Martine Dennis

Name?
Martine Dennis

Age?
45

Where are you from?
Born in London with Caribbean/Mauritian parents

How did you get started in broadcasting?
A graduate trainee at LBC/IRN (radio)

When was that?
January 1982

Why News broadcasting?
Frankly, it was the first opportunity that was available. I’d have happily gone into advertising or P.R.

Where else would have viewers seen or heard you before?
Lots of places! From LBC/IRN listeners- as trainees we were totally responsible for the Young London News Desk which was broadcast every Saturday morning. I did parliamentary reporting and made a couple of radio documentaries (notably, Zimbabwe Five years after independence). Then I went to the UN in New York. I was BBC’s reporter/correspondent from 1985-87 covering the Iran/Iraq war and getting a grounding in almost every conflict in the world.. Then back to London, and I was a producer then (I believe, first woman) presenter of Focus on Africa from Bush House. I went to Sky News as it started in 1989. I was an overnight news presenter until 1991 when went I went to South Africa. In South Africa I freelanced for BBC World Service. Then I presented and reported for MNet’s weekly Carte Blanche Programme.. When I came back from South Africa in 1995 , I worked briefly as a correspondent for BBC1’s Here and Now weekly programme. Then I found myself at World TV, where I have been ever since.

What is your Best on-air moment?
They happen almost every day.

What is your Worst on-air moment?
They also happen every day!, if not twice!

What would you like to do before your career ends?
Feel satisfied that I’ve helped improve the attitude of BBC to covering international news.

What do you like to do in your spare time?
Helping my two children on their way to wonderful futures. Talking about international affairs, And a bit of gardening.

What advice would you give to anyone that would like to get into the broadcasting world?
Pursue your interests, and strengths: if you’re interested in archaeology, or theology, or chemistry, do it! And then try the BBC

A big thanks to Martine for taking part.

Posted by on Thursday 21 May 2009