In the competitive world of broadcast journalism, few reporters have made as significant an impact in such a short time as Rianna Croxford. As an award-winning investigations correspondent for BBC News and Current Affairs, she has established herself as one of the most respected voices in investigative reporting, tackling some of the most challenging stories of our time.

Rianna Croxford

BBC News Investigations Correspondent

Personal Information
Full Name	Rianna Croxford
Profession	Investigations Correspondent, Journalist, Documentary Presenter
Current Position	Investigations Correspondent for BBC News and Current Affairs
Location	London, United Kingdom
Nationality	British
Education
University	Cambridge University
Graduation Year	2017
Professional Training	NCTJ (National Council for the Training of Journalists) Course
Notable Achievement	First in her family to attend university
Career Highlights
Career Milestone	Became BBC’s youngest-ever network correspondent at age 25
Previous Roles	• BBC Community Affairs Correspondent • BBC Correspondent in Washington, D.C. • Intern at Financial Times
Entry Point	BBC Radio Traineeship through Creative Access
Breakthrough Story	Ethnic pay gaps at universities (December 2018)
Work Areas	UK and international TV, radio, digital platforms, podcasts, and documentaries
Major Investigations
Flagship Investigation	“The Abercrombie Guys” – Documentary and podcast series investigating former Abercrombie & Fitch CEO Mike Jeffries, leading to FBI investigation and arrests for international sex trafficking
Other Notable Work	• Ministerial bullying allegations in British government • NDAs used by universities to silence students • Misuse of non-disclosure agreements on university staff • George Floyd protests coverage • Impact of coronavirus on ethnic minorities and vulnerable communities
Awards & Recognition
Major Awards	🏆 Two-time British Journalism Award Winner🏆 Rising Star of the Year – Women in Journalism Awards 2025🏆 New Journalist of the Year – British Journalism Awards 2020🏆 Royal Television Society Award
Industry Recognition	• Forbes 30 Under 30 (Media) • Orwell Prize Finalist
Journalistic Focus
Specialization	Uncovering abuses of power, corruption, and social injustices
Philosophy	“I look and try to see the perspectives that we rarely hear from”
Core Values	• Centering marginalized voices • Amplifying underrepresented communities • Fairness and accuracy • Accountability journalism
Working Method	Manages short-term, medium-term, and long-term investigative projects simultaneously
Advocacy & Challenges
Diversity Work	• Champions voices not traditionally represented in media • Advocated for journalists of color during pandemic coverage • Promotes journalism diversity through speaking engagements
Professional Challenges	• Faced racist abuse following controversial coverage • Subject to articles questioning impartiality • Navigated accusations of biased reporting
Skills & Expertise
Core Competencies	Investigative Journalism Documentary Production Podcast Hosting Broadcast Reporting Source Protection Digital Storytelling
Special Skills	Handling sensitive information and confidential sources with discretion and professionalism

A Trailblazing Career at BBC News

Current Role and Responsibilities

Based in London, Rianna Croxford serves as an investigations correspondent, presenting podcasts and documentaries while reporting for UK and international TV, radio, and digital platforms. Her work reaches millions of viewers and listeners across multiple mediums, making complex investigations accessible to diverse audiences.

What makes her achievement even more remarkable is that she became the BBC’s youngest-ever network correspondent at just 25 years old. This milestone speaks volumes about her exceptional talent, dedication, and the quality of journalism she consistently delivers.

Previous Positions That Shaped Her Path

Before taking on her current role, she worked as the BBC’s community affairs correspondent, where she developed a keen understanding of grassroots issues affecting everyday people. Her experience as a former correspondent in Washington, D.C., also provided her with invaluable international perspective and exposure to global news coverage.

From Cambridge to the Newsroom: An Inspiring Journey

Breaking Barriers in Education

Rianna Croxford’s story is one of determination and breaking through traditional barriers. She was the first in her family to attend university, ultimately graduating from Cambridge University in 2017. This achievement laid the foundation for what would become a remarkable journalism career.

The Path to BBC News

Her entry into journalism wasn’t straightforward, but it demonstrated the persistence that would later define her investigative work. She received a journalism diversity fund, completed her NCTJ course, and secured an internship at the Financial Times. These early experiences gave her the skills and confidence needed to pursue broadcast journalism.

She then applied for a BBC radio traineeship through Creative Access, an organization dedicated to increasing diversity in the creative industries. Her breakthrough moment came in December 2018 when she boldly invited herself to an editorial meeting and pitched a story on ethnic pay gaps at universities. This initiative and courage paid off, launching her career at one of the world’s most prestigious news organizations.

Groundbreaking Investigations That Made Headlines

The Abercrombie & Fitch Exposé: A Career-Defining Investigation

Rianna Croxford’s most significant work to date is undoubtedly her documentary and podcast series “The Abercrombie Guys.” This investigation into former CEO Mike Jeffries exposed allegations that led to an FBI investigation, with three men eventually being arrested and charged with running an international sex trafficking operation.

What set this investigation apart was how she centered the voices of male abuse survivors, who often face a double stigma and gender stereotypes when coming forward. The judges who reviewed her work described it as a “masterclass in investigative journalism with positive, real-life impact.”

The investigation didn’t just win awards—it led to real-world consequences and brought justice to survivors. This is the kind of journalism that changes lives and holds powerful individuals accountable.

Other High-Impact Stories

Beyond the Abercrombie investigation, Rianna Croxford has tackled numerous other important stories:

She revealed allegations of ministerial bullying in the British government, shining a light on workplace culture at the highest levels of power. Her investigation into the use of NDAs by universities to silence students exposed how institutions were protecting their reputations at the expense of vulnerable young people.

She also examined the misuse of non-disclosure agreements on university staff, continuing her commitment to exposing institutional failures. Her coverage of the George Floyd protests provided crucial context and perspective during a pivotal moment in the conversation about racial justice.

Additionally, she reported extensively on the impact of coronavirus on ethnic minorities and vulnerable communities, ensuring that marginalized voices weren’t forgotten during the pandemic.

Recognition and Accolades

A Trophy Cabinet Full of Honors

The quality of her work has been recognized repeatedly by the journalism industry. She is a two-time British Journalism Award winner and was named to the Forbes 30 Under 30 media list, recognizing her as one of the most influential young professionals in her field.

In 2025, Rianna Croxford received the Rising Star of the Year award at the Women in Journalism Awards for her “ground-breaking reporting” into Abercrombie & Fitch. She’s also a Royal Television Society Award recipient and was an Orwell Prize finalist, two of the most prestigious honors in British journalism.

Her first major recognition came when she won New Journalist of the Year at the British Journalism Awards 2020, signaling that she was a talent to watch.

The Croxford Approach: Philosophy and Methods

What Drives Her Journalism

Rianna Croxford specializes in uncovering abuses of power, corruption, and social injustices. Her work is guided by a simple but powerful principle: “I look and try to see the perspectives that we rarely hear from.”

This commitment to amplifying marginalized voices sets her apart from many journalists who might take the easier path of covering stories from conventional angles. She deliberately seeks out the people whose experiences are often overlooked or ignored by mainstream media.

How She Works

Managing an investigations desk isn’t simple. She handles short-term, medium-term, and long-term projects simultaneously, requiring exceptional organizational skills and the ability to prioritize effectively.

Her work demands experience in handling sensitive information and confidential sources. Building trust with vulnerable people who are sharing difficult experiences requires not just journalistic skill but genuine empathy and integrity.

Throughout all her investigations, there’s a consistent emphasis on centering marginalized voices, ensuring that the people most affected by the issues she covers are the ones telling their stories.

Navigating Challenges in Modern Journalism

Championing Diversity in the Newsroom

Throughout her career, she has championed communities and voices not traditionally represented in mainstream media. During pandemic coverage, she advocated loudly for journalists of color to be given opportunities to cover stories affecting their communities.

Facing Professional Obstacles

Success in high-profile investigative journalism doesn’t come without challenges. She has been targeted with racist abuse following controversial coverage, a sadly common experience for journalists of color working on sensitive topics.

Some have written articles questioning her impartiality, and she has faced accusations of biased reporting. These attacks often come when her work makes powerful people uncomfortable—which is precisely when journalism is doing its job.

Wisdom for the Next Generation

Advice for Aspiring Journalists

For young people hoping to follow in her footsteps, Rianna Croxford offers practical and inspirational guidance:

Clean up your social media presence before applying for journalism roles. In today’s digital age, your online footprint matters.

Believe that your contributions and perspectives matter, especially if you come from a background not traditionally represented in journalism. The industry needs diverse voices.

Stay true to your principles and maintain fairness and accuracy in all your work. These fundamentals never go out of style.

Remain open-minded throughout your career. The best journalists are always learning and willing to reconsider their assumptions.

Be persistent, especially if you’re from non-traditional backgrounds. The path may be harder, but it’s absolutely possible.

A Legacy Still Being Written

From being the first in her family to attend university to becoming one of the BBC’s most accomplished investigative journalists, the trajectory of Rianna Croxford‘s career is nothing short of remarkable. Her groundbreaking work on the Abercrombie & Fitch investigation alone would be enough to define many journalists’ entire careers, yet she continues to pursue new stories with the same dedication and integrity.

She represents a new generation of journalists who understand that powerful storytelling must be paired with accountability and justice. Her work doesn’t just inform—it creates change.

As she continues to uncover stories that others might miss or ignore, she’s not just reporting the news. She’s shaping the future of investigative journalism and proving that diverse perspectives don’t just enrich journalism—they’re essential to it.

For anyone following her career, one thing is certain: her most important investigations may still be ahead of her.

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