"Public Affairs was more fun that it should have been - given the content."

Claire Young, magazine editor

Richard is a well-known broadcaster with more than 20 years experience of reporting, producing, news-reading, and presenting.

He has interviewed all the major political leaders during his career. He's also covered every General Election in the past 20 years, either as a Reporter or Election Special Presenter.

Richard is currently the Weekend News Editor at Heart FM.

http://www.heartsussex.co.uk/RichardLindfield

 

Richard, what is your style of teaching/lecturing?

Public affairs is all about how the world works at both a local and central government level, so I make sure what I teach relates to what is happening today.

 

What is your claim to fame?

I interviewed Robert Maxwell in the Presidential suite of the Addis Ababa Hilton during the height of the Ethiopian famine, having flown into the country without a passport in the middle of the night, on a plane transporting 30,000 blankets donated by BBC Radio Sussex listeners.

Or in a Southern FM bulletin I told listeners Connex hoped to run a normal cervix. A taxi driver phoned to say he had driven off the road laughing.

 

Do you have an industry story you can share?

I was fronting the BBC Radio Sussex 1992 General Election Special, going on air at 10.01pm. At 10pm the national news desk sent out a flash 'exit polls predict Labour win'.

"Good evening, we could be seeing a new face in Number Ten," I intoned, "The BBC exit polls are predicting Neil Kinnock will be the new Prime Minister."

At 10.02 another flash - 'Sorry, should have read Tory win'. Whoops.