Ken Reid (journalist)

Kenneth Reid
Born(1955-06-23)23 June 1955
Belfast, Northern Ireland
Died19 November 2024(2024-11-19) (aged 69)
Alma materMethodist College Belfast
University of Hull
OccupationJournalist
Years active1977–2021

Kenneth Reid (23 June 1955 – 19 November 2024) was a Northern Irish journalist. He retired from his position as political editor at UTV on 31 March 2021. He was succeeded by Tracey Magee.[1][2]

Career

Reid was born in Belfast on 23 June 1955.[3] His career as a journalist began at News Letter in 1977, where he remained for seven years.[1] This was followed by stints as the sports editor, and later editor, of the Sunday News from 1984 to 1987, and reporting for the Cork Examiner from 1987 to 1994.[1]

Reid joined UTV in 1994.[1] He was one of two journalists at the station believed to have not been considered for a voluntary redundancy package at the station in late 2008.[4] Reid blogged on UTV's website on political affairs in Northern Ireland from May 2008.[5]

Personal life and death

Reid studied at Methodist College Belfast and the University of Hull, becoming involved with the student newspaper at the latter institution.[1] He was married and had three children.[1]

Reid was a fan of Cliftonville, Everton and Ballymena.

In 2017, he revealed he had been diagnosed with a form of leukaemia.[6]

Reid died aged 69, on 19 November 2024.[7]

Honours

Reid received the honour of News Broadcaster of the Year at the CIPR Press and Broadcast Awards in 2005[8] and 2006.[9]

In January 2024, he was awarded a Queen's University Belfast Chancellor's Medal alongside Stephen Grimason.[10]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f Belfast Telegraph: "Secrets and Lies: UTV Political Editor Ken Reid". 20 August 2005. Accessed 6 February 2009.
  2. ^ "Ken Reid: During the Troubles I saw a lot of terrible things... but I'm a great believer that politics can work". Belfast Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 3 April 2021.
  3. ^ "Ken Reid's profile on u.tv". Archived from the original on 18 November 2002. Retrieved 7 September 2006.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) Accessed 5 April 2009.
  4. ^ Belfast Telegraph: "UTV stars fear for jobs as bosses swing axe". 17 October 2008. Accessed 6 February 2009.
  5. ^ u.tv: Blogs - Ken Reid. Archived 12 May 2011 at the Wayback Machine.
  6. ^ "Ken Reid: Former UTV political editor dies". BBC News. 20 November 2024. Retrieved 22 November 2024.
  7. ^ Breslin, John (20 November 2024). "Tributes flow following passing of veteran journalist Ken Reid". The Irish News. Retrieved 20 November 2024.
  8. ^ Hold the Front Page: "Northern Ireland prize winners celebrate". Archived 5 February 2008 at the Wayback Machine. 20 April 2005. Accessed 11 January 2008.
  9. ^ Hold the Front Page: "Irish journalists make their mark as awards are handed out". Archived 5 February 2008 at the Wayback Machine. 5 April 2006. Accessed 11 January 2008.
  10. ^ "Journalists Stephen Grimason and Ken Reid awarded QUB medals". BBC News. 25 January 2024. Retrieved 6 May 2024.


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