Vice News has hired BBC’s Neil Breakwell as its new London Bureau Chief, amid the ramping up of its TV operations.
Breakwell moves to Vice News from the BBC where he served as Deputy Editor of Newsnight. Vice says he will oversee the organization’s newsgathering across Western Europe, as Vice expands its digital news footprint across the region. He starts his new job in July. Additionally, this fall, Vice will launch TV network Viceland, in the UK and France, which will see some of Vice News’ UK programming air on the channel.
The hiring of Breakwell follows layoffs in its UK operation, as well as about 15 staffers in New York and Los Angeles.
In today’s announcement, Vice News says it “will grow its existing staff of 18 in the coming weeks, adding new hires across editorial, production, as well as multiplatform journalists who will be deployed across digital and TV.”
Breakwell has worked in news and current affairs for over a decade. Prior to Newsnight, he worked on BBC’s Today, The World at One and PM and helped steer BBC’s election night broadcasts.
“I’m thrilled to be joining Vice News at one of the most dynamic and exciting times in journalism. Vice’s unique and visceral style of storytelling on subjects that matter to an often underserved audience along with their ambitious plans for the future made this an opportunity I couldn’t resist,” said Neil “I’m looking forward to building on its already impressive record of outstanding reporting, compelling video and puckish commentary.”
Josh Tyrangiel, EVP of VICE News said: “Neil is the rare journalist who excels at speed and depth, television and digital. He’s smart, tough, and brimming with ideas for how we can increase our coverage of the UK and Western Europe. In addition to managing our output across TV and online, he’ll continue the successful work begun by Kevin Sutcliffe and the video team in producing riveting, high impact films including the multi award-winning documentary, The Islamic State. We can’t wait for Neil to get started.”
Subscribe to Deadline Breaking News Alerts and keep your inbox happy.