Channel 4 News & Current Affairs Chief Dorothy Byrne Steps Down

After more than 15 years leading Channel 4’s news and current affairs output, Dorothy Byrne has decided to step down as head of news and current affairs and will take on the specially created role of editor at large.

In the last year, Byrne delivered the prestigious MacTaggart Lecture at the Edinburgh Television Festival and was honored with the Grierson Trustees’ Award at the 2019 Documentary Awards, while Channel 4 News was crowned Daily News Programme of the Year and the acclaimed For Sama won a BAFTA and was nominated for an Oscar.

In the new role, which she will take on for a year from May 1, Byrne will work with the wider organization in a leadership capacity to drive forward a number of projects including developing a factual podcast strategy, helping to shape and implement a new sustainability strategy, and mentoring and developing staff across the organization. She will also continue to contribute toward program ideas but will not take an active commissioning role.

Ian Katz, director of programs, is leading a full recruitment process for a new head of news and current affairs.

Byrne said: “The last year has been one of great success for Channel 4 News and Current Affairs and for me personally so it’s the perfect time for me to step aside and give someone else the pleasure of the best job in television. I will continue to contribute to the creative life of the channel. I am also very excited to be working to help develop the careers of staff, particularly of women, at the channel and also to be playing a key role in the creation of a new sustainability policy for Channel 4.”

Katz added: “No British media executive has done as much to shape the coverage of news and current affairs on television as Dorothy. Over more than 15 years she has been the restless force behind agenda setting Channel 4 programming from the exposing of war crimes in Sri Lanka and Myanmar, to the recent laying bare of Michael Jackson’s child sexual abuse. She has a laser-like eye for a story, huge creative flair and Channel 4 DNA running through her like rock. I’m so pleased that she will be staying at the channel for another year in her new role as editor at large.”