Brian Oliver
Doctor of Letters

Brian Oliver has worked in national newspaper sport for 27 years, and has been editor of the sport section of the Observer for 12 years. He is recognised for his contribution to innovation in sports journalism and securing international coverage of global sports news.

After graduating in the diploma course of the National Council for the Training of Journalists at Preston Polytechnic, he worked in local newspapers in Essex and then in Brighton. In 1980 he joined the Birmingham Post where he first started to specialise in sports journalism. He eventually found his way to Fleet Street where he worked his way up through the ranks at The Daily Telegraph. He was part of the team that launched the first sports supplement, Observer Sport, in 1990. He became editor of the supplement in 1998.

Brian has reported on many sport events, including three World Cups and 21 European Cup and UEFA Cup Champions League finals.

Brian provides advice to University of Brighton in designing its Sport Journalism course and has been a source of specialist knowledge and data for sport journalism researchers. He is a sponsor of the Chelsea School, University of Brighton Observer Sport Journalism award and a supporter of sport development in the local Brighton community.