naga munchetty sparkly jumpsuit© Photo: Getty Images

BBC Breakfast's Naga Munchetty admits job is 'hard work' as she supports important cause

The broadcaster is calling for more diversity in newsrooms

Content Managing Editor
October 13, 2020

Naga Munchetty has opened up about how much she loves her day job, admitting that at times it can be "hard work".

The BBC Breakfast presenter, who usually co-hosts the news programme alongside Charlie Stayt, spoke in a promotional video for the John Schofield Trust, a charity that helps young people access a career in journalism through mentoring and training.

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Naga showed her support for their mission to have a more diverse newsroom, as she said: "I know I certainly went into [the industry] blind, and could have really done with some help to just know what I was getting into. I love it obviously, but it's hard work. So any help that disadvantaged people can get to get into this industry, and bring more diversity into this industry, I fully support."

WATCH: Naga Munchetty makes rare comment about her job

The charity posted the video, which Naga retweeted, alongside the caption: "Entering the news industry can be daunting for young journalists. But the practical support of the mentoring schemes run by the @JSchofieldTrust make a real difference. That's why @TVNaga01 backs our work. Please be an ally & donate here: https://bit.ly/3hNMvjc #NewsroomsForAll."

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The charity is aiming to raise £25,000 to be able to fund more face-to-face mentoring schemes, more masterclasses and introduce networking events outside of London. Last year, it helped 75 young people access a career in journalism through mentoring and training, and delivered masterclasses to over 200 young and aspiring journalists, relying on volunteers and their small charity team.

© Photo: Getty Images

Naga called for more diversity in the newsroom

Naga, who is half Indian and half Mauritian, joined BBC Breakfast in 2009 as a relief presenter, before becoming one of the team's main presenters in 2014.

MORE: Naga Munchetty pictured in stunning rare wedding snap

She was notoriously reprimanded by the BBC last year after taking issue with President Trump's comments, telling his opponents to "go back" to "places from which they came". Naga said Trump's tweets made her "furious", saying live on air: "Every time I have been told, as a woman of colour, to go back to where I came from, that was embedded in racism. Now I'm not accusing anyone of anything here, but you know what certain phrases mean… Anyway, I'm not here to give my opinion."

© Photo: Getty Images

Naga exiting the BBC after being at the centre of an impartiality row

The BBC received complaints about Naga sharing her own experience instead of simply reading the news – and breaching the corporation's editorial guidelines on neutrality.

But after the corporation upheld the complaints and publicly reprimanded Naga for accusing Trump of racism and going against their broadcasting policy of neutrality, several public figures signed an open letter, calling for the BBC to retract their decision and saying they "stood" by Naga.

Former Director-General of the BBC, Tony Hall, did overturn the decision after looking into it personally.

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