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Search forUniversity honour to recognise ITV man David Mannion's campaign
Tuesday, December 02, 2008, 07:30
Terry was awarded a posthumous honorary degree for services to journalism, following his death while working in Iraq.
Now David, 57, is set to get his own honorary degree in recognition of his campaign for the introduction of an international law to protect on-duty journalists from being wilfully killed in war zones.
David, editor-in-chief at ITV, was best friend of Terry and godfather to his daughter, Chelsey.
He said he is hopeful that a breakthrough has been made with the likelihood that the French authorities may sponsor the campaign.
David, who will be made a doctor of letters in the January ceremony, comes from Derby. He said: "ITN's campaign continues to push for recognition in international law to make it a crime to wilfully kill a journalist in a war zone while they are on active duty. The international community has to wake up to this.
"We need a state sponsor to take this forward and the British government has, I believe, quite shamefully decided not to sponsor this, but we are not giving up and the French government may take this forward.
"I am thrilled that I am to receive an honorary degree. It is a tremendous honour."
France also mourned the loss of one of its own countrymen in 2003 on the same day that Terry Lloyd died.
French cameraman Fred Nerac was involved in the same incident and local Iraqi translator Hussein Osman also perished.
David has had a long career in journalism, starting at 17 at the Long Eaton Advertiser.
He moved to Raymond's News Agency, in Derby, where he worked with Terry Lloyd, and other top media men – Mark Sharman and Trevor East.
Following spells in local radio and television, David was appointed deputy news editor at ITN in London in 1979.
He netted a world exclusive for ITN by securing the first interview with Nelson Mandela after his 27 years in captivity. He said: "We offered to produce a news strategy so that Mandela could successfully handle the media onslaught in Soweto – in return for the first interview, conducted by Sir Trevor McDonald."
David has also produced a string of shows including GMTV and The Cook Report. He became editor-in-chief at ITV in 2003.
media mission: Top, David Mannion; left, Terry Lloyd; above, David Mannion, Terry Lloyd's daughter, Chelsey, and Sir Trevor McDonald arrive at Mr Lloyd's inquest. Above right, the aftermath of the attack
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