HOW I GOT HERE

BBC correspondent and TV presenter Sima Kotecha charts her career journey in journalism

BBC correspondent Sima Kotecha

On Sima Kotecha’s Twitter bio, her location is listed as ‘wherever the story takes me’, a reflection of her passion for her job and the versatility of her career. She’s reported from Helmand Province, the White House for Obama’s 2008 election and more recently, covered the coronavirus crisis in Italy. Described by Jeremy Paxman as an ‘exceptionally good interviewer’ and John Humphrys as ‘one to watch’, we caught up with Sima to find out what drives her success.

I WAS A CURIOUS CHILD.

My mother says that when I was younger, I used to stare and ask a lot of questions. She would tell me to stop, but in my head I wasn’t being rude. I was just interested in other people. It’s a trait I have carried with me – and it’s an important part of my job today.

I STUDIED FOR A DEGREE IN ENGLISH, FOLLOWED BY A MASTER’S IN POLITICS AND MEDIA AT GOLDSMITHS IN LONDON. It was during my postgrad that I fell in love with journalism. At that time, there was a lot of conversation around spin, with Peter Mandelson and Alastair Campbell at the forefront of the media’s attention. It was exciting, and I wanted a slice of it.

I GOT MY FIRST JOB AT THE BBC AGED 24 AS A RESEARCHER FOR BBC RADIO BERKSHIRE. It was only a short contract and I realised how competitive the industry can be when my editor told me that I wasn’t cut out for journalism. Horrified and upset, I went home to my parents. ‘Do you think you’re good enough?’ they asked. When I replied, ‘yes’, it was a big lesson in self-confidence. You need to believe in yourself.

INITIATIVE IS KEY.

With access to the BBC contact database, I sent emails to all the BBC bureau chiefs at offices across the world. I was amazed when the chief in New York asked if I’d like to do an internship there, so I took the leap.

I WENT ON TO REPORT FOR BBC RADIO ONE’S NEWSBEAT IN AMERICA.

There, I had some amazing opportunities, including interviewing Barack Obama in 2008, covering the 2010 earthquake in Haiti and reporting on the Oscars.

A GOOD SUPPORT NETWORK COMBATS FEAR.

Reporting from Afghanistan at the height of the war, I was on the frontline, sleeping at a Forward Operating Base in Helmand Province where mortars were being fired at us. Often, adrenaline takes over, and you don’t really digest where you are. However, whenever I did have a wobble, I was lucky to have had brilliant team-mates I could confide in.

In this job, talking about your feelings is invaluable.

IN 2011, I CAME BACK TO THE UK.

I got a job reporting on BBC Radio Four, made films for Newsnight and I was also Midlands correspondent for BBC News At Six and BBC News at Ten for three years. Now, I could be travelling anywhere for a story, reporting for up to 25 outlets a day including radio and TV. The great thing about the BBC is it’s so multi-faceted. I really enjoy that versatility.

‘IN THIS JOB, TALKING ABOUT YOUR FEELINGS IS INVALUABLE’

I FEEL A RESPONSIBILITY TO BE THE EYES AND EARS OF THE PUBLIC.

I sensed this keenly when I reported on the coronavirus crisis from Rome before it hit the UK. There, I was exposed to things that the public are not necessarily seeing, such as walking through the empty, eerie streets, or witnessing the effect of the virus first-hand in a hospital. For three-and-a-half weeks, I was talking about death every day. It was draining and tragic, but I also felt like I did some really solid journalism during that time.

I DO STRUGGLE TO SWITCH OFF FROM WORK.

Journalism can be all-consuming, and if I get a call at 9pm at night, I will end up working, which means that my work-life balance can be a struggle. However, I am learning to relax – taking time to read, going for a run or honing my skills cooking good Indian food. I’m teaching myself that I don’t always need to reply straight away. You need to be kind to yourself.