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Christopher Ranville Cramer (3 January 1948 – 16 January 2021) was a British news journalist and executive. During his career, he was head of news gathering for the BBC, an executive at CNN International, and a consultant for The Wall Street Journal. However, he was perhaps best known in his field by raising training standards for journalists who are given dangerous assignments, as well as suggesting safety equipment while away and necessary counselling upon their return. Such methods arose from his being taken hostage in the Iranian Embassy siege in London in 1980.

Early years

Born and raised in Portsmouth, England, Cramer, as a teenager, became a reporter for The Portsmouth Evening News. In 1970, he moved to BBC Radio Solent and then worked in BBC television news as an editor and field producer.

The Iranian Embassy siege

In 1980, as part of Cramer's BBC work, he went to the Iranian embassy in London to obtain a travel visa. He was trapped, along with 25 other hostages, when Iranian Arabs, campaigning for sovereignty of Khuzestan Province, seized control of the building. He told his captors that he felt extremely unwell, and, according to Cramer, "they were convinced that I was having a heart attack or something worse than that." He was released and gave information on the situation to the Special Air Service team preparing to storm the embassy. Five terrorists and two hostages were killed over the six-day event; Cramer was released the second day. He declined psychiatric counselling, however he later believed he had suffered post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and called it "the single most terrifying thing of entire life".

Later career

It was Cramer that was responsible for giving future Middle East editor Jeremy Bowen his first job at the BBC in 1988. Cramer became head of news gathering at the BBC in the mid-1990s and sat on the BBC's News and Current Affairs Management Board. With BBC safety managers, he introduced the first hostile environment training courses, risk assessments and equipment for those covering conflicts. He later introduced the first confidential counselling service for news teams, recognising PTSD, and helped found the International News Safety Institute (INSI), which spearheaded safety across the news industry. He later became president of the INSI.

In 1996 Cramer joined CNN, where he oversaw global news operations as head of CNN International for 11 years. He was responsible for establishing the position of Senior Editor of Middle East Affairs at CNN, after the September 11 attacks. After CNN he took on senior roles at the Thomson Reuters news service and headed a video production team at The Wall Street Journal.

Death

Cramer died of cancer on 16 January 2021 at age 73. He is survived by his wife, their two children, and a daughter from a previous marriage.

References

1. ^ Sambrook, Richard. "Chris Cramer: Tributes paid after former BBC and CNN journalist dies aged 73". BBC. Retrieved 17 January 2021.
2. ^ Hagerty, James R. "News Executive Worked to Protect Journalists in Hot Spots". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 17 January 2021.
3. ^ "Tributes to former CNNI head Chris Cramer". Broadband TV News. 18 January 2021. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
4. ^ CNN, Michael Holmes. "Chris Cramer, veteran journalist and former CNN executive, dies aged 73". CNN. Retrieved 18 January 2021. {{cite news}}: |last1= has generic name (help)

Further reading

• Hagerty, James R. (17 January 2021). "News Executive Worked to Protect Journalists in Hot Spots". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 18 January 2021.

• 1948 births
• 2021 deaths
• BBC newsreaders and journalists
• British people taken hostage
• CNN executives
• People from Portsmouth
• People with post-traumatic stress disorder
• The Wall Street Journal people
• Deaths from cancer in England