Clare Balding is to receive The Media Society Award for 2015 for her outstanding contribution to television and radio broadcasting.
The television presenter is one of the BBC’s highest-profile - and highest-paid - personalities. Aside from her work for the BBC’s sports division and presenting the Radio 4 programme Ramblings, she can also be seen on Channel 4 and BT Sport and heard on BBC Radio 2.
Prior to her TV career, she was a leading amateur jockey and her initial broadcasting jobs involved racing. But she has since covered many sports, including the Olympics.
Geraldine Sharpe Newton, the Media Society’s president, said: “Clare Balding is one of the most popular and trusted of Britain’s presenters, from the world of horses and racing, through country hiking to Olympic sports and the boat race.
“Whatever the subject, her crisp, intelligent scrutiny of sports men and women, their styles, their ambition and their worst fears are explored with a concise engaging manner.”
Balding said she was “delighted and grateful to be chosen”. She said: “Looking at the list of past award recipients, I feel very undeserving of being in their company.”
They include Alistair Cooke, David Attenborough, Ann Leslie, Jenni Murray, Jeremy Paxman, Gillian Reynolds, Jon Snow, John Humphrys, David Dimbleby, David Frost and Harold Evans.
Balding will receive her award at the Media Society’s annual dinner in February 2016 at a Mayfair hotel.
Sources: Media Society/The Guardian
