Ben Hunte

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Ben Hunte
Ben Hunte - Attitude Magazine Cover 2019.jpg
Hunte, Attitude magazine cover 2019
Born (1992-10-18) 18 October 1992 (age 29)
London
EducationUniversity of Nottingham Malaysia Campus (BSc)
City, University of London (MA)
OccupationVice News Senior Reporter
Websitebenhunte.com

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[]

  1. ^ "Ben Hunte is the BBC's first LGBT correspondent". Evening Standard. 2019-04-03. Retrieved 2019-05-15.
  2. ^ "Ben Hunte - contributor page". Vice.com. Archived from the original on 2021-09-17. Retrieved 2021-09-17.
  3. ^ "Ben Hunte, West Africa correspondent". BBC.co.uk. Archived from the original on 2021-09-08. Retrieved 2021-09-08.
  4. ^ 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.
  5. ^ "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.
  6. ^ O'Gorman, Kate. "XCity Award shortlist: Ben Hunte". XCity Plus. Retrieved 26 February 2021.
  7. ^ "Ben Hunte announced as the first LGBT Correspondent for BBC News". BBC Media Centre. 13 December 2018. Retrieved 26 February 2021.
  8. ^ "Did couple vlogging on YouTube ruin my relationship?". BBC News. 2018-02-13. Retrieved 2021-10-07.
  9. ^ "BBC News names first LGBT correspondent". 2018-12-13. Retrieved 2019-06-02.
  10. ^ 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.
  11. ^ 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)
  12. ^ "Ben Hunte - Pride Power List".{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  13. ^ "Ben Hunte - One Young World Awards".{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  14. ^ "British Journalism Awards 2020 shortlist announced". Press Gazette. 2020-11-13. Retrieved 2021-10-07.
  15. ^ "Ben Hunte - Royal Television Society Awards". 26 February 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  16. ^ "BBC NEWS BEN HUNTE TO LEAVE ROLE AFTER TWO YEARS". attitude.co.uk. 2021-11-03. Archived from the original on 2021-09-08. Retrieved 2021-09-08.
  17. ^ "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)
  18. ^ "BBC's LGBTQ correspondent reveals level of homophobic abuse he receives". Gay Times. 2019-02-24. Retrieved 2019-06-01.
  19. ^ "BBC Presenter Ben Hunte reveals homophobic and racist trolls target him". Metro. 2019-02-24. Retrieved 2019-06-01.
  20. ^ "BBC News reporter Ben Hunte opens up about surviving childhood sexual abuse". Attitude.co.uk. 2019-05-10. Retrieved 2019-06-01.
  21. ^ "To confront stigma, BBC's Ben Hunte opens up about childhood abuse trauma". Gay Star News. 2019-05-09. Retrieved 2019-06-01.
  22. ^ "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.
  23. ^ Flynn, Paul (2019-04-04). "Ben Hunte is the BBC's first LGBT correspondent". www.standard.co.uk. Retrieved 2021-10-07.

External links[]

Media offices
Preceded by
Position created
 LGBT Correspondent: BBC News
2019–March 2021 [1] 		Vacant
  1. ^ "BBC NEWS Press Team - We'll be recruiting for a new LGBT correspondent shortly". twitter.co.uk. 2021-09-06. Archived from the original on 2021-09-06. Retrieved 2021-09-08.
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