Broadcaster Moira Stuart awarded honorary degree by Northumbria University

Celebrated broadcaster and journalist Moira Stuart has been awarded an honorary degree of Doctor of Letters from Northumbria University, Newcastle.

With a broadcast career spanning five decades, Stuart made history in 1978 as BBC Radio 4’s first black announcer and newsreader.

The legendary broadcaster made history just a few years later in 1981 when she became the first black woman to read the national news on British television.

Over her decades in television and radio broadcasting, Stuart has continued to shift barriers when achieving personal success, opening doors and paving the way for others.

Speaking about her honorary degree from Northumbria, which was presented at the University’s Newcastle City Campus, Stuart said: “I’m so moved by this honour. And I’m deeply indebted to your grace and generosity.”

The Doctor of Letters degree comes as the latest in a long line of titles and awards given to Stewart for her hard work throughout her career.

She received a CBE last year and said at the time: “Over the years, since my first Radio 4 news bulletin in 1978 through to my last BBC News summary in 2018, I’ve been committed to public service broadcasting, which gave me the chance to shift barriers, open doors, and change so many stagnant stereotypes.

She added that it “hadn’t been easy”.