CNN Boosts Presence in India with Chennai Operation, Two New Reporters

CNN Pressroom - Network Appoints Sara Sidner as New Delhi Correspondent; Liz Neisloss as Chennai Correspondent

CNN today announced the opening of new editorial operations in Chennai, India, as well as the appointment of two new India-based correspondents. Sara Sidner, currently of KTVU-TV in San Francisco/Oakland, will be the network’s New Delhi-based international correspondent starting in January 2008 while Liz Neisloss, a former CNN senior producer, will be based in Chennai effective immediately.

“The rapid growth in India in terms of global business and regional political influence underlines how crucial these appointments are as part of CNN’s international expansion,” said Parisa Khosravi, senior vice president of CNN International newsgathering. “With Sara and Liz now confirmed, we can combine that with the strength of our sister network CNN-IBN and have a powerful editorial presence in India.”

Sidner comes to CNN having been the weekend news anchor for KTVU as well as being a field reporter, where she won a number of awards. With more than 12 years of experience, Sidner has also worked in a number of other TV news markets in Texas, Florida and Missouri.

“To be part of CNN’s international team of correspondents is an opportunity that any journalist would relish,” Sidner said. “To be based in India as CNN expands its newsgathering operations makes the challenge and responsibility all the more rewarding.”

Also as part of CNN’s international newsgathering expansion, Neisloss becomes the network’s international correspondent in Chennai, a city in southern India formerly known as Madras.

With CNN from 1990 to 2006, Neisloss was an award-winning senior CNN producer and correspondent, having traveled widely and also covered the United Nations in New York since 1997. In this new position, Neisloss will cover not just the southern part of India but also support the CNN bureau in New Delhi.

“Liz has vast experience working in an international environment, and I’m delighted that she has taken up this new position,” Khosravi said. “As ever, Liz has already hit the ground running and covered a number of stories.”

This new position in South India is part of the multi-million dollar investment that CNN announced earlier this month and that will see an additional editorial resources and correspondents based in a number of countries. New operations are also planned for Afghanistan, Belgium, Kenya, Malaysia, Nigeria, the Philippines, Poland and Vietnam.

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