My Life In Media: Kate Silverton

Kate Silverton, 36, is a presenter on BBC News 24's weekday morning broadcasts with Simon McCoy, and a regular weekend presenter of BBC Breakfast. She also reports for Panorama. Silverton is credited with provoking the resignation of her former co-presenter, BBC veteran Philip Hayton, over a personality clash, but her biggest on-air gaffe has been wearing a garish printed shirt, which proved too bright for viewers. She developed a taste for foreign assignments after spending Christmas 2006 in Basra and will report from Lesotho in May.

What inspired you to embark on a career in the media?

When I was very young I wanted to be a foreign correspondent. I watched Under Fire with Nick Nolte and thought that's what I'd like to do. I'm always inspired by those events or people who compel us to look at the bigger picture and question our ethics. My heroes at home were Martin Bell, Kate Adie and Sir Ranulph Fiennes. It's taken me a while to get to report from abroad but I have loved the path in between.

When you were 15, what was the family newspaper and did you read it?

The Daily Mail. My parents still read it. I probably didn't read it in depth - at 15 I was more interested in sports and working to earn money for my travels abroad. I now read as many newspapers as I can in the mornings. My staples are The Independent, the Daily Mail and The Daily Telegraph with a check of The Sun, Mirror, Times, Guardian and FT.

What were your favourite TV and radio programmes?

From Our Own Correspondent on Radio 4, Newsround and Blue Peter.

Describe your job

I present and report for BBC News.

What media do you turn to first thing in the morning?

I'm up at 3am or 4am depending on whether I am presenting Breakfast or News 24. I'll usually put Five Live on. I love listening to Rhod Sharp on Up All Night. As soon as I arrive in the office I'll watch the headlines on BBC World. I'll then turn to the papers. Then I will have BBC Breakfast on the screen with the Today programme coming through my headphones.

Do you consult any media sources during the working day?

While on air, the laptops you see on our desks are our lifelines. They give us access to internal information, the internet and the news agency wires.

What's the best thing about your job?

Everything. I adore my job. I love the variety, the diversity of subjects I am called upon to cover and, of course, broadcasting live for three hours a day is the biggest buzz and keeps me mentally agile.

And the worst?

Getting up at 3am if I am on Breakfast.

What is the proudest achievement in your working life?

I have done a fair bit this year to be proud of. Two Panorama programmes, a live broadcast from Tavistock Square for the 7/7 anniversary last year and yes, the Oscar coverage presented challenges of its own. However, overall I would have to say my trip to Iraq at Christmas has been my biggest achievement to date. I was the only television journalist in Basra. I had three days of breaking news to report. I came under mortar attack live on air. It was an incredibly fulfilling 10 days.

And your most embarrassing moment?

How can I not mention "the blouse"? It's funny - the newspaper reports said I was "forced" to make an apology after wearing a rather "interesting" blue and green number on Breakfast one morning. The story was repeated worldwide, would you believe. My "forced apology" was a tongue-in-cheek response to a few of our early morning regular viewers who had emailed me to say it was a rather unusual choice for me. Although the blouse received more support than not so it's still in my wardrobe (although I am not sure I would dare to wear it again).

At home, what do you tune in to?

Five Live and Radio 4 as well as News 24 constantly.

How do you feel you influence the media?

I'm not sure I do - unless you consider the sales of blue and green blouses plummeting. I guess wearing spectacles on air was something of a first, according to emails I received.

What is your Sunday paper and do you have a favourite magazine?

I buy as many as I am able to read. Yesterday it was The Independent, The Mail on Sunday and News of the World. I like the magazine sections in The Sunday Times. I just never seem to have the time to get to them!

Name the one career ambition you want to realise before you retire

To do more foreign corresponding and - at home - to present a current affairs programme that addresses and debates moral, social and religious issues.

If you didn't work in the media, what would you do?

I'd perhaps be working for a charity in Africa, building schools or opening an orphanage.

Who in the media do you most admire and why?

Jon Snow. His only agenda is to search for the truth.

The CV

1995 Spends two years at a London investment bank after a degree in Arabic and Middle Eastern history and politics

1997 Decides on a career change and trains at BBC Look North, going on to work as a travel and traffic reporter on BBC Radio Newcastle

1998 Headhunted by Tyne Tees TV to report and present the evening news

2000 Moves to Norwich to co-present The Wright Stuff on Five

2002 Presents Weekend with Rod Liddle and Kate Silverton

2003 Begins presenting on BBC News 24

2006 Presents BBC Breakfast with Dermot Murnaghan and fulfils a childhood ambition reporting for the new-look Panorama, including an exposé on IVF doctors