{{Short description|British journalist, television presenter and author}} {{Use dmy dates|date=March 2026}} {{Use British English|date=March 2026}} '''Matthew Raymond Snoddy''' {{post-nominals|country=GBR|OBE}} (born 1946) is a British journalist, television presenter, author and media commentator. He is known for his extensive career covering media and press issues for national newspapers, and as the founding presenter of the BBC's ''Newswatch'' programme (2004–2012). He was previously media editor of ''The Times'' and media correspondent at the ''Financial Times''.
== Early life and education == Snoddy was born in Larne, County Antrim, Northern Ireland.<ref name="bbc-profile">{{cite web |title=NewsWatch Profiles: Raymond Snoddy |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/newswatch/ifs/hi/newsid_3700000/newsid_3701800/3701840.stm |website=BBC News |access-date=20 March 2026}}</ref> He was educated at Larne Grammar School and subsequently read for a degree at Queen's University Belfast.<ref name="bbc-profile"/>
== Career ==
=== Print journalism === After university, Snoddy worked on local and regional newspapers before joining ''The Times'' in 1971.<ref name="bite-sized">{{cite web |last=Snoddy |first=Raymond |title=Raymond Snoddy |url=https://bite-sizedbooks.com/raymond-snoddy-2/ |website=Bite-Sized Books |access-date=20 March 2026}}</ref> In 1978, he moved to the ''Financial Times'', where he spent 19 years as media correspondent, reporting on media and communications issues.<ref name="medialeader-bio">{{cite web |title=Raymond Snoddy – Author |url=https://uk.themedialeader.com/author/raysnoddy/ |website=The Media Leader |access-date=20 March 2026}}</ref> During his time at the ''Financial Times'', he established himself as one of the United Kingdom's most prominent media reporters.<ref name="mediamasters">{{cite web |title=Raymond Snoddy – Media Correspondent |url=https://mediamasters.fm/raymond-snoddy/ |website=Media Masters |date=22 January 2015 |access-date=20 March 2026}}</ref>
In 1997, Snoddy returned to ''The Times'' as media editor, a position he held until 2004.<ref name="bite-sized"/><ref name="medialeader-bio"/> Following his departure from ''The Times'', he became a freelance journalist, writing columns for ''The Independent'' and contributing to a range of publications.<ref name="pressgazette-newswatch">{{cite web |title=Snoddy acts as BBC viewers' watchdog in post-Hutton era |url=https://pressgazette.co.uk/archive-content/snoddy-acts-as-bbc-viewers-watchdog-in-post-hutton-era/ |website=Press Gazette |access-date=20 March 2026}}</ref>
{{As of|2026}}, Snoddy writes a regular weekly column for The Media Leader (part of Mediatel) and contributes to the ''British Journalism Review''.<ref name="medialeader-bio"/><ref name="bjr-bias">{{cite journal |last=Snoddy |first=Raymond |title=Is there bias at the BBC? |journal=British Journalism Review |volume=36 |issue=4 |year=2025 |doi=10.1177/09564748251398642}}</ref> He also contributes to ''InPublishing'' and chairs media industry seminars and conferences.<ref name="linkedin">{{cite web |title=Ray Snoddy – LinkedIn |url=https://www.linkedin.com/in/raysnoddy |website=LinkedIn |access-date=20 March 2026}}</ref>
=== Television === Snoddy's television career began with occasional appearances as a guest presenter on ''What the Papers Say'', the long-running newspaper review programme, while he was at the ''Financial Times''.<ref name="imdb-wtps">{{cite web |title=What the Papers Say – Full Cast & Crew |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0273032/fullcredits/ |website=IMDb |access-date=20 March 2026}}</ref>
From 1989 to 1990, he presented ''Hard News'', a weekly Channel 4 series examining the conduct of the British press.<ref name="imdb-hardnews">{{cite web |title=Hard News (TV Series 1989–1992) |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt15104720/ |website=IMDb |access-date=20 March 2026}}</ref> He also presented ''Media Monthly'' on Sky News.<ref name="bbc-profile"/>
In 2004, following the Hutton Inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the death of David Kelly, the BBC launched ''Newswatch'' as part of an initiative to make BBC News more accountable to its audience. Snoddy was appointed its founding presenter.<ref name="pressgazette-newswatch"/> The programme, broadcast on the BBC News channel on Fridays and repeated during ''BBC Breakfast'' on Saturday mornings, brought viewers face to face with BBC journalists and editors to discuss editorial decisions and complaints.<ref name="pressgazette-newswatch"/> In October 2012, Samira Ahmed succeeded Snoddy as presenter of ''Newswatch''.<ref name="pressgazette-ahmed">{{cite web |title=Samira Ahmed takes over from Ray Snoddy as Newswatch presenter |url=https://pressgazette.co.uk/publishers/broadcast/samira-ahmed-takes-over-from-ray-snoddy-as-newswatch-presenter/ |website=Press Gazette |date=3 October 2012 |access-date=20 March 2026}}</ref>
=== Media commentary and consultancy === As a freelance media consultant, Snoddy regularly chairs and speaks at industry events, including the annual Society of Editors conference.<ref name="soe-conf">{{cite web |title=Conferences 2004–2010 |url=https://www.societyofeditors.org/events/previous-conferences/conferences-2004-2010/ |website=Society of Editors |access-date=20 March 2026}}</ref> He has also appeared as a panellist at events organised by the Institute for Government, discussing topics such as the future of news and impartiality in broadcasting.<ref name="ifg">{{cite web |title=Future of news and current affairs: BBC, Fox or third way? |url=https://www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/event/future-news-and-current-affairs-bbc-fox-or-third-way |website=Institute for Government |access-date=20 March 2026}}</ref>
He is also a contributor to books published by Bite-Sized Books, including edited volumes on the future of the BBC and the intersection of journalism and politics in a post-truth era.<ref name="bsb-journalism">{{cite web |title=Bite-Sized Books |url=https://bite-sizedbooks.com |website=Bite-Sized Books |access-date=20 March 2026}}</ref>
== Honours == In the 2000 New Year Honours, Snoddy was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for services to journalism, while serving as media editor of ''The Times''.<ref name="gazette">{{London Gazette |issue=55710 |date=31 December 1999 |supp=y}}</ref>
== Bibliography == * {{cite book |last=Snoddy |first=Raymond |title=The Good, the Bad and the Unacceptable: The Hard News about the British Press |publisher=Faber and Faber |year=1993 |isbn=978-0-571-16153-9}} * {{cite book |last=Snoddy |first=Raymond |title=Greenfinger: The Rise of Michael Green and Carlton Communications |publisher=Faber and Faber |year=1996 |isbn=978-0-571-17374-7}} * {{cite book |last1=Snoddy |first1=Raymond |last2=Ashworth |first2=Jon |title=It Could Be You: The Untold Story of the National Lottery |publisher=Faber and Faber |year=2001 |isbn=978-0-571-20087-0}}
== References == {{Reflist}}
== External links == * {{IMDb name|1273092}} * [https://uk.themedialeader.com/author/raysnoddy/ Column archive at The Media Leader] * [https://muckrack.com/raymondsnoddy Raymond Snoddy] on Muck Rack
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Snoddy, Raymond}} Category:1946 births Category:Living people Category:People from Larne Category:People educated at Larne Grammar School Category:Alumni of Queen's University Belfast Category:British male journalists Category:Journalists from Northern Ireland Category:BBC newsreaders and journalists Category:Television presenters from Northern Ireland Category:Officers of the Order of the British Empire Category:Columnists from Northern Ireland Category:Male non-fiction writers from Northern Ireland Category:The Times journalists Category:Financial Times people