Jon Snow joins Channel 4's 'Dispatches'

Channel 4 has announced that news presenters Jon Snow and Krishnan Guru-Murthy are to work more closely with the broadcaster's flagship documentary strands.

Snow is to join Dispatches, while Guru-Murthy will become an ambassador for Unreported World. Both presenters will remain part of the Channel 4 News team.

Under the changes, Snow will be more embedded into the Channel 4 current affairs unit, giving him greater freedom to investigate key issues, such as human rights.

On June 14, he will be seen presenting Sri Lanka's Killing Fields, an investigation into the civil war between the Sri Lankan government and the Tamil Tigers. The documentary's shocking video evidence of alleged war crimes was shown to the United Nations last week.

Snow will also front a number of Dispatches this year, starting with Landlords From Hell on July 4 exposing rent racketeers who exploit those who can't afford to buy their own homes.

Dorothy Byrne, Channel 4's head of news & current affairs, described Snow and Guru-Murthy as "some of the best journalists in this country".

"They have never just sat in studios reading autocues - this new way of working will enable them to go out in Britain and across the world to investigate and highlight the stories which they really care about, holding those in power to account," she added.

"This is part of our joined-up approach in maximising our heavyweight journalists across both our news and current affairs output."

Snow added: "Dispatches is a jewel in the crown of Channel 4 and has unearthed some revelatory stories and provoked important debate.

"It's great to be doing more of these programmes and really getting under the skin of issues like human rights, international affairs and housing issues at home and abroad. There's such affinity between the news and the rest of the current affairs family - and this will just cement that bond. I can't wait to get stuck in."

In the autumn, Guru-Murthy will become an ambassador for Unreported World - the long-running foreign affairs series which reports from some of the toughest places on the planet.

As well as presenting several editions of Unreported World every year, Guru-Murthy will also link to the show on the main Channel 4 News and debate the issues raised through social media, including livechats on Twitter and regular blogging.

He said: "Unreported World consistently shines light on stories that are missed by the mainstream. It finds unheard voices, challenges dominant perspectives on the world and is an essential part of what Channel 4 is for. I look forward to joining the team and discussing the issues and films with our viewers.

"Now that Unreported World and Channel 4 News can be watched online around the world that is a truly exciting global conversation."

The changes follow an announcement that political correspondent Cathy Newman is to become the third main Channel 4 News presenter alongside Snow and Guru-Murthy. Newman will also present some Dispatches investigations "in due course".

Channel 4 has further named the BBC's Matt Frei as its new Washington correspondent, and appointed Newsnight's Jackie Long as social affairs editor.