Pink News editor becomes youngest TV correspondent
Channel 4 News has appointed PinkNews.co.uk editor and internet entrepreneur Benjamin Cohen as its first ever Technology Correspondent.
Mr Cohen, 23, started PinkNews.co.uk last year and has overseen a team in breaking major news stories such as questioning the appointment of Women and Equality Minister Ruth Kelly.
He will still continue as a consultant editor and board director of PinkNews.co.uk and The Pink News, which was launched last week. As the youngest ever network TV correspondent, his Channel 4 brief will cover digital media, e-commerce and the internet, and he will be based in the station’s expanding Business Economics Unit situated at ITN in central London.
Mr Cohen will work across Channel 4 News at Noon, Channel 4 News More 4 News , as well on the programme’s new radio programme The Morning Report, which is broadcast on digital station Oneword and also available as a podcast. He will also contribute to the Channel 4 News website.
Channel 4 News Editor Jim Gray said: “From making money, to personal expression, to having fun, there’s an explosion of innovation and business unleashed by advancing digital technology which all makes for a very fertile area for our journalism. Benjamin’s entrepreneurial and journalistic experience gives him great insights into what’s happening and where it may be leading, and he’ll be a terrific addition to our team.”
Mr Cohen said: “I’m extremely excited to be joining the award winning team at Channel 4 News. As a regular viewer and occasional guest it will be great to join the onscreen team. The fact that Channel 4 News has taken the decision to appoint their first Technology Correspondent recognises their foresight and uniqueness.”
At the age of 15, Mr Cohen set up the website SoJewish, which was at one time valued at £5 million. By 2001, when Benjamin started his university career, he was already running his second internet company CyberBritain. In 2005 he launched PinkNews.co.uk, a gay news website and newspaper edited by him.
His editorial responsibilities at PinkNews.co.uk and The PinkNews will be handed over to Marc Shoffman in London and David Harvey in Brighton.
He’ll take up the post in the middle of July.
