The Global Journey that Inspired Keith Hayes to Create Mirador Television Lewes, A Hub for Honest Storytelling

Some journeys begin with a spark of inspiration. Others are forged through decades of experience, resilience, and a relentless pursuit of truth. For Keith Hayes, the founder of Mirador Television Lewes, his story is all three. It is a journey that began with a passion for travel and storytelling, and evolved into a lifetime dedicated to broadcasting, education, and creating a platform for independent voices.

“I always had wanderlust,” Hayes reflects. “From the age of 18, I was fascinated by the radio and television stations I encountered abroad. Back home, broadcasting was tightly controlled, but in North America, small local stations thrived. That contrast stayed with me.”

His early career placed him inside some of the world’s most powerful broadcasting organisations. He rose quickly, honing his skills as a journalist and eventually leading newsrooms. Later, he was dispatched to regions where broadcasting infrastructure barely existed, tasked with building entire networks from scratch. “I went where there were no voices and helped create them,” he says. “Setting up a radio station in a conflict-affected region or training journalists in emerging democracies, those moments shaped me as much as they shaped the industry.”

Education became a natural extension of his work. Hayes authored training guides and delivered programmes that are still referenced in universities today. “One of the joys of my career has been teaching others,” he explains. “Broadcasting is not just about reporting; it’s about giving people the tools to express themselves.” His approach combined journalism with mentorship, helping individuals grow not only professionally but also personally.

This broad spectrum of experience, spanning frontline reporting, public relations, global training, and business leadership, gave Hayes a rare vantage point. He witnessed firsthand the flaws that permeate large-scale broadcasting: editorial restrictions, commercial pressures, and a narrowing of voices. “Too often, finance departments or owners dictated what could or could not be said. That moves away from the principles of journalism and toward something more restrictive,” Hayes recalls.

It was this realisation that fuelled the creation of Mirador Television Lewes. Established not as another broadcaster chasing ratings, but as a sanctuary for authentic conversations, Mirador is designed to be different. “We are local, but never parochial,” Hayes says. “Our studio might be in a pub in Lewes, but our reach is global.”

Indeed, the setting itself underscores the mission. Broadcasting daily from the historic pubs of Lewes, Mirador rejects the idea of sealed studios and artificial polish. “Why hide in soundproof boxes,” Hayes asks, “when broadcasting is meant to capture sound and vision in their truest forms?”

Mirador’s programmes reflect its independence. Its contributors include retired lawyers, professors, and former executives, people with decades of expertise who are drawn to meaningful dialogue rather than profit. Many are volunteers, united by the desire to share knowledge and stories that mainstream outlets overlook. “We attract people who don’t want to retire their minds,” Hayes notes. “They bring richness to our conversations.”

Mirador also brings in correspondents from around the world. On any given day, a viewer might hear perspectives from Armenia, South Korea, Africa, or North America. That blend of local issues and global voices is central to its identity. As Hayes describes it: “We are a hybrid. We serve our community, but we do so with the world in mind. It’s why we have followers from as far as Patagonia.”

For Hayes, Mirador is not just a broadcaster; it is a statement. It stands against the consolidation of media power and the erosion of independent journalism. It promotes inclusion and welcomes diverse perspectives, aiming to create a space where differences in race, religion, age, or ideology are respected and valued. Hayes emphasises, “If a conversation needs to be had, it deserves a platform. Everyone deserves to be heard.”

Looking ahead, Hayes envisions more than just sustaining Mirador. He is laying the groundwork for an educational arm, a training programme, and a college designed for those who would otherwise never access such opportunities. “The dream is to inspire the next generation,” he says. “Not with theory alone, but by giving them a real place to learn and broadcast.”

That vision requires investment, and Hayes is candid about seeking partners who believe in the mission. He says, “We want to grow not just for today, but for tomorrow. Independent media and education go hand in hand. Together, they protect freedom of expression.”

In Mirador Television Lewes, Hayes has distilled a lifetime of experience into a singular venture: a broadcaster rooted in community yet expansive in reach, fiercely independent yet inclusive at its core. His story is one of a broadcaster who saw the flaws of the giants, but instead of turning away, chose to build something better. As Hayes says, “We are one of the biggest little television channels in the world. Independent, global, and for everyone.”