Ken Rees, the former ITN reporter known for his compassionate and effective reporting, has died aged 76 after a battle with cancer.
Rees was a familiar face on television throughout the 1980s and 1990s, reporting from across the world on major stories including the civil war in Beirut, the Falklands war, and the 1991 Gulf war. He began as the broadcaster's northern correspondent before being promoted to the ITN Washington office in the mid-1980s, where he worked alongside Jon Snow.
His talents were recognised in 1986 when he was named reporter of the year by the Royal Television Society. Judges praised him for 'his ability to report effectively and sympathetically on every kind of story, from hard news to personal human tragedy'.
Tributes have been paid by former colleagues. Jon Snow described him as 'stolid, dependable, and prolific, always ready to go when the reporting call came – a kind spirit too'. Nigel Hancock, his former chief news editor, said: 'Ken was a legend in television news. I have never known a reporter more determined to track down the news, to find that sometimes illusory truth.'
John Toker recalled: 'Ken Rees had a voracious appetite for a story and was ultra-competitive. The fact that he stood 6ft 5in tall and wore a beard meant he could impose himself and take charge of any media scrum.' Chris Shaw, editorial director of ITN, added: 'Ken was a brilliant, funny man and a household name in his time at ITN.'
Rees is survived by his wife, Lynne, son Christian, daughter Samantha, and three grandchildren.
