Radio and On Demand Online

The programs are broadcast weekly on Radio 4 on Saturday and for about 20 weeks a year, on Thursday as well (same content), hosted by Kate Adie. On the BBC World Service, the program appears at various times on Saturday and Sunday, hosted by Alan Johnston.

Current Correspondent programs are available from the BBC Radio 4 website for listening online or downloading as podcasts.

Although there are many older programs available for listening online, the series is not fully archived. To avoid missing a program, listeners may subscribe to the weekly podcast.

The copyright of the article BBC From Our Own Correspondent in Radio Journalism is owned by Jill Browne. Permission to republish BBC From Our Own Correspondent in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.