Mark Austin: Biography, Journalism Career, Wife, Family and Sky News

Mark Austin is a British television journalist whose career has taken him from local newspaper reporting to some of the most recognisable news programmes on British television. He spent three decades working for ITV News and its news producer ITN, covering international conflicts, political developments and major humanitarian emergencies before moving to Sky News.

Known for his work as a foreign correspondent and his years presenting ITV’s News at Ten, Austin is now a chief presenter at Sky News. His professional history also includes reporting from the Gulf War, the Rwandan genocide and the conflicts in the Balkans, alongside a number of major broadcasting awards.

Quick Biography

Who Is Mark Austin?

Mark Austin is an established British broadcast journalist best known for his international reporting and television news presentation. His professional experience includes work as a local newspaper reporter, BBC news and sports reporter, ITN sports correspondent, overseas correspondent and senior ITV News journalist.

His career developed during a period when international television reporting involved extensive time in conflict zones and difficult locations. He covered wars, political transitions and natural disasters before becoming one of ITV’s familiar news presenters.

He subsequently joined Sky News, where he continues to present major news coverage. Sky identifies him as a chief presenter and lists him as the host of The News Hour with Mark Austin on weekdays.

Early Life and Family Background

Mark Austin was born in Portsmouth, Hampshire, and attended Bournemouth School. Details about his parents, siblings and childhood have not been extensively documented in the authoritative biographies consulted.

His early career was shaped more by practical journalism than by a conventional university education. After leaving school, he faced a choice between going to university and training as a newspaper reporter. He chose the newsroom.

Bournemouth University’s 2008 honorary-degree citation records that he began his journalism career at the Bournemouth Evening Echo. The document also describes how his early professional experience influenced his decision to pursue broadcasting.

His association with South Africa also became personally significant. While working there as a correspondent, his eldest daughter, Madeleine, was born.

Education and Journalism Training

Austin attended Bournemouth School and subsequently completed an NCTJ journalism course at Highbury College in Portsmouth.

He did not follow the traditional university route. In a 2005 interview with The Guardian, he spoke about his decision to enter journalism directly and acknowledged that he had sometimes wondered what studying history at university might have been like.

His practical training helped establish the foundations of his career. The National Council for the Training of Journalists has featured him among its former students, recognising his progression from newspaper reporting to television news presentation.

In his own account quoted by the NCTJ, he described the Highbury training as an important foundation for his work in local newspapers and broadcasting.

How Mark Austin Started His Journalism Career

Austin began working as a trainee reporter for the Bournemouth Evening Echo. The experience introduced him to the everyday responsibilities of newspaper journalism, including reporting stories, writing news copy and working to deadlines.

After approximately four years, he moved to the BBC. According to Bournemouth University’s honorary-degree citation, he initially worked at BBC World Service radio before transferring to BBC Television News.

His responsibilities included working as a newsroom writer, news reporter and sports reporter.

ITV’s farewell coverage later noted that he became one of the youngest national reporters appointed by BBC News, at the age of 24.

His experience at the BBC helped prepare him for the next major step in his career: joining Independent Television News in 1986.

Joining ITN and Becoming an International Correspondent

Austin joined ITN in October 1986 as a sports correspondent. His first major assignment involved covering England’s Ashes tour of Australia.

Although his initial position focused on sport, he also reported on other significant stories during his time in Australia, including the Spycatcher trial.

International reporting was the direction he wanted his career to take. His opportunity arrived with overseas assignments that eventually established him as an experienced foreign correspondent.

Reporting on the Gulf War

One of his earliest major international assignments came during the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait in 1990.

Austin was among the first British journalists reporting from the region. His coverage of the Gulf War helped establish his reputation as a correspondent capable of reporting from difficult and dangerous locations.

He subsequently covered the conflicts in Iraq and other major international developments.

Africa and the End of Apartheid

Austin also worked as an Africa correspondent based in Johannesburg.

During this period, he reported on the transition from apartheid to democratic government in South Africa. He covered Nelson Mandela’s election victory in 1994 and the historic changes taking place in the country.

His time in Africa also brought him into contact with some of the most devastating humanitarian stories of his career.

Reporting on the Rwandan Genocide

The Rwandan genocide became one of the most important and distressing assignments of Austin’s professional life.

His reporting documented the violence and humanitarian consequences of the genocide and the refugee crisis that followed.

In a 2005 interview with The Guardian, he described his experience reporting from a refugee camp in Goma as particularly difficult to process.

Bournemouth University’s honorary-degree citation also records the lasting effect that his reporting of the genocide had on him.

Bosnia, Kosovo and Other International Assignments

Austin’s international reporting extended beyond Africa and the Gulf.

He covered the conflict in Bosnia, including events surrounding the fall of Srebrenica, and reported from the Kosovo war.

His other major assignments included:

• The September 11 terrorist attacks.
• The Iraq War.
• The conflict in Afghanistan.
• Hurricane Katrina.
• The Asian tsunami.
• The Mozambique floods.
• The Haiti earthquake.
• International political developments and natural disasters.

His work also took him to the Antarctic, where he presented live television coverage from the region.

Bournemouth University’s citation records that he covered five Olympic Games and four football World Cups, demonstrating that his reporting experience also extended well beyond conflict journalism.

Mark Austin’s Career at ITV News

Austin gradually moved from frontline reporting into television news presentation.

Bournemouth University described him as one of ITV’s leading newscasters in its 2008 honorary-degree citation, recognising the significance of his work for the broadcaster.

He became particularly associated with News at Ten, where he presented alongside Julie Etchingham for eight years.

The programme became one of the defining parts of his television career. During their time presenting together, News at Ten won the Royal Television Society’s Programme of the Year award twice.

In October 2015, Austin became the presenter of ITV Evening News, working alongside Mary Nightingale.

His time at ITV eventually came to an end in December 2016. On 22 December, he presented his final edition of ITV Evening News.

ITV’s farewell coverage reported that he had presented more than 2,500 programmes during his 30 years at the broadcaster.

His departure marked the end of a substantial period of British television journalism, during which he had worked as both an international reporter and a familiar news presenter.

Mark Austin’s Move to Sky News

After leaving ITV, Austin moved into a new chapter of his broadcasting career with Sky News.

Sky announced his appointment as its US correspondent on 24 April 2017. The position was based in Washington, where he was expected to cover the White House, Capitol Hill and wider American political developments.

Sky’s current biography dates his joining the broadcaster to 2018, so the appointment announcement and the formal joining date should be distinguished when describing the transition.

His responsibilities subsequently included presenting major news programmes and reporting from important international locations.

As of November 2026, Sky News lists him as a chief presenter of The News Hour with Mark Austin, broadcast on weekdays from 5pm to 7pm.

His work for Sky has continued to involve major international stories, including developments in Washington, the Middle East, Iraq and Afghanistan.

Television Programmes and Documentary Work

In addition to his regular news bulletins, Austin has presented other television programmes and special reports.

One of his notable non-news assignments was ITV’s Real Crime, a crime documentary programme for which he served as presenter.

He also conducted numerous high-profile interviews during his ITV career. The broadcaster’s farewell coverage highlighted interviews with political figures and prominent international personalities, including Nelson Mandela, Winnie Mandela, Tony Blair, Gordon Brown, Desmond Tutu and Bob Geldof.

He has also used television reporting to explore issues beyond conventional political and international news.

In 2016, he wrote about children’s mental health for ITV News, drawing attention to difficulties experienced by families trying to access appropriate support. He subsequently discussed the subject in an interview with ITV’s This Morning.

These contributions demonstrated another aspect of his broadcasting work: using his public platform to bring attention to issues affecting families and communities.

Books and Published Work

Mark Austin is also the author of a memoir titled And Thank You for Watching: Extraordinary Stories from a Veteran News Journalist.

Published by Atlantic Books on 4 October 2018, the book draws on his experiences covering major international events for ITN and Sky News.

It discusses his work as a foreign correspondent, the dangers associated with reporting from conflict zones and the personal experiences behind significant television news stories.

Among the events covered in the memoir are the Iraq War, the Rwandan genocide, the transition from apartheid to democracy in South Africa, the Mozambique floods and the Haiti earthquake.

The book also discusses the death of his friend and colleague, ITV journalist Terry Lloyd, who was killed by American friendly fire during the 2003 Iraq invasion.

Rather than simply presenting a list of his assignments, the memoir offers readers a view of the realities of working in international television journalism.

Awards and Recognition

Austin’s reporting and presenting career has received recognition from several major broadcasting organisations.

Some of his notable achievements include:

BAFTA Awards: Sky News states that Austin has won five BAFTA awards for his journalism.

International Emmy Award: He received an International Emmy for his reporting on the devastating Mozambique floods in 2000.

Golden Nymph: His coverage of the Kosovo war received a Golden Nymph at the Monte Carlo Television Festival.

Gold Medal at the Film and Television Festival of New York: He received this recognition for his coverage of the Bosnian conflict.

Royal Television Society Presenter of the Year: Austin won the award in 2014 and 2015, receiving the title for a second consecutive year.

Royal Television Society Sports Award: Bournemouth University’s honorary-degree citation also records his 1993 award for reporting on a drugs scandal involving British athletes at the Barcelona Olympics.

Honorary Doctorate: Bournemouth University awarded him an honorary Doctor of Arts degree in 2008 in recognition of his contribution to journalism and broadcasting.

These achievements reflect the different aspects of his professional career, including international reporting, specialist sports coverage and television presentation.

Mark Austin’s Wife and Family Life

Mark Austin is married to Catherine Austin. The couple have occasionally discussed their family life publicly, particularly in interviews about the challenges they experienced while supporting their daughter.

ITV’s This Morning has directly identified Catherine as his wife.

Austin is the father of three children, a fact recorded in a 2005 interview with The Guardian. Bournemouth University’s honorary-degree citation specifically identifies his eldest daughter as Madeleine and notes that she was born while he was working in South Africa.

ITV has also referred publicly to the daughter as Maddy in its coverage of a family interview.

Austin has spoken about the emotional difficulties the family faced during a serious health crisis involving their daughter and the importance of finding suitable support.

However, he has not made every aspect of his family’s life public. Details about the personal backgrounds of his other children are not necessary to understand his professional biography.

Is Mark Austin a Millionaire? Net Worth and Salary

There is no independently verified public figure establishing Mark Austin’s current net worth.

Some historical newspaper reports provide an indication of his earnings during his ITV career. A 2005 Guardian interview discussed a salary of approximately £300,000 a year, while a 2007 Independent profile also reported a similar figure.

These reports relate to his historical presenting salary, not his current income or accumulated wealth.

It would therefore be misleading to assign him a specific net worth or describe a particular wealth figure as confirmed. His lengthy career in senior broadcasting positions is documented, but his private financial circumstances have not been publicly established.

Where Is Mark Austin Now?

As of November 2026, Mark Austin continues to be listed as a chief presenter by Sky News.

He presents The News Hour with Mark Austin on weekdays and remains associated with the broadcaster’s coverage of major national and international stories.

His career has moved through several different areas of journalism, from local newspaper reporting to international correspondence and flagship television news presentation.

His transition from ITN and ITV to Sky News has allowed him to continue working in broadcast journalism after more than four decades in the profession.

Conclusion

Mark Austin’s career is defined by a combination of international reporting, major television news presentations and professional recognition.

From his early days at the Bournemouth Evening Echo to his work for the BBC, ITN, ITV and Sky News, he has built a career covering some of the most significant events of recent decades.

His years presenting News at Ten established him as a familiar figure to British television audiences, while his reporting from conflict zones and humanitarian emergencies remains an important part of his professional record.

Today, his work as a Sky News chief presenter represents the latest chapter in a long broadcasting career.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Who is Mark Austin?

Mark Austin is a British journalist and television presenter. He is best known for his international reporting, his former role as an ITV News presenter and his current position as a chief presenter at Sky News.

2. Where was Mark Austin born?

Bournemouth University’s 2008 honorary-degree citation confirms that he was born in Portsmouth, Hampshire, England.

3. How old is Mark Austin?

His precise date of birth has not been independently established in the authoritative sources consulted for this profile. An age should therefore not be stated as confirmed without a reliable birth record.

4. Who is Mark Austin’s wife?

Mark Austin is married to Catherine Austin. ITV has identified Catherine as his wife in a televised interview about their family.

5. How many children does Mark Austin have?

Published interviews establish that he has three children. Bournemouth University’s honorary-degree citation identifies his eldest daughter as Madeleine.

6. What does Mark Austin do now?

He works for Sky News as a chief presenter and presents The News Hour with Mark Austin on weekdays, according to his current broadcaster profile.

7. What is Mark Austin’s net worth?

His net worth has not been reliably established. Historical reports discussed his ITV presenting salary, but those figures cannot be used to determine his current personal wealth.