View all newsletters
Sign up for our free email newsletters

Fighting for quality news media in the digital age.

  1. Archive content
September 25, 2003updated 17 May 2007 11:30am

Founder of C4 journalism’ steps down

By Press Gazette

Lloyd: stepping down after illness

David Lloyd, Channel 4’s head of news, current affairs and business since 199o, is stepping down from the position after a prolonged illness.

Lloyd, dubbed “the founder of Channel 4 journalism”, joined the channel in 1986 as senior commissioning editor, news and current affairs. He will remain at the broadcaster in the new role of adviser on public policy programming – with emphasis on the channel’s journalism and factual programming – when he is well enough to return.

He will report directly to the Channel 4 chief executive Mark Thompson.

Lloyd, who was given a special RTS Judges’ Award this year, is the longestserving commissioning editor at Channel 4, having been at the helm of Channel 4 News, and conceived the flagship documentary strand Dispatches.

Channel 4’s outgoing director of television, Tim Gardam, said: “David is one of the great figures of news and current affairs who has led and influenced a generation.

Content from our partners
MHP Group's 30 To Watch awards for young journalists open for entries
How PA Media is helping newspapers make the digital transition
Publishing on the open web is broken, how generative AI could help fix it

“He is the founder of Channel 4 journalism and has been sorely missed over the past year. His creative and intellectual judgement is second to none.” A Channel 4 spokeswoman said Lloyd was “making a slow but positive recovery”.

Meanwhile, Dorothy Byrne, acting head of news and current affairs since May 2002, has been appointed as head of news and current affairs, after what she called a terribly difficult year for Channel 4’s news and current affairs team.

“We have missed working with David,” she said. Byrne added that she wanted to retain the “intelligence, integrity and distinctiveness” of Lloyd’s work, while stamping her own mark on the output.

Byrne joined Channel 4 in January 1998 as commissioning editor, news, current affairs and business. She worked for six years on World In Action and in 1993 became deputy editor and then editor of the Carlton documentary strand Big Story.

By Wale Azeez

Email pged@pressgazette.co.uk to point out mistakes, provide story tips or send in a letter for publication on our "Letters Page" blog

Select and enter your email address Weekly insight into the big strategic issues affecting the future of the news industry. Essential reading for media leaders every Thursday. Your morning brew of news about the world of news from Press Gazette and elsewhere in the media. Sent at around 10am UK time. Our weekly does of strategic insight about the future of news media aimed at US readers. A fortnightly update from the front-line of news and advertising. Aimed at marketers and those involved in the advertising industry.
  • Business owner/co-owner
  • CEO
  • COO
  • CFO
  • CTO
  • Chairperson
  • Non-Exec Director
  • Other C-Suite
  • Managing Director
  • President/Partner
  • Senior Executive/SVP or Corporate VP or equivalent
  • Director or equivalent
  • Group or Senior Manager
  • Head of Department/Function
  • Manager
  • Non-manager
  • Retired
  • Other
Visit our privacy Policy for more information about our services, how New Statesman Media Group may use, process and share your personal data, including information on your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications.
Thank you

Thanks for subscribing.

Websites in our network