Mark Townsend
Biography
Mark Townsend is the award-winning crime and defence correspondent at The Observer. Winner at the prestigious 2008 Foreign Press Association (FPA) awards for his reports on Iraq, his dispatches on Kenny Meighan's platoon in Afghanistan were described by the FPA's judging panel in 2007 as "breathtaking" and were highly-commended (runner-up) in the year's best international features category. He has also been short-listed for several other international journalism prizes. His reports from Helmand province were lauded by the troops for their honesty and described, among others, by the BBCs global director of news as "remarkable." The Ministry of Defence, however, took exception to the candour of the reporting and attempted to ban him from returning to the frontline.
In 2008 Mark wrote 'Fifty Ways to F**k the Planet', an environmental satire published by Collins UK that was praised by luminaries including Zac Goldsmith, Rosie Boycott, Nick Cave and Alexander McQueen. In 1997 he was voted British environmental journalist of the year. Other awards Mark has won include specialist reporter of the year and young reporter of the year. He also worked for three years as the consumer affairs editor on the Daily Express and Sunday Express. In February 2010 he was promoted to Home affairs editor of The Observer.
In 2008 Mark wrote 'Fifty Ways to F**k the Planet', an environmental satire published by Collins UK that was praised by luminaries including Zac Goldsmith, Rosie Boycott, Nick Cave and Alexander McQueen. In 1997 he was voted British environmental journalist of the year. Other awards Mark has won include specialist reporter of the year and young reporter of the year. He also worked for three years as the consumer affairs editor on the Daily Express and Sunday Express. In February 2010 he was promoted to Home affairs editor of The Observer.
Books
