Nearly 80,000 postmen and women went on strike today, following industrial action yesterday by Royal Mail drivers and mail centre staff. John Sparks reports.
Biography
John joined Channel 4 News as a producer in 1997 and is currently a reporter across all Channel 4's news programmes.
He quickly moved through the ranks; firstly accepting an attachment to our Northern Bureau as reporter in Spring 2005 and returning to London in the Autumn to take up the role of reporter for More4 News - which launched in October 2005. John returned to Channel 4 News in Spring 2006.
As a Channel 4 News reporter John has investigated the July 7th bomber Jamal (Germaine) Lindsey, exposing his relationships with religious extremists in Huddersfield and conducting the only interview with Jamal's half-sister.
John secured the first pictures of CIA operated aircraft, suspected of conducting 'extraordinary renditions' using a number of UK airports.
In the past year, John has uncovered unethical practices in investment banks as a root cause of the 'credit crunch'. He interviewed the night-time supervisor at the Securitas depot - robbed of ¿¿53m by an armed gang - and he exposed the plight of South African soldiers in British army, forced to choose between a military career and losing their South African citizenship.
As a producer John covered a wide range of stories including an investigation into warnings received by the RUC before the Omagh bombing (working with Channel 4 News's chief correspondent Alex Thomson) - nominated for an RTS award.
He also documented discriminatory practices against Irish Travellers in the UK. The resulting film was used as evidence in court and led to a change in the UK Race Relations Act.
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John Sparks
