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Linden
Kemkaran

Linden Kemkaran is an experienced journalist at BBC News.

A former renowned reporter and producer for BBC News, Linden Kemkaran wields an impressive level of experience and expertise in broadcast, print, and online journalism. For over 10 years, Linden Kemkaran filled a variety of roles for BBC News, bringing a remarkable energy and determination to her work.

In 1991, prior to joining the BBC, Linden Kemkaran landed the post of Personal Secretary to the Assistant Chief of Defence Staff for Command, Control, and Communications Information Systems. Based in the Ministry of Defence Main Building in London, UK, Linden Kemkaran performed a variety of duties, including corresponding daily with high-ranking officials, arranging meetings, and organising business trips around the world. During this time, Linden Kemkaran had a serious motorcycle accident that left her in hospital for several weeks. Realising the severity of Linden’s injuries, her top level military contacts arranged for her to be rehabilitated at the world renowned defence medical centre at Headley Court. During this period of intense physiotherapy, Kemkaran decided to realise her long-time dream of becoming a journalist and enrolled at the University of Surrey shortly thereafter.

Attending the Roehampton campus of the University of Surrey (now Roehampton University) from 1995 to 1998, Linden Kemkaran pursued a course of study that included English Literature, Drama and Theatre. Although during college Linden Kemkaran endured further surgery and intensive physical therapy sessions due to injuries sustained from the motorcycle accident, she still managed to graduate with a 2:1 honours degree.

Upon graduation, Linden Kemkaran joined BBC News as a Planner and Organiser, where she handled every facet of deployment and logistics. Linden Kemkaran organised the news schedule, sent news crews and reporters on-site for breaking stories, and juggled many different tasks at the same time. Recognising Linden Kemkaran’s talent and earnest dedication to journalism, BBC News promoted her to Defence and Security Producer, an entirely new position, in 2001.

In the wake of 9/11, Linden Kemkaran saw vastly increased responsibilities in her new role. Acting as sole liaison between BBC News and the Ministry of Defence, Linden Kemkaran again worked with top security officials in the U.S. and U.K. The position created fresh opportunities for Linden Kemkaran to gain experience as a reporter, which quickly led to radio and TV appearances as a correspondent. Kemkaran’s work as both a Producer and Reporter for BBC News saw her cover stories concerning Venezuela, Iran, Israel, Gaza, the 2004 U.S. elections, and more.

Linden Kemkaran left the BBC in late 2008 to set up her own company, Linden Productions, through which she now pursues many different avenues of journalism. Halfway through penning her first novel (working title “News and Blues”), Linden also is a regular contributor of articles to magazines and newspapers. Giving media training and advice to individuals or companies and running her unique ‘Journalism Workshop’ in local schools means that Linden Kemkaran puts to good use all of her formidable experience gained from over a decade working at the frontline of broadcast journalism.


Linden Kemkaran's Schools

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Linden Kemkaran's Publications

  • BBC News School Report, Linden Kemkaran, BBC News
    July, 2010
    In my career as a journalist, teaching others has always been an important focus. For this reason, I participate as a mentor in the BBC’s award-winning School Report programme, in which children make and broadcast their own news on the Internet. School Report’s UK-wide News Day takes place once per year and the next instalment is on 24 March 2011. School Report offers children a chance to report on stories of interest to them, and many teachers have also found that the programme fits well into their mandated curricula, assisting students in learning valuable skills in research, production, and public presentation. There are five steps involved for participation in School Report. First, the teacher much register online, after which regular information for the programme is sent via email. Second, the school sends an agreement form, with consent from the Head Teacher. This form allows the school to receive support from a School Report mentor such as myself. For the next edition of School Report, agreement forms must be signed by 12 November 2010. In addition, the teacher must collect consent forms from the parents of the students involved, stating that the students may appear on News Day and practice News Days leading up to the broadcast. School Report does not collect these forms, but teachers are required to obtain written permission from parents. The next step is for the teacher to prepare a web page for the students’ news. Finally, the teacher and students create the news broadcast and upload it to their web page no later than 1600 GMT on 24 March 2011. BBC School Report is open to students between the ages of 11 and 14, and teachers can choose whether they want to present text-based news or to create audio or video broadcasts. The format of BBC School Report is designed to be flexible, so that teachers can adapt the programme to the needs of their classes. As an aide, video resources prepared by the BBC School Report team are available to participating teachers. As mentioned above, prior to the 24 March 2011 News Day, BBC School Report will host four practice days in late 2010 and early 2011. Participating schools will be contacted with specific dates. For more information on BBC School Report or to enrol, visit http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/school_report/7600511.stm. The website also features a map showing the location of participating schools.