Deborah Turness

Who is Deborah Turness?

Deborah Mary Turness is a British journalist who has been President of NBC News since August, 2013, and a former Editor of ITV News from 2004-2013, making her the UK's first female editor of network news.

Born in Hertfordshire, England, Turness was educated at St Francis' College and the Knights Templar School in Baldock, Hertfordshire. Turness went on to study at the University of Surrey, where she took a degree in French and English; she then took a postgraduate course in journalism at the University of Bordeaux, France. She joined ITN in 1988 as a freelance producer in the Paris Bureau straight from university, before becoming ITN's 'North of England' producer in 1991. In 1993 she joined the ITN Bureau in Washington as a producer. In 1991 she competed in the Paris to Peking Offroad 4x4 Car Rally.

In 2000 Turness was Deputy Editor of Five News before being promoted to Editor in 2002. At Five News she famously did away with desks in the studio, thereby introducing the concept of 'perching presenters'. During 2002 she worked on Channel 4's RI:SE as Producer before quitting after six months to rejoin ITV News as Deputy Editor. In 2004 she became the Editor of ITV News, being the first woman to become the head of network news. In 2008 Turness won 'The News and Factual Award' presented by Women in Television and Film. Also in 2008 she was the co-winner of an Amnesty International UK Media Awards for the television news report 'Too Young to Die - Children of the Frontline'. In 2010 she chaired the MediaGuardian Edinburgh International Television Festival.