Devenport, Mark 1961-

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Devenport, Mark 1961-

PERSONAL:

Born 1961, in Oxford, England.

ADDRESSES:

CAREER:

Journalist. British Broadcasting Corporation, Northern Ireland, reporter, 1986-99, New York, NY, United Nations correspondent, then political editor, 1999—.

WRITINGS:

(With David Sharrock) Man of War, Man of Peace? The Unauthorized Biography of Gerry Adams, Macmillan (London, England), 1997, revised edition, Pan (London, England), 1998.

Flash Frames: Twelve Years Reporting Belfast, Blackstaff Press (Belfast, Northern Ireland), 2000.

SIDELIGHTS:

Mark Devenport is a journalist and reporter. Born in 1961, he first began working as a journalist for the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) in Northern Ireland in 1986 as a trainee. There he quickly acclimated himself to the topics he was reporting on, including bombings, shootings, and virtual civil war. He eventually became the network's Northern Ireland correspondent. In 1999 he transferred to New York City to become the BBC's United Nations correspondent, reporting on the people and events associated with the world body. He eventually returned to Northern Ireland, however, becoming the BBC's political editor there.

Devenport published his first book, Man of War, Man of Peace? The Unauthorized Biography of Gerry Adams, in 1997 with David Sharrock. The pair revised the account the following year. The book looks at the Irish Republican politician Gerry Adams and his role in the conflict in Northern Ireland.

A contributor to the Economist called the authors "young, determined, and professional journalists." The same contributor noted that they "show beyond reasonable doubt that Mr. Adams was a member of the IRA." The critic learned from the account, however, that "much hatred and distrust have to be overcome" before a proper settlement in Northern Ireland becomes reality.

In 2000 Devenport published an autobiographical account called Flash Frames: Twelve Years Reporting Belfast. As stated in the subtitle, he expands upon his time and experience covering the conflicts in Northern Ireland as a journalist.

BIOGRAPHICAL AND CRITICAL SOURCES:

BOOKS

Devenport, Mark, Flash Frames: Twelve Years Reporting Belfast, Blackstaff Press (Belfast, Northern Ireland), 2000.

PERIODICALS

Economist, January 24, 1998, review of Man of War, Man of Peace? The Unauthorized Biography of Gerry Adams, p. 101; January 24, 1998, review of Man of War, Man of Peace?, p. 81.

Spectator, December 13, 1997, C.D.C. Armstrong, review of Man of War, Man of Peace?, p. 53.

Times Literary Supplement, December 26, 1997, Mary Kenny, review of Man of War, Man of Peace?, p. 10.