ITV NEWS ANNOUNCES RAGEH OMAAR AS A SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

ITV NEWS ANNOUNCES RAGEH OMAAR AS A SPECIAL CORRESPONDENTITV News has appointed award-winning journalist Rageh Omaar as a special correspondent, to further enhance its line up of dedicated on-screen journalists across its network news programmes.

Rageh, who joins the newsroom this week, will be responsible for covering a broad range of news stories and producing special in-depth reports from all around the UK and when required, on stories abroad.

Rageh is well-known for covering the Iraq invasion in Baghdad as Senior Foreign Correspondent at the BBC, with his reports from the war-torn capital featuring on news bulletins around the world. Most recently, Rageh was a journalist and presenter for Al Jazeera, working on investigative news and documentary programming, including Witness and The Rageh Omaar Report.

Rageh has a wealth of experience as a correspondent on major news stories and the skills necessary to engage viewers on a variety of topical issues. He has held a number of high profile roles in broadcasting, across BBC News, BBC World Service, BBC Radio 4, Dispatches and Panorama, as well as developing and presenting documentaries for ITV, BBC, Channel 4, Sky and Al Jazeera. Rageh's reporting from Darfur for the BBC earned him a Peabody Award and as the only western TV journalist to report from inside Taliban-held Kabul, he was awarded a prestigious BAFTA for the BBC's coverage of the invasion of Afghanistan.

Rageh is a regular contributor to a number of broadsheet newspapers and author of two books; Revolution Day: The Real Story of the Battle for Iraq and Only Half of Me: Being a Muslim in Britain. In his new role, he will provide extra content, news, blogs and analysis for itv.com/news, Facebook and Twitter.

Rageh Omaar said: "Joining ITV News represents a return to news reporting for me, which is where my passion for journalism began. I feel incredibly excited to be joining such a fantastic and thriving news organisation with a wonderful history."

Michael Jermey, ITV's Director of News and Current Affairs, said: "Rageh is one of the very best television news correspondents of his generation. Were delighted that hes joining ITV News as we continue to invest in high quality journalism."

Jonathan Munro, Acting Editor, ITV News, said: Rageh Omaar is a highly respected correspondent with an impressive background in delivering coverage. I'm thrilled he's joining ITV News and I look forward to seeing the expertise and experience he'll bring to our programmes.

LINK:	http://corporate.itn.co.uk/press.php?parent_id=13&content_id=1371...
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