from Headline News:

Please be advised that Headline News will replay the January CNN debates.
See below for the replay schedule:

January 31, 2008
10:30 am – 12:00
noon ET
Republican debate with the LA Times
Simi Valley, CA

February 1, 2008
10:30 am – 12:00 noon ET
Democratic debate with
the LA Times
Los Angeles, CA

CNN Pressroom - Award-Winning Producer to Contribute to Special Investigations Unit, CNN Presents, Other Programs

Scott Zamost, an investigative journalist who has won nearly every major broadcast journalism award for his hard-hitting reports, has joined CNN as an investigative producer, it was announced today by Mark Nelson, vice president and senior executive producer of CNN Productions. Zamost will be based at the network’s world headquarters in Atlanta.

“For more than 15 years, Scott has maintained a reputation as one of the most astute and accomplished investigative journalists in the country,” Nelson said. “So when we learned that he was seeking new opportunities to expand his investigative efforts, we were not surprised that many networks and news stations actively sought him out. I’m pleased to say we won.”

“Investigative reporting has been my passion and the root of my journalistic endeavors for many years,” Zamost said. “I’m honored to join CNN as it expands its enterprise reporting efforts and have the opportunity to take my investigations to a national and global level.”

Zamost most recently was the investigative producer for WTVJ-TV/NBC 6 in Miami where his stories received national attention. Among his investigations were “Citizenship For Sale,” which revealed how illegal immigrants traveled to Florida to purchase Indian tribe memberships with the promise they could stay in the United States, and “Selling Innocence” about how parents were exploiting their own children as child models online.

Prior to WTVJ-TV/NBC 6, Zamost was an investigative producer for WPLG-TV in Miami and a producer for CBS News in New York. Before his broadcast journalism career, Zamost was a reporter and gaming editor at the Las Vegas Sun and a contributing editor to Las Vegan Magazine. He also worked as a reporter, columnist and assistant editor at the Sun-Sentinel in Fort Lauderdale.

His awards include a national award from Investigative Reporters and Editors and a National Press Club award in 2007; two National Clarion awards for investigative reporting; four Edward R. Murrow awards; three National Headliner awards; numerous state, regional and national awards from the Associated Press and the Society of Professional Journalists and 23 Emmy awards and 43 Emmy nominations.

Zamost received his bachelor’s degree in broadcast journalism from Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism.

CNN Worldwide, a division of Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., a Time Warner Company, is the most trusted source for news and information. Its reach extends to nine cable and satellite television networks; one private place-based network; two radio networks; wireless devices around the world; CNN Digital Network, the No. 1 network of news Web sites in the United States; CNN Newsource, the world’s most extensively syndicated news service; and strategic international partnerships within both television and the digital media.

CNN Pressroom - ‘Critical Condition’ Installment Reveals Gaps in Health Care Coverage in U.S., Examines Debate over Issue

CNN Productions plans to produce a series of one-hour documentaries in 2008 under its successful Broken Government brand. As it did in the 2006 midterm election, the series seeks to offer clarity to the political topics receiving close attention during the 2008 U.S. presidential campaign.

The first documentary in the series, Broken Government: Health Care Critical Condition, is reported by CNN’s chief medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta. Critical Condition will premiere on Thursday, Jan. 31, at 11 p.m., immediately following the CNN/Los Angeles Times/POLITICO Democratic Presidential Candidates Debate and will replay on Saturday, Feb. 2, and Sunday, Feb. 3, at 11 p.m. All times Eastern.

In Critical Condition, Gupta focuses on the gaps in health care coverage experienced by the more than 45 million Americans who lack adequate health insurance. These include consumers with health insurance still vulnerable to bankruptcy by medical bills and the uninsured who cannot afford healthcare. Gupta also examines various health care plan proposals and the pros and cons of universal health care coverage in other countries.

Other Broken Government documentaries in the 2008 series will feature CNN’s Rick Sanchez taking an in-depth look at inconsistent and ineffective U.S. immigration policies; chief technology and environment correspondent Miles O’Brien investigating the impact of government policies on the environment; and a documentary on the government failures at the federal, state and local levels that continue to plague those impacted by Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Additional programs in the series will be announced later in the campaign season.

Carol Kinstle is the executive producer and the director of CNN’s health and medical unit. Mark Nelson is the vice president and senior executive producer of CNN Productions.

CNN Worldwide, a division of Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., a Time Warner Company, is the most trusted source for news and information. Its reach extends to nine cable and satellite television networks; one private place-based network; two radio networks; wireless devices around the world; CNN Digital Network, the No. 1 network of news Web sites in the United States; CNN Newsource, the world’s most extensively syndicated news service; and strategic international partnerships within both television and the digital media.

CNN Pressroom - CNN, the Los Angeles Times and POLITICO are conducting back-to-back presidential primary debates less than one week before Super Tuesday. The Republican debate on Wednesday, Jan. 30, and the Democratic debate on Thursday, Jan. 31, will be the final face-off for the candidates before primary voters in more than 20 states flock to the polls on Tuesday, Feb. 5.

Each debate will run approximately 90 minutes beginning at 8 p.m. (ET)/5 p.m. (PT).

Anchor Anderson Cooper will moderate the Republican candidates’ debate at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library. Jim VandeHei, executive editor of the POLITICO, and Janet Hook, senior political correspondent for the Los Angeles Times, will serve as panelists questioning the candidates. CNN’s lead political anchor Wolf Blitzer will moderate the Democratic candidates’ debate at the Kodak Theatre at Hollywood and Highland the following night. Panelists will be Doyle McManus, Washington bureau chief of the Los Angeles Times, and Jeanne Cummings, a senior correspondent for the POLITICO.

All three partners will provide robust, online elements in conjunction with the debates. The Los Angeles Times will offer readers live analysis at http://latimes.com/campaign08 as well as a “Top of the Ticket” blog, discussion boards and live streaming video direct from the Kodak Theatre. These elements complement the Times’ ongoing news coverage, editorials and analysis intended to aid voters in making informed decisions on Super Tuesday.

For the debates, POLITICO has gathered thousands of questions for the candidates from its readers across the country. Viewers can log on to POLITICO.com during the debates to vote for the questions panelists will ask the candidates. POLITICO.com will also feature a live blog all night from the debate halls, post-debate analysis, behind-the-scenes video, photos and more.

Up-to-the minute reporting and analysis will be available at CNNPolitics.com, the CNN Political Ticker at www.CNN.com/ticker and at CNN.com Live, accessible at www.CNN.com/Live. CNN.com Live will provide extended coverage with anchors Reggie Aqui, Naamua Delaney, Nicole Lapin and Melissa Long co-anchoring from the Election Center in New York and from the CNN.com Live studio in Atlanta.

With more viewers turning to CNN for their primary election night and debate coverage than any other cable news network, CNN will offer special programming around the debates, including pre- and post-debate analysis. CNN International and CNN en Español will simulcast both debates. Anchor and correspondent Richard Quest will report live from Los Angeles as part of his “American Quest” tour.

Headline News will re-air the Republican debate on Thursday, Jan. 31, from 10 a.m. to noon (ET) and the Democratic debate on Friday, Feb. 1, from 10 a.m. to noon. (ET).

Through Super Tuesday, CNN Radio will provide live coverage anchored by Lisa Desjardins, Jim Roope and Dick Uliano. CNN Newsource will provide its affiliates access to live reports on-site from “RunningMate” exclusive correspondent Samantha Hayes.

CNN Worldwide, a division of Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., a Time Warner Company, is the most trusted source for news and information. Its reach extends to nine cable and satellite television networks; one private place-based network; two radio networks; wireless devices around the world; CNN Digital Network, the No. 1 network of news Web sites in the United States; CNN Newsource, the world’s most extensively syndicated news service; and strategic international partnerships within both television and the digital media.

The Los Angeles Times is the largest metropolitan daily newspaper in the country, with a daily readership of nearly 2.2 million and 3.2 million on Sunday. The Los Angeles Times and its media businesses - including latimes.com, The Envelope, Times Community Newspapers, Hoy, and California Community News - reach approximately 8.1 million or 62% of all adults in the Southern California marketplace every week. The Pulitzer Prize-winning Los Angeles Times, has been covering Southern California for over 125 years and is part of Tribune Company (NYSE: TRB), one of the country's leading media companies with businesses in publishing, the Internet and broadcasting. Additional information about the Los Angeles Times is available at www.latimes.com/mediacenter.

POLITICO is a Washington, D.C.-based political journalism organization that distributes its content via the internet, newspaper, television and radio. Its coverage includes Congress, Washington lobbying, and the 2008 presidential election. POLITICO and POLITICO.com launched in January, 2007 with the mission of covering politics with enterprise, style, and impact. POLITICO is a publication of Capitol News Company, LLC.

During Erica Hill's tearful goodbye on Prime News with Erica Hill last night, it was announced that Mike Galanos will be taking over for Erica as she moves to New York to be a correspondent on Anderson Cooper 360°. You may remember that when Prime News started on Headline News, Mike and Erica co-hosted the show.

They removed her photo from the Prime News website but as of this writing, you can still see that her "head" is visisble.

Abbie Bordreau - Investigative Correspodent
CNN Domestic

Kiran Chetry - Co-Anchor American Morning
CNN Domestic

Nammua Delaney - Anchor
CNN.com Live

Melissa Long - Anchor
CNN.com Live

Kyra Phillips - Co-Anchor CNN Newsroom
Correspondent CNN Special Investigations Unit
CNN Domestic

CNN Pressroom - Erica Hill is joining CNN/U.S. as an anchor and as a correspondent to Anderson Cooper 360°, it was announced today by David Doss, executive producer of Anderson Cooper 360°.

Hill has served as an anchor at Headline News since January 2003, most recently for Prime News with Erica Hill. In addition, she provided news updates for Anderson Cooper 360° since April 2005. She joins Anderson Cooper 360° full-time on Friday, Feb. 1, and will be based in New York.

“We’re delighted Erica is joining us full time,” Doss said. “She’s an exceptional journalist, a terrific broadcaster and a great addition to the AC360 team.”

As an Anderson Cooper 360° correspondent, Hill’s role expands to include reporting and sub-anchoring from the field. She joins a team of contributors that includes Tom Foreman, Joe Johns, Randi Kaye, David Mattingly and Gary Tuchman.

Among other stories, Hill reported from Mississippi as part of CNN's coverage of Hurricane Katrina. She also anchored coverage of the war in Iraq, including the discovery of American contractor Thomas Hamill after he escaped his captors there and the Northeast U.S. blackout in 2003. She has also served as a national correspondent for CNN Newsource in the Washington, D.C., bureau.

Hill joined the network from Tech TV in San Francisco, where she was co-anchor and correspondent for Tech Live, a 30-minute daily news magazine. Hill was on the air live when the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks began and anchored throughout the day and as events continued to unfold. Additionally, Hill was a reporter for Tech TV News where she covered a wide variety of technology stories. She also anchored and co-produced specials on a number of topics including the debate surrounding embryonic stem cell research, the technology behind the 2002 Winter Olympics and the 2001 Oscars.

Hill earned her bachelor’s degree in journalism, graduating summa cum laude from Boston University.

Anderson Cooper 360° is an in-depth, comprehensive news program that takes a full 360-degree look at the world’s events. The program showcases CNN’s worldwide newsgathering capabilities as well as Anderson Cooper’s unique sensibilities and perspective through a diverse range of live reports and interviews. Anderson Cooper 360° airs on CNN/U.S. each weekday from 10 p.m. to midnight. (ET)

CNN Worldwide, a division of Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., a Time Warner Company, is the most trusted source for news and information. Its reach extends to nine cable and satellite television networks; one private place-based network; two radio networks; wireless devices around the world; CNN Digital Network, the No. 1 network of news Web sites in the United States; CNN Newsource, the world’s most extensively syndicated news service; and strategic international partnerships within both television and the digital media.

CNN Pressroom - Reza Sayah Joins Network as International Correspondent as Pakistan Nears Elections

Continuing its unprecedented expansion into international newsgathering, CNN Worldwide has appointed Reza Sayah as an international correspondent based in Pakistan, it was announced today by Parisa Khosravi, senior vice president of international newsgathering.

Sayah, an investigative reporter and anchor for WXYZ/Channel 7 in Detroit for the past six years, joins the network as Pakistan recovers from the assassination of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto and eventually engages in a nationwide election for president.

“Our expansion of personnel in Pakistan is part of our ongoing plan to gather and provide more content for all of CNN, especially since Pakistan remains a very important story on the international scene,” Khosravi said. “Reza has a proven track record of solid reporting in the field and resourcefulness in getting to the critical elements of the story.”

Through his 12-year career, Sayah has covered a variety of high-profile national and international stories including Hurricane Katrina and the sniper shootings in the Washington, D.C., area.

Born in Iran, Sayah speaks English, Farsi and French and earned a bachelor’s degree in communications from Pepperdine University and a master’s degree in journalism from the University of Missouri. In addition to WXYZ, Sayah has worked at KOMU-TV in Columbia, Mo., WTAJ-TV in Altoona, Pa., and WTVR-TV in Richmond, Va.

Sayah’s hire stands as one part of the biggest expansion of international newsgathering resources in CNN’s 27-year history. Other plans include the significant increase of correspondents worldwide, and major investments in a London-based digital-production unit, CNN’s International Newsource and CNN’s in-house wire operations.

CNN currently manages 29 international editorial operations and bureaus, which includes the opening of a new bureau and production center in the United Arab Emirates, the appointment of two new correspondents and operations in India and a correspondent in Japan. In the coming weeks, CNN will announce additional resources and correspondents in Africa.


CNN Worldwide, a division of Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., a Time Warner Company, is the most trusted source for news and information. Its reach extends to nine cable and satellite television networks; one private place-based network; two radio networks; wireless devices around the world; CNN Digital Network, the No. 1 network of news Web sites in the United States; CNN Newsource, the world’s most extensively syndicated news service; and strategic international partnerships within both television and the digital media.

CNN Pressroom - As CNN Worldwide explores innovative ways to embrace information technology and reach its global audience, the network has hired veteran television executive and producer Randi Subarsky as its new vice president of development, it was announced today by Susan Bunda, executive vice president for content development and strategy for CNN Worldwide.

For this new role at CNN, Subarsky will lead program development teams based in Atlanta and New York City with the challenge of developing news programming across multiple platforms with new technology and viewer outreach. She will also serve as the executive overseeing talent recruitment, special projects and cross-platform initiatives. Based in New York, she will report to Bunda.

“Randi’s an exceptional executive and producer with a strong background in producing high-flight programming, a record of success in establishing unique partnerships and a remarkable understanding of the digital space,” Bunda said. “So many aspects about her and her extensive career impressed us that it was essential for us to get her on board.”

Subarsky comes to CNN as a creative and experienced producer in all aspects of programming development, production and marketing with a strong track record of motivating her teams to deliver compelling content across multiple platforms.

“CNN consistently stands out as one of the most innovative brands in the news business, always looking for new and inventive ways to present the news,” Subarsky said. “This is an organization where we can maximize all the talent and experience across numerous broadcasting and digital platforms. I’m very excited to be here.”

Most recently, Subarsky served as an executive producer and media consultant developing projects for such clients as ABC Disney, NBC and VIACOM. In 2007, she served as coordinating producer of the Daytime Emmy Awards program for a third year and was executive producer of “Spring Awakening & Degrassi: A Live Verbal Mashup,” a live webcast on America Online.

Before that, she was head of marketing for Proteus, a mobile content distributor, where she developed and maintained digital offerings for ABC Mobile, Fuel TV and College Humor. She also served as an executive consultant for the launch of SOAPnet, a 24-hour soap opera channel for the ABC Cable Networks Groups. For four years, she helped guide SOAPnet as the fastest growing cable network in the United States.

She spent 15 years at ABC Daytime as a senior executive and producer during which time the network went from No. 3 to No.1 and retained that position. She managed programming and production of a six-program line-up each with 260 episodes a year.

Her other credits include developing programming for Lifetime Television, MGM and Whittle Communications.

Subarsky graduated magna cum laude from the Newhouse School of Communications at Syracuse University with a bachelor’s degree in television/radio and was the recipient of the Gordon J. Alderman Award for Excellence in Creative Broadcasting.

CNN Worldwide, a division of Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., a Time Warner Company, is the most trusted source for news and information. Its reach extends to nine cable and satellite television networks; one private place-based network; two radio networks; wireless devices around the world; CNN Digital Network, the No. 1 network of news Web sites in the United States; CNN Newsource, the world’s most extensively syndicated news service; and strategic international partnerships within both television and the digital media.

CNN will provide uninterrupted coverage of The President's State of the Union address on Monday, January 28, 2008 from 8:00 – 9:30pm ET. CNN will be commercial-free for the duration of the speech.

Fran Lewine, Washington DC Assignment Editor/Producer for CNN, died Saturday of an apparent stroke.


CNN.com has the obituary.


ICN has transcripts from Late Edition with Wolf Blitzer and Reliable Sources.


Greta Van Sustren remembers Fran in her blog.


She will definitely be missed.

CNN Pressroom - Network Names Bart Feder as SVP for Current Programming, Scott Matthews as Director of Programming

Building upon the successes of such programs as The Situation Room, Lou Dobbs Tonight and Anderson Cooper 360º and the advent of CNN’s unrivaled political coverage, CNN/U.S. has hired two accomplished journalists who will continue to expand the network’s commitment to high quality journalism and innovation, it was announced today by Jon Klein, president of CNN/U.S.

Bart Feder, chairman of The FeedRoom, an online video provider, becomes senior vice president for current programming, and Scott Matthews, vice president and news director of WNYW-TV and WWOR-TV in New York City, becomes director of programming. Both are newly created positions within CNN/U.S. with Feder reporting to Klein and Matthews reporting to Feder. Feder’s appointment is effective immediately, and Matthews begins on Monday, Feb. 11.

In his role, Feder will be based at CNN in New York and will oversee all on-air programming for CNN/U.S. as well as coordinate efforts with CNN.com and other digital ventures to distribute CNN programming across multiple platforms. Matthews will serve as the network’s primary programming executive in Atlanta, responsible for all CNN/U.S. newscasts emanating from CNN headquarters.

“Both Bart and Scott are the perfect fit for CNN/U.S., as throughout their careers, each of them has emphasized in-depth reporting and innovative storytelling everywhere they’ve been,” Klein said. “They’re going to play a major role in expanding upon the journalistic and ratings momentum underway at CNN.”

Feder comes to CNN as a seasoned and award-winning journalist whose career combines experience as a major market television executive with leadership in digital media and Web video. At The FeedRoom, where he succeeded Klein as CEO, Feder oversaw the company’s efforts to provide high-quality Web video and digital media applications for media, publishing, government and corporate clients including ESPN, The New York Times, General Motors and others.

Before joining The FeedRoom in 2000, Feder served as news director for WABC-TV in New York, where he earned an Alfred I. duPont Award, an Edward R. Murrow award and other accolades for the groundbreaking series “Room 104 – The Overcrowding Crisis” about New York City public schools. He has also served as news director for WHDH-TV in Boston, WJXT-TV in Jacksonville, Fla., and KOVR-TV in Sacramento, Calif.

Matthews joins CNN after serving as vice president and news director for WNYW-TV and WWOR-TV in New York City, managing a staff of more than 200 people and producing eight hours of news each day. He held similar roles at WTXF-TV in Philadelphia and WFXT-TV in Boston, earning a reputation as a director who improved local journalism through an emphasis on quality reporting and humanistic values. Matthews’ career also includes significant investigative reporting experience, which involved stints as executive producer for investigative reporting at WNYW-TV in New York and KNXV-TV in Phoenix.

CNN Worldwide, a division of Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., a Time Warner Company, is the most trusted source for news and information. Its reach extends to nine cable and satellite television networks; one private place-based network; two radio networks; wireless devices around the world; CNN Digital Network, the No. 1 network of news Web sites in the United States; CNN Newsource, the world’s most extensively syndicated news service; and strategic international partnerships within both television and the digital media.

CNN Radio announced that Anderson Cooper will contribute each weekday to “CNN in: 60,” the radio network’s fast-paced, one-minute news update. Cooper’s spots, called “360 in: 60,” will air at 5:25pm (ET) Monday through Friday. The update, available to approximately 2000 affiliates worldwide, highlights the latest news of the day.

Cooper is the first CNN television anchor to join the “CNN in: 60” franchise.

“CNN in 60” provides affiliates a fresh alternative to the traditional top-of-the-hour news cast. Launched in the fall of 2005 with CNN Radio anchors Cheryl Castro and Michelle Wright, “CNN in :60” is available 13 times a day, Monday through Friday and includes the latest business, entertainment and lifestyle news.

All content for “CNN:60” is available on the affiliate Web site site at www.CNNRadio.com and its own site at www.CNNRadio.com/60.

CNN Radio is a full-service network, providing its approximately 2,000 worldwide affiliates with the latest information in news, sports and business. Utilizing CNN’s 36 bureaus worldwide, CNN Radio offers an unmatched menu of actualities and reports through satellite feeds and an affiliate-accessible Web site. CNN Radio is based in CNN's world headquarters in Atlanta, with personnel, including radio-only correspondents, located at the CNN bureau in Washington, D.C., Los Angeles and New York. CNN Radio programming is distributed exclusively for radio broadcast in the United States by Westwood One. CNN Radio audio can also be heard via a link on the www.CNN.com Web site.

CNN Money Pressroom - January 15, 2008 — NEW YORK, NY — CNNMoney.com (http://www.CNNMoney.com), the world's leading business and finance Web site, today launched a new broadband initiative designed to give viewers approximately 30 originally produced for the web, broadcast-quality videos per day. CNNMoney.com's homepage has been redesigned to include a prominent, imbedded video player to allow users to view video content while continuing to follow breaking business news and live, streaming financial data.

"Whether it be breaking news or newly-created original programming, our video content will be differentiated, highly relevant, and provide a unique, but complementary experience for the site's users," said Jonathan Shar, General Manager of CNNMoney. "We will leverage the power of our award-winning brands: FORTUNE, MONEY, and FSB: FORTUNE Small Business to provide unparalleled access and engaging story-telling through video."

New content highlights include daily segments, weekly shows, monthly programming, and annual specials, overseen by executive producer Caleb Silver, and a team of producers and reporters dedicated to producing online original daily business and finance news and feature video.

Daily segments include: business updates hosted by Poppy Harlow, reporting live from the CNNMoney newsroom; in-depth stock analysis; CNNMoney.com and FORTUNE-branded commentary; and Street Life, featuring FORTUNE managing editor Andy Serwer who gives the inside angle on story-making headlines.

There will be weekly-produced packages that leverage the FortuneMoney Group's print publications. In addition, there will be a diverse slate of monthly programming and annual specials from all four business brands, as well as franchise-specific content such as the FORTUNE 500 and MONEY's Best Places to Live.

"We are thrilled to launch this comprehensive initiative and aim to be a thriving example of the finest digital video journalism," said Chris Peacock, executive editor and vice president, CNNMoney. "We have a team of producers who can shoot, edit, produce and report from anywhere in the country and get up-to-the-minute coverage for our viewers in real time."

About CNNMoney.com

CNNMoney.com is the world's largest business website. The site is the online home of FORTUNE, MONEY, and FSB: FORTUNE Small Business magazine, and serves as CNN.com's exclusive business site. The site, together with the three titles, is part of the FortuneMoney Group, and attracts nearly 8.0 million unique visitors per month, according to Nielsen/NetRatings. CNNMoney.com is a division of Time Warner Inc., the world's largest media company, and is available online or through internet enabled mobile devices at www.CNNMoney.com.

# # #

CNN Pressroom - Best Political Team to Provide Round-Up of Campaign News for 8 p.m. Hour

CNN starting today will dedicate the 8 p.m. hour each weekday to the latest election news coverage from the campaign trail in a new program, CNN Election Center. Building on CNN’s successes and ratings wins from both the Iowa caucuses and the New Hampshire primaries, CNN Election Center will be anchored by members of the “Best Political Team on Television” from the New York-based CNN Election Center and on the trail by CNN anchor John Roberts.

The program combines CNN’s unrivaled field reporting and analysis with all of the technology that CNN demonstrated on recent primary election nights. Each evening, CNN will report on substantive issues of concern to the American people with policy-oriented questions that will go beyond the minutia of the horse race and Beltway conventions.

For CNN Election Center, Roberts will anchor live from the field as candidates circulate through Michigan, Nevada, South Carolina, Florida and California as the Super Tuesday primaries approach. In New York, a rotating slate of anchors, including Wolf Blitzer, Anderson Cooper, Lou Dobbs, John King and Soledad O’Brien, will anchor from the CNN Election Center. Cooper and Roberts will co-anchor the program’s debut edition.

“CNN will offer the electricity of Election Night every night at 8,” said Jon Klein, president of CNN/U.S. “The Best Political Team on Television will provide unmatched insight and inside information and will give viewers what they want the most: less horse race coverage and more of the candidates talking about what they would do as president.”

CNN Election Center will air each weekday from 8 p.m. to 9 p.m. through the week of Super Tuesday. All times Eastern. The program also serves as a television companion to CNN.com’s Election Center available at http://www.CNN.com/ELECTION/

Joining the program from the trail will be CNN’s Emmy Award-winning political team with Dana Bash, John King and Mary Snow covering the Republican candidates, and Candy Crowley, Suzanne Malveaux and Jessica Yellin reporting on the Democrats. Also out on the campaign trail will be CNN correspondents Jim Acosta, Tom Foreman, Joe Johns, Chris Lawrence and Dan Lothian. Gloria Borger; senior political analyst; Jack Cafferty, commentator; David Gergen, senior political analyst; Bill Schneider, senior political analyst; and Jeff Toobin, legal analyst; will also contribute to the program along with CNN’s nationally known contributors Bill Bennett, Carl Bernstein, Donna Brazile and Roland Martin.

Jeff Kepnes serves as executive producer for CNN Election Center.

Through 2007 and continuing this year, CNN’s election programming has resonated with viewers who have made the network and CNN.com their source for politics. Two of CNN’s primary debates – the CNN/YouTube Republican debate and the Democratic debate in Las Vegas – stand as the two highest-rated primary debates in cable news history. CNN’s coverage of the Iowa caucuses topped the competition in the youngest demographics, while its New Hampshire primary coverage won across all demographics including total viewers.

An extra hour of Lou Dobbs Tonight will preempt CNN Election Center on Tuesday, Jan. 15, the day of the Michigan primary, with Lou Dobbs Tonight airing from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m., followed by a Lou Dobbs Tonight Special Report, “Independents Day: Awakening the American Spirit,’ airing from 8 p.m. to 9 p.m. For the special report, Dobbs and guest contributors offer expert reporting and analysis on the politics of today as they tear down traditional thinking about politics by approaching the issues from neither the left or the right but independently.

CNN Worldwide, a division of Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., a Time Warner Company, is the most trusted source for news and information. Its reach extends to nine cable and satellite television networks; one private place-based network; two radio networks; wireless devices around the world; CNN Digital Network, the No. 1 network of news Web sites in the United States; CNN Newsource, the world’s most extensively syndicated news service; and strategic international partnerships within both television and the digital media.

CNN Pressroom - CNN’s This Week at War takes a more political bent for the Saturday, Jan. 12, edition as it expands its focus to scrutinize how the 2008 presidential candidates plan to deal with the war in Iraq and other issues involving the military and conflicts abroad should they make it to the Oval Office. The program will air from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. (ET).

Hosted by CNN’s Tom Foreman, the program also will include a look ahead to the Michigan primary and how the voters and veterans in that state feel about the war in Iraq. Panelists will discuss whether U.S. troops serving overseas have become political casualties of the 2008 election season. Other topics of discussion are the politics of oil in the struggle for international peace and the political fallout of President George W. Bush’s trip to the Middle East.

Among the guests on the program are Chris Christoff, bureau chief for the Detroit Free Press; Joseph Cirincione, director of nuclear policy at the Center for American Progress; Noah Feldman, Harvard University professor and senior adjunct fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations; Brig. Gen. David Grange, U.S. Army (Ret.) and CNN military analyst; Ken Pollack, director of research at the Brookings Institution; Bill Schneider, CNN senior political analyst; Barbara Starr, CNN Pentagon correspondent; Shibley Telhami, University of Maryland professor and Middle East analyst; Jim VandeHei, executive editor of The Politico; Alphonso Van Marsh, CNN international correspondent; and Ben Wedeman, CNN international correspondent.

CNN’s This Week at War airs Saturdays from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. and Sundays from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. (ET). The Sunday, Jan. 13, edition of the program will be pre-empted for CNN’s “Ballot Bowl” coverage. “Ballot Bowl” is long-form, uninterrupted coverage of Democratic and Republican candidates’ significant live and recent events, offering viewers around the country a chance to see a complete political campaign event first-hand.

Suzanne Nelson is the program’s executive producer, and Lucy Spiegel is the senior executive producer. A transcript of the program will be available at http://www.CNN.com/transcripts and from the Federal Document Clearing House.

CNN Worldwide, a division of Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., a Time Warner Company, is the most trusted source for news and information. Its reach extends to nine cable and satellite television networks; one private place-based network; two radio networks; wireless devices around the world; CNN Digital Network, the No. 1 network of news Web sites in the United States; CNN Newsource, the world’s most extensively syndicated news service; and strategic international partnerships within both television and the digital media.

Live on CNN, CNN en Español and CNN International:

• Monday, January 28, 2008 — 8:00-10:00 PM ET - Democratic debate with the Congressional Black Caucus - Myrtle Beach, SC
• Wednesday, January 30, 2008 — 8:00-10:00 PM ET - Republican Debate with the LA Times - Simi Valley, CA
• Thursday, January 31, 2008 — 8:00-10:00 PM ET - Democratic Debate with the LA Times - Los Angeles, CA

Other Resources Available:

Broadcast in HD
Available on CNN On Demand
Wireless with CNN Mobile
CNN.com Live Video

Replay on Headline News:

• Tuesday, January 29, 2008 — 10:00 AM to 12:00 NOON ET - Democratic debate with the Congressional Black Caucus - Myrtle Beach, SC
• Thursday, January 31, 2008 — 10:00 AM to 12:00 NOON ET - Republican Debate with the LA Times - Simi Valley, CA
• Friday, February 1, 2008 — 10:00 AM to 12:00 NOON ET - Democratic Debate with the LA Times - Los Angeles, CA

CNN Domestic's The Situation Room will now be airing on CNN International, Monday through Friday from 2300 to 0000 GMT. This will replace the first hour of CNN Today HK. No word on if this is a permanent change, or one just for US Political coverage.

Now that the holidays are over, we're getting back into the swing of things here at CNN Observations. We hope you had a great one!

• CNN International has (finally) launched updated pages for some of their programs, including their new program The Campaign Trail hosted by former Insight host and CNN/I Jonathan Mann. The new/updated program pages include The Campaign Trail, Inside Africa, International Correspondents, The Screening Room, and World Report.

• CNN's Washington D.C.-based America Bureau Justice Correspondent Kelli Arena has a new photo on her bio page:


• FishbowlDC is reporting that CNN Congressional Correspondent Dana Bash and CNN National Correspondent John King are engaged. Best of luck to the both of them!

CNN's Chief Medical Correspondent, Dr. Sanjay Gupta has a recap of the things he the CNN Health and Medical Unit has done this year. Check it out at his Paging Dr. Gupta blog.

Maybe he just forgot about Elizabeth Cohen's great Empowered Patient series.

Fredricka Whitfield was in for Heidi Collins and Tony Harris this morning, not sounding too well. Her voice is sounding a little scratchy as she fights off sickness, so CNN brought in Rob Marciano to assist her beginning with the 10:00 AM Eastern hour.