11 November 2013
'An Evening with Kate Adie' - 2013 Dundee Christmas Lecture
Kate Adie, one of the world's most respected war correspondents and a trailblazer for female journalists, will deliver
the Dundee Christmas Lecture 2013.
She will talk about her remarkable career covering some of the bloodiest conflicts of the past 25 years at the University
of Dundee's Dalhousie Building on Saturday, November 30th. The event will see her converse with Professor Sue Black,
Deputy Principal of the University, and share stories from her fascinating life with the audience.
Adie is best known for holding the post of chief news correspondent with the BBC from 1989 to 2003, and has reported
from war zones around the world. Adie's insistence on reporting from the heart of the action often placed her in danger and
she sustained minor gunshot wounds in China and Libya, and was also injured while covering events in the Balkans.
Her fearless approach and insightful reporting saw her win numerous awards including three Royal Television Society
awards, the Bafta Richard Dimbleby Award, and the Broadcasting Press Guild's Award for Outstanding Contribution to
Broadcasting. She was awarded an OBE in 1993, currently presents 'From Our Own Correspondent' on BBC Radio 4, and is the
author of four bestselling books.
'Kate Adie is simply one of the finest journalists that Britain has ever produced,' said Professor Black. 'When she spoke,
authoritatively and from the very heart of whatever conflict she was covering, we all listened. Soldiers used to joke that
they knew they were in trouble when Kate Adie arrived because she was the first on the scene whenever a major story broke
anywhere in the world for 14 years.
'She became a recognisable face on our screens at a time when few women held major reporting roles and beat a path for
others to follow. Since moving on from her most high profile role, Kate has written several absorbing books and I am
looking forward to speaking to her about her life both on the frontline and away from it.'
Born in Northumberland, Adie's career with the BBC began as a station assistant at Radio Durham, before working
as a producer for Radio Bristol. She then switched to television, directing outside broadcasts and reporting for
regional news before joining the national team in 1976.
She was first on the scene during the 1980 Iranian Embassy siege and reported live and unscripted to one of the
largest ever news audiences whilst crouched behind a car door as the SAS stormed the building.
Adie was thereafter regularly dispatched to report on disasters and conflicts before being promoted to the role
for which she is best known. Her assignments included the Tiananmen Square protests, Gulf War, Balkan Wars, the
Rwandan Genocide and the war in Sierra Leone in 2000.
Her most recent book, 'Fighting on the Home Front' tells the story of WWI through the eyes of the women charged
with filling traditionally male-dominated roles in order to keep Britain functioning and looks at how the conflict
forever changed the social make-up of the country.
The Christmas lecture is held in conjunction with Dundee City Council and was inaugurated in 2007 to commemorate
the University's 40th anniversary and its close relationship with the city of Dundee and its people.
Bob Duncan, Lord Provost of Dundee said, "The on-going partnership between Dundee City Council and the University
of Dundee to deliver the Christmas Lecture continues to go from strength to strength. Securing Kate Adie as this year's
speaker will no doubt attract a significant audience to hear what she has to say.
"She is that compelling combination of respected journalist and vivid storyteller and is able to enthral, educate and
entertain in such an effortless way. I am sure those who attend will enjoy the experience."
'An Evening with Kate Adie' takes place from 6pm on Saturday, 30th November. A civic reception and book signing will
follow the event, for which free tickets are available from the University's Tower Building reception and Waterstone's
Dundee store. They can also be obtained by emailing events@dundee.ac.uk,
calling 01382 395108/385564 or visiting
www.dundee.ac.uk/tickets.
Doors open at 5pm and the main lecture theatre will be filled on a first come, first seated basis. Overflow theatres
will be in operation.
For media enquiries contact:
Grant Hill
Press Officer
University of Dundee
Nethergate, Dundee, DD1 4HN
TEL: 01382 384768
E-MAIL: g.hill@dundee.ac.uk
MOBILE: 07854 953277 |
