Introducing…Raphael Rowe!

POPS are delighted to announce that renowned journalist and investigative reporter, Raphael Rowe, has become POPS’ first Ambassador!

Raphael currently reports and presents for The One Show and Sunday Morning Live on BBC One. Raphael joined the BBC in 2001 as a reporter for the Radio 4 News Programme, Today and went on to report for many years on BBC One’s flagship current affairs television programme, Panorama before becoming freelance in 2016.

Raphael’s path to becoming a reporter and presenter has been unique and remarkable.

In 1988, aged 20, he was sentenced to life imprisonment for a murder and robbery he did not commit. In July 2000, after 12 years in prison, the Court of Appeal quashed his wrongful convictions and he was freed.

After a year travelling the world, Raphael returned to the UK determined to become a reporter. Raphael is self-educated on the criminal justice system and, against the odds during his years in prison he studied journalism through a correspondence course.

As the subject of numerous stories by broadcast and print journalists during his long campaign for justice, Raphael has a unique insight into both sides of the reporting coin.

Through his singular background, and as the first person of mixed race to report for Today, the Six O’clock News and Panorama, Raphael helped re-write the rules on what makes a BBC reporter. Raphael’s investigation for Panorama into the murder of Jill Dando cast doubts on firearms forensic evidence used at the trial of Barry George, who was convicted of killing the BBC TV presenter. In August 2008, Barry George was acquitted at a retrial and freed. Raphael also uncovered crucial information during the filming of ‘Death on Corfu’ that helped the parents of the two children who died from carbon monoxide poisoning whilst on a Thomas Cook package holiday.

Raphael has recently filmed a new series for Netflix, Inside the World’s Toughest Prisons which will be released on December 2018.

POPS believe Raphael’s lived experience within the criminal justice system, his unswerving commitment to casting light on matters of injustice and his passion for inspiring underserved and diverse audiences make him a fantastic fit as an Ambassador for our organisation. We look forward to working together in 2019!