Asad Ahmad

Asad Ahmad is a BBC journalist and news presenter.

For the Pakistani guitarist, see Asad Ahmed.

Education

Ahmad was educated at The John Roan School on Maze Hill in Blackheath, south-east London, followed by the University of Bristol, where he studied law.

Early life

Before his media career, Ahmad worked as a Foreign Exchange Dealer in the City of London and as a researcher in the House of Lords.[1]

BBC News

Ahmad began his media career at the BBC on the News Trainee Scheme in 1996 before working at BBC Birmingham as a Political Reporter and TV Presenter on BBC Midlands Today.[2] Before joining BBC London, Ahmad presented editions of BBC Scotland's flagship news programme Reporting Scotland as well as news bulletins on BBC Breakfast.[3] He was one of the launch presenters and correspondents for Newsnight Scotland.[3] He became the BBC's Scotland Correspondent, during which time he covered the Foot and Mouth outbreak, and riots in the North of England.[3]

Ahmad moved to London to work as a reporter for BBC Breakfast before joining the presenting team with Moira Stuart, Jeremy Bowen, Sophie Raworth, Sarah Montague and Darren Jordon. He also presented the News round-up on Breakfast with Frost and rolling news on BBC News with Sian Williams.[4]

Other activities

Ahmad is an ambassador for the Prince of Wales's Mosaic charity.[5] He is also an ambassador for the Prince of Wales's British Asian Trust.[6] Ahmad has become involved in a working party looking at homelessness in the capital.[7] He has appeared on radio presenting on the BBC Asian Network.[8] He has also previously presented the Newsdrive programme on BBC Radio Scotland and he has been shortlisted several times for awards for his special reports on BBC Radio.[3]

Other programmes Ahmad has presented include a late night discussion programme for BBC Choice, Newsline Scotland, East for BBC2, Music and current affairs programmes including a Pakistan Earthquake Special programme for BBC1.[3]

Ahmad was invited by the US State Department to take part in their International Visitor Leadership Programme in 2006, where he delivered lectures.[9] He is also a Patron of the charity Working With Words.[10]

Honours

Ahmad was the 2006 Royal Television Society Reporter of the Year for London.[3] He was shortlisted for an Ethnic Multicultural Media Awards (EMMA) for Best Radio News Journalist.[11][12]

Personal life

In 2007 Ahmad faced an allegation of harassment which he strongly denied stating that the allegation was "false". He refused offers of a caution by the Metropolitan Police opting to take the case to court. The Crown Prosecution Service offered no evidence and forensic evidence cleared Ahmad of any wrongdoing. He was told he could leave the court "without a stain on his character". The CPS was ordered to pay Ahmad's legal costs.[13]

Ahmad was due to run the 2008 London Marathon in aid of WaterAid, but had to pull out due to sustaining a knee injury.[14] Ahmad suffered a motorcycle accident in 2008, sustaining a serious head and brain injury. He was almost paralysed and must now use a walking stick to help his overall balance.[15]

References
  1. BBC London, 5 September 2008
  3. "Asad Ahmad". BBC Press Office. July 2007. Archived from the original on 18 February 2009. Retrieved 24 July 2007.
  4. "British and Irish TV Talent". The TV Room +. Archived from the original on 16 July 2012. Retrieved 24 July 2007.
  8. "Best Bits". BBC Asian Network. Archived from the original on 28 August 2007. Retrieved 4 August 2007.
  9. "Visitor from the UK Offers New Insight". Georgia Council for International Visitors. Archived from the original on 28 September 2007. Retrieved 24 July 2007.
  10. "Patrons". Working With Words. Archived from the original on 28 September 2007. Retrieved 24 July 2007.
  11. "The Ethnic Multicultural Media Awards Nominations". The Guardian. Guardian News and Media. 19 May 2000. Retrieved 24 July 2007.
  12. A host of great names attend The EMMAs 2002 on BBC TWO BBC Press Office, 8 May 2002
  13. The Guardian
  14. Marathon Man BBC London, 9 April 2008
  15. BBC profile
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