Ros Atkins - Biography & Images

Ros Atkins

Ros Atkins is a BBC News presenter who hosts the programme Outside Source.

The programme broadcasts at 9pm GMT, Monday-Thursday on the BBC News Channel and BBC World News television.

Previously he hosted World Have Your Say on BBC World News and BBC World Service radio.

Atkins began his career in South Africa where he researched crime prevention and human rights for the Centre for Policy Studies. He also wrote for the Sunday Independent in South Africa and worked as a DJ in Johannesburg and at the Oppi Koppi festival.

On returning to the UK, Atkins became editor of timeout.com. He also contributed to British Airways in-flight radio.

Atkins continued to DJ, setting up a night called Sharp in Brixton, south London, and appearing at Womad and Fruitstock.

In 2013, the BBC announced that Atkins would present a new programme called Outside Source. It would have separate radio and TV editions on BBC World Service and BBC World News. It launched on BBC World Service radio in 2013, with a launch on BBC World News in early 2014. The BBC announced in early 2015 that the TV edition would be expanded and carried by both BBC World News and BBC News Channel at 9pm UK time.

Outside Source is noted for what the BBC calls ‘state-of-the-art touch-screen technology’ which is used to access and illustrate developing news stories. Atkins has talked about sharing the BBC’s editorial process with viewers as stories evolve and of making sure that ‘if you switch the show on, you’re guaranteed the immediacy and full range of information on a story that comes from being online’.

In March 2015, Atkins co-hosted a special edition of Outside Source with school children from London for BBC School Report.

Images of Ros Atkins

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