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Peter William RipponEditor 'BBC Newsnight'
Date of Birth: 22.08.1965
Country:  Great Britain |
Content:
- Biography of Peter William Rippon
- Early Life and Education
- Career
- 'Newsnight' Ratings and Controversy
- Personal Life
Biography of Peter William Rippon
Peter William Rippon is a prominent figure in the British broadcasting industry, serving as the editor of 'BBC Newsnight', one of the highest-ranking positions in British broadcasting.
Early Life and Education
Rippon was born in Henley-on-Thames to Henry Rippon and Susan Westcott. He completed his schooling in Henley-on-Thames and went on to pursue higher education at the University of East Anglia, where he received a bachelor's degree in Philosophy and Politics. Rippon then furthered his education at the University of Southampton, obtaining a master's degree in International Politics.
Career
In 1989, Rippon began his career as an intern at BBC, where he worked as an editor for various projects such as 'The World At One', 'PM', 'iPM', 'Broadcasting House', and 'The World This Weekend' on Radio 4. He later transitioned to television and on November 7, 2008, he was appointed as the editor of 'Newsnight'. His predecessor, Peter Barron, took on the role of Head of PR for 'Google' in the UK.
Rippon has received numerous awards for his work, including the prestigious 'Sony Gold' award in 2007 for the interactivity of the 'PM' project.
'Newsnight' Ratings and Controversy
In 2011, an analysis revealed that the average viewership of 'Newsnight' was around 450,000 viewers, a significant decrease compared to a decade earlier when the program had approximately one million viewers. The Thursday edition of 'Newsnight' was particularly unpopular, becoming the least-watched episode in the history of the program.
Some critics blamed Rippon for the declining ratings, suggesting that his background in radio was not conducive to creating a successful television program. In late 2011, Rippon made the controversial decision to cancel the planned broadcast of a documentary about the late Jimmy Savile, amid rumors of the DJ's alleged sexual misconduct with underage girls during his peak fame.
Personal Life
Peter Rippon is married to Nicola Bide, and they have three children together – a son born in 2004, and two daughters born in 2003 and 2006, respectively. He is an avid supporter of the football team 'Fulham F.C'.
Overall, Peter William Rippon has made significant contributions to the field of broadcasting through his work as the editor of 'BBC Newsnight', though his tenure has not been without controversy.
