Caroline Hawley: Questions & Answers

Name?
CAROLINE HAWLEY

Age?
39

Where are you from?
UK, BUT BORN IN NIGERIA

How did you get started in broadcasting?
IN BBC WORLD SERVICE RADIO.

When was that?
1995. A BIT LATE IN THE DAY — I WAS WORKING IN PRINT JOURNALISM BEFORE

Why News broadcasting?
BY ACCIDENT AT THE START! BUT JOURNALISM IN GENERAL GIVES YOU A FANTASTIC LICENCE TO BE NOSY. IT SOMETIMES FEELS LIKE THE BEST JOB IN THE WORLD (THOUGH WHEN NEWS HAPPENS AT THE WRONG TIME IT CAN ALSO FEEL LIKE THE WORST!) ONE GREAT THING ABOUT BROADCASTING IS THAT YOU WORK IN TEAMS WHICH, FOR ME, BEATS SITTING AND WRITING ALONE.

Where else would have viewers seen or heard you before?
BBC WORLD SERVICE RADIO

What is your Best on-air moment?
THAT’S A TRICKY ONE …. BUT IT WAS FUN DOING LIVES AT THE BBC BAGHDAD OFFICE ON THE DAY THAT SADDAM HUSSEIN WAS CAPTURED. I HAD TO WEAR A FLAK JACKET TO PROTECT ME FROM CELEBRATORY GUNFIRE

What is your Worst on-air moment?
WHEN MY BRAIN FROZE DURING A LIVE INTERVIEW FROM BAGHDAD FOR THE 6 O’CLOCK NEWS. FUNNILY ENOUGH I CAN’T REMEMBER THE SUBJECT!

What would you like to do before your career ends?
SO MANY THINGS …

What do you like to do in your spare time?
SEE FILMS, TRAVEL — SINCE LEAVING BAGHDAD EVEN JUST WALKING DOWN THE STREET OR GOING OUT FOR A COFFEE FEELS LIKE A LUXURY

What advice would you give to anyone that would like to get into the broadcasting world?
GO FOR IT AND DON’T GIVE UP. I CAN’T COUNT THE NUMBER OF REJECTIONS I HAVE HAD ALONG THE WAY. A THICK SKIN DEFINITELY HELPS.

A big thanks to Caroline for taking part.