Dublin-born journalist Orla Guerin is the BBC’s Senior International Correspondent, based in Istanbul. She is a multi-award-winning veteran foreign correspondent with BBC News, who has held a succession of high-profile postings. In recent times Orla has played a prominent role in the BBC’s coverage of the war in Ukraine.
She is an Honorary Professor of International Journalism at the National University of Ireland in Galway (NUIG).
Since taking up the International Correspondent role in 2019 she has reported from across the Middle East, South America, South Asia, and the Caucasus, including assignments in Venezuela, Colombia, El Salvador, Brazil, India, Algeria, Israel, Azerbaijan, and Yemen. She has reported from frontlines, and conducted high profile interviews with international leaders including President Nicholas Maduro of Venezuela, and President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan.
Her work has been recognised internationally with awards in the UK, USA, France, Italy and her native Ireland. She has been awarded honorary degrees from 8 Universities in both the UK and Ireland.
Since joining the BBC in 1995 she has been based in Cairo, Islamabad, Johannesburg, Jerusalem, and Rome, as well as spending periods on attachment in Los Angeles and Moscow.
During her first posting in the Middle East (2000–2005) she reported on the second Palestinian Intifada, the death of Yasser Arafat, and the Israeli pull-out from the Gaza settlements.
While working as Africa Correspondent (2006-2008) Orla reported from conflict zones including Darfur, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Zimbabwe - which she entered undercover.
During her time in Pakistan she reported from around the country stories including the devastating nationwide floods of 2010, the first democratic transition of power in May 2013, suicide bombings, sectarian violence, the Taliban shooting of Malala Yousufzai, and the battle for education for girls.
In the 1990's, while working for Irish state TV (RTE), Orla reported extensively on the collapse of the former Soviet Union, including lengthy assignments in Moscow, and trips around the former USSR. She covered the coup attempt against former President Mikhail Gorbachev in 1991, and the siege of the Russian parliament.
She also covered the breakup of the former Yugoslavia, including assignments in the Bosnian capital Sarajevo, while it was under siege. She reported extensively on the Kosovo conflict and the ensuing refugee crisis in Macedonia.
She holds a Master’s Degree in Film Studies from University College Dublin (1999), and a Certificate in Journalism from the College of Commerce ( 1985).