Tag Archives: Diversity Awards

Out BBC Newsreader Backs Diversity Awards

The BBC TV newsreader and high-profile lesbian Jane Hill has asked Europeans to nominate those people and institutions they believe are truly tolerant and diverse. The European Diversity Awards 2014 will take place on 2nd October at London’s Natural History Museum. Businesses, NGOs, charities, support groups and persons from all over the continent will be considered by a panel of expert judges.

Newsreader Hill, who is 45, said that she was looking forward to the ceremony:

The awards recognise excellence in the areas of gender, disability, sexual orientation, age, race, culture and religion across Europe. They celebrate the best across both the corporate and campaigning aspects of diversity.’

Jane Hill

15 awards are up for grabs, including Employee Network Group of the Year, Campaigner of the Year, Company of the Year, Charity of the Year and a Lifetime Achievement Award. One of last year’s winners was former pro rugby player Ben Cohen who established the StandUp Foundation which aims to root out homophobic harassment.

Linda Riley, founder of the European Diversity Awards,  said: ‘The draconian laws passed in Russia demonstrate why there is still a real need to celebrate the people and the organizations who actively work promote a society in which we can all live freely in mutual tolerance and respect.’

A graduate of Queen Mary College, University of London, Jane Hill joined the BBC in 1991 and rose up the ranks to become one of the main newsreaders on the 24-hour rolling BBC News channel. In 2007 she earned plaudits for her investigative journalism relating to the Madeleine McCann case. She regularly presents programmes on BBC 1 and BBC Radio 4.

In 2011 she entered into a civil partnership with Sara, a camera operator.