Sarah Cullen
Sarah Cullen | |
---|---|
Born | Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom | 6 October 1949
Died | 22 January 2012 Exeter, Devon, United Kingdom | (aged 62)
Education | University College London |
Occupation(s) | Radio and television journalist |
Notable credit(s) | ITN (1972–1991) Today (1994–1998) |
Spouse | Kieran Devaney (1986–1998) |
Children | 1 |
Sarah Cullen (6 October 1949 – 22 January 2012) was a British radio and television journalist who worked for ITN, as well as BBC Radio 4's Today programme. Remembered for her red hair and volatile temperament, Cullen forged a reputation for reporting from the street, and undertook many assignments in Northern Ireland, including covering events during the closing days of The Troubles.
Life and career
Born in
After being sent for a brief period to the Liverpool Daily Post,[2] she worked as a scriptwriter and desk editor for the broadcaster, before auditioning as an on-screen reporter.[1] She was one of ITN's first female reporters along with Carol Barnes, Joan Thirkettle and Sue Lloyd-Roberts, and was appointed their Home Affairs Correspondent in 1983. On one occasion, her reporting was teased in a review for The Observer by Clive James: "'Each school will have to raise the cost of their computer,' announced Sarah Cullen on News at Ten ... Each channel will have to clean up their grammar: this is getting ridiculous."[3]
After being made redundant from ITN in 1991 she moved to radio, freelancing for Radio 4's
She was also sent to Belfast on many occasions to cover issues relating to
For another series of news reports she went to Glasgow to investigate the city's illegal drug trade, and gathered her material by befriending a young woman who was a drug addict. After spending almost a week working undercover she helped the woman through the rehabilitation process.[5]
Cullen left the BBC after being diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 1998, and undergoing chemotherapy. She suffered further health problems later in life.[1][2] Her memoirs of her early days at ITN, In Praise of Panic were published in 1982.[2]
Personal life
Cullen married fellow journalist Kieran Devaney in 1986. The couple had a son, Tom, and the marriage was dissolved in 1998.[1][2]
References
- ^ a b c d e f g "Sarah Cullen". Telegraph. 2 February 2012. Retrieved 22 February 2012.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Hayward, Anthony (22 February 2012). "Sarah Cullen: Reporter for ITN and 'Today' who found the authentic voices of the streets". The Independent. London: Independent Print Limited. Retrieved 22 February 2012.
- ^ The Observer, 12 April 1981: see Clive James (1983) Glued to the Box
- ^ "Fearless front-line reporter went where few colleagues would tread". Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Media. 7 February 2012. Retrieved 18 March 2012.
- ^ "Remembering Sarah Cullen". Ariel. BBC. 27 January 2012. Retrieved 18 March 2012.