Marcus Ryder

Background

About Marcus Ryder

Marcus Ryder is a published author, Chair of RADA Council (the UK's most prestigious drama school), and a leading expert on media diversity. In 2023 he was awarded the prestigious Percy Qoboza Foreign Journalist of the Year Award by the National Association of Black Journalists recognising contributions to journalism outside of the US. Variety magazine named him one of the 500 most influential business leaders shaping the global media industry in 2023. A journalist with over 25 years of experience, including 10 at senior management level. He has excelled in leading diverse teams to deliver daily financial and general news and award-winning investigative programmes. He is a leading authority in media diversity and is the Head of External Consultancies at the Sir Lenny Henry Centre for Media Diversity, a research institute dedicated to increasing diversity and inclusion in the UK media industry. He has given both oral and written evidence to the House of Commons and House of Lords Select Committees on diversity in television. Previously he was head of BBC Scotland Current Affairs Programmes for eight years and has has considerable knowledge of international broadcasting markets working in China and Malaysia for five years. He is passionate about the role of a free media in driving global change and media diversity. He continues to regularly write on these issues for publications including the Guardian, Independent, Broadcast, and Television. He has won numerous awards including: 1. Winner British Journalism Awards 2015 - Panorama “Catch Me If You Can” on drugs in sport, including Nike’s involvement 2. Winner Royal Television Society Current Affairs 2015 - “The Dog Factory” which helped change the law in how dogs are raised and sold in the UK 3. Winner BBC Ruby Awards Best Investigation 2014 - Panorama “The Innocent Serial Killer” into a serious miscarriage of justice of a convicted serial killer. Winner Foreign Press Awards 2012 - “Who Stole The Jerseys” investigation into football corruption. He has published two books with Faber Books,"Access All Areas - the Diversity Manifesto for TV and Beyond" and "Black British Lives Matter - A Clarion Call for Equality".