David Whitty

Experienced broadcast journalist and podcast maker with 21 years at BBC World Service Radio. Skilled in news production, long-form storytelling, field reporting from global locations, and audio editing. Experienced team leader and educator with expertise in delivering accurate, balanced journalism to global audiences. Fluent in adapting to diverse work environments across public, private, charity, and education sectors.

Podcast maker - Self-employed - London

(2025-01 - 2026-12)

I currently make a podcast called 'Other Lives Are Available', which is conversations with strangers around East London. The aim is to give listeners the chance to drop into the lives of other people, from all walks of life – their thoughts, their experiences, their take on life. There are over 90 episodes, and it has been downloaded over 5,000 times.

Broadcast Journalist - BBC World Service Radio - London

(2004-01 - 2025-12)

I have 21 years of experience in making high quality programmes for a global audience. On news programmes (Newsday, Newshour, Focus on Africa, World Update) my role was to pitch ideas, find guests, interview them, record and edit audio, write briefs and scripts, analyse complex situations, and get to the heart of a story through dialogue. I'm used to speaking to people from all levels of society across the globe, whether questioning a government minister on policy, drawing out a tale of suffering from a refugee, or getting a scientist to explain a complex innovation.

I worked on multiple news stories on a daily basis for an audience of 25 million, and as on-air studio producer I helped deliver 3-hour programmes of live news where quick problem-solving, managing constantly changing priorities, and calmness under pressure were the norm. Writing factually correct news stories in an accessible style for a global audience has also been part of my daily work for many years.

• Made podcasts (Africa Daily, Witness History) on subjects as varied as the digital future of African languages, the Telemark raid in Nazi-occupied Norway, the first Jewish and African American women's winners at Wimbledon, and the fight to reduce rabies in Morocco
• Involved in long-form storytelling, sound design, and narrative cohesion
• Delivered live radio broadcasts from warzones, markets, jungles, schools, factories across locations from China to Brazil, Libya to Mozambique
• Made creative story packages on subjects as varied as Cheese-rolling in Gloucestershire, Ebola in Sierra Leone, and coping with dementia
• Worked in diverse workplace with many nationalities and ages, both in relay teams through 24-hour shift pattern, and in isolated teams
• Led teams when acting-up to output edit the programme, taking responsibility for 3 hours of World Service output
• Led teams on foreign trips where personal safety, logistics, and editorial decisions were responsibility
• Worked in environment delivering accurate and balanced news to highest editorial standard

Lecturer - Mbarara University of Science and Technology - Uganda

(2003-01 - 2004-12)

Project Manager - CSV (Community Service Volunteers) - London

(2001-01 - 2003-12)

My work for CSV involved identifying schools and community projects in London which needed volunteer support, and training groups of corporate volunteers to deliver it, from student mentoring to reading support to painting playgrounds.

Journalist Trainer - BBC Media Action - South Sudan

(2003-01 - 2003-12)

Trained local journalists for three months in South Sudan during the civil war there.

Teacher - Secondary Schools - Zimbabwe, England

(1999-01 - 2003-12)

As a secondary school teacher I had to manage time, resources and classrooms of between 30 to 100 students. I delivered the national curriculum in Zimbabwe and England.

Trainee Teacher - University of Bristol - Bristol

(1999-01 - 2000-12)

Press Officer - Save the Children Fund - Kosovo

(1999-01 - 1999-12)

Journalist - ABC News - London

(1998-01 - 1999-12)

Sailor, Labourer, Salesman - Various

(1997-01 - 1998-12)

PGCE - History - University of Bristol (1999-01 - 2000-12)

MA - History - University of Edinburgh (1992-01 - 1996-12)