Michael Nicholson: Difference between revisions

Michael Nicholson OBE (born 9 January, 1937) is an English journalist and former ITN Senior Foreign Correspondent.

Biography

Born in Romford, Essex, Nicholson attended the University of Leicester. Nicholson was a war reporter for ITN, who reported from wars in Nigeria, Northern Ireland, Vietnam, Cambodia, Jordan, India and Pakistan, Rhodesia, Beirut and Angola. During a 25year career, Nicholson reported on 15 separate conflicts.^[1]

While awaiting the Turkish invasion of Cyprus, Nicholson's car broke down. Left abandoned by his rivals from the BBC, a friendly local assisted him just as the Turkish paratroops were starting to enter the island over his head. His film was flown back to London on an RAF plane, to make the 6o'clock News that evening.^[2]

Nicholson was ITN’s first bureau chief in South Africa, based in Johannesburg from 1976 to 1981. During this time Nicholson reported from the Soweto riots to the birth of Zimbabwe. In 1981 he returned to England, motoring overland through Africa and Europe with his wife and two small sons, a journey of six months and 14, 000 miles.^[3]

Nicholson was on holiday in the Lake District when a message got through to him about the Falklands War. Flown by a chartered aircraft to Southampton to join the convoy, as 45 Nicholson was more experienced than most of his journalistic colleagues: "But this was the first war, other than Northern Ireland, where I was among my own people." Nicholson and senior BBC journalist Brian Hanrahan were regularly flown over to the merchant ships to broadcast their "phono" packages, as no broadcasting of images from the islands themselves or lives broadcasts were allowed. After the conflict, Nicholson was awarded the South Atlantic Medal.^[4]

Between its introduction in 1976 and its change of name (and time) to the News At 5:40 in 1988, Nicholson became well-known as a television presenter when he became the regular host of ITN's popular News At 5:45 bulletins. Nicholson's friendly face, pleasant smile, and light, cheerful presentation style earned him a reputation as one of the leading figures of British journalistic television at a time when the BBC's news presenters were often accused of being aloof and characterless—despite his reputation as a very serious and gritty news gatherer and as an interviewer who could be sharp with his views, particularly towards politicians and leading figures in the news. Nicholson's own newsreading career ended when he announced Prince Andrew's engagement to Sarah Ferguson, and called the Prince "yucky" instead of "lucky" young man.^[5]

Nicholson was replaced by Alastair Stewart, and returned to war reporting, initially in the first Gulf War, named Journalist of the Year in 1991. He then reported from Bosnia and Croatia, where in 1992 he was also named as the Royal Television Society's Journalist of the Year, for his report.

Nicholson joined Trevor McDonald's new investigative program, Tonight with Trevor McDonald in 1999.^[6]

Natasha

While stationed outside Sarajevo in the path of the approaching Serb forces, Nicholson found 200 orphan's living in a mortared and shelled building - four had already been killed. Nicholson pleaded with the authorities to evacuate the children, which they did on buses except one - Natasha, a nine year old who had been abandoned by her mother. As her name had been left off of the list of evacuee's, Nicholson placed under his name and claimed her as his daughter. He then evacuated from the country with the child, handing himself into the immigration authorities at Heathrow. Despite protests from the Bosnian authorities and journalistic critics, Nicholson succeeded in adopting the child.^[7]

In 1993 Nicholson had his book Natasha's Story, published. It tells the story of the nine-year girl, born Jelena Natasha Mihalijcic in Novi Grad, Sarajevo, on 7 October, 1982 born out of wedlock and abandoned by her mother at nine moths old. The book tells how she was resettled in Britain at his family home in Grayswood, Haslemere, Surrey. Natasha eventually attended local state primary and secondary schools near her home, and has since gained an HND in sports science from Bath University. She hopes to train as a tennis coach and is keen to work with children in sport.^[8]

Personal life

Nicholson lives with his wife, two sons and adopted daughter Natasha in Grayswood, Haslemere, Surrey.

References

External links

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