Colleen Harris

Hi, and welcome! I'm a journalist, host, and producer with deep experience in news and current affairs, alongside roots in the music industry as a MOBO Award-winning singer - an experience that shapes the stories I tell across music, culture, and society.

Drawing on 16 years’ experience at BBC News, I’ve spent my career amplifying underserved voices - from reporter and producer to on-screen presenter. I now have a portfolio career in creative storytelling, producing digital content, and moderating panels and roundtables for music industry and civic events. I also write for Music Week and occasionally serve as a judge for their Music Week Awards and Women In Music Awards, which keeps me closely connected to emerging talent and trends. Alongside this, I founded the YouTube podcast series ‘Guitars of R&B’ to reach underserved communities in the guitar landscape. As host, I interview professional touring guitarists behind some of the biggest names in music including Michael Jackson, James Brown, and Beyonce. I’m also the executive producer and editor, handling all aspects from guest curation to creative direction, and content production to social media (see links below).

MY STORY IN MEDIA AND MUSIC

As a producer on the BBC’s national Six and Ten o'clock TV News, I worked on some of the biggest stories of our time - from the Tunisia and Nice terrorist attacks to the death of the Duke of Edinburgh - while occasionally pitching and reporting arts stories for the programme. I've presented more than 40 films for BBC regional current affairs programme Inside Out, fronted a culture magazine show 'Global Pulse' for BBC World TV News, and occasionally presented 'The Cultural Frontline' for BBC World Service. My reporting has brought focus to underserved audiences - from covering the 2005 Birmingham riots between Black and Asian communities for New Nation newspaper (Britain's best selling Black newspaper, now defunct), to the eviction of Europe's largest illegal travellers site Dale Farm for BBC local, regional and national networks. Before journalism, I studied music at the BRIT School of Performing Arts and pursued a music career in a girl group, which led to winning a MOBO Award in 1999. Today, in a return to roots, I play guitar as a way to stay grounded, centred, and creatively nourished.

• WATCH COLLEEN’S PODCAST

• WATCH COLLEEN’S SHOWREEL