CNN Press Release - CNN chief business correspondent Ali Velshi leads a fast-paced panel discussion for CNN’s first “Money Summit,” which looks at a potential deep recession, a collapsing housing market, rising unemployment and exploding budget deficits at all levels of government. This Anderson Cooper 360° special, “CNN Money Summit,” airs on Friday, Jan. 30, at 11 p.m. (ET) and Saturday, Jan. 31 at 8 p.m. (ET)

Velshi and a panel of experts will explore the big questions facing President Barack Obama about the economic crisis using the latest on-air technologies and iReports to advance the conversation. The panel includes: Katie Benner, writer/reporter, Fortune; Telis Demos, writer/reporter, Fortune; David Gergen, CNN senior political analyst, Stephanie Mehta, assistant managing editor, Fortune; Amanda Gengler, writer, MONEY magazine; Jeanne Sahadi, senior writer, CNNMoney.com, Andy Serwer, editor, Fortune; and Walter Updegrave, senior editor, MONEY magazine.

The panel will discuss job creation, the housing mess and scandals and regulation in today’s economy. Additionally, they will consider the mythologies of the American Dream, particularly in terms of how the average consumer carries thousands of dollars in credit card debt and the national debt has soared to more than $10 trillion.

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 Press Release - Special Broadcast of Fareed Zakaria GPS, Dateline Davos: Obama’s World Airs Sunday, Feb. 1, at 1 p.m. (ET)

CNN’s chief international correspondent Christiane Amanpour and world affairs analyst Fareed Zakaria delve into the heart of the World Economic Forum with reports from Davos, Switzerland. Their reports culminate on Sunday, Feb. 1, with a special broadcast of Fareed Zakaria GPS at 1 p.m. followed by Dateline Davos: Obama’s World hosted by Amanpour.

For the special edition of Fareed Zakaria GPS, Zakaria will gather world leaders to discuss whether anyone can pull the global economy back from the brink, considering specifically if newly elected Barack Obama can provide a lifeline to struggling world powers. Guests will include British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, Mexican President Felipe Calderon, South Korean Prime Minister Han Seung-Soo and South African President Kgalema Motlanthe.

For Dateline Davos: Obama’s World, Amanpour reports live from the World Economic Forum and moderates a panel from the forum including U.S. Sen. Christopher Dodd (D-Conn.); International Atomic Energy Agency Chief Mohammed ElBaradei, French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner, Iranian Foreign Minister Manuchehr Mottaki, Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga and Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari. Amanpour and panelists will debate and discuss the numerous, significant challenges facing the new U.S. president including the world economic crisis, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, ongoing conflicts in the Middle East and relations with Russia and Iran.

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 Press Release - CNN Worldwide will add three new international correspondents in Afghanistan, China and the United Arab Emirates, it was announced today by Parisa Khosravi, senior vice president of international newsgathering.

Over the past 12 months, CNN has appointed more than a dozen correspondents in seven new locations as part of an aggressive content ownership strategy. These latest hires boost CNN’s international newsgathering locations to 33.

“The resources available to CNN’s international newsgathering team have never been more robust,” Khosravi said. “By adding correspondents in these three strategic areas, CNN underscores its international newsgathering heritage.”

In Kabul, Afghanistan, Atia Abawi will serve as correspondent responsible for covering the country and the on-going war there. Abawi, a former assignment editor and producer for CNN’s international desk in Atlanta, joined CNN in 2004 and has worked on a number of stories including the assassination of former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, the Afghanistan-Korean hostage situation and Youssif, the young Iraqi boy burned by insurgents in Iraq.

Stan Grant returns to CNN after spending two years in his native Australia and takes up the new post of UAE-based correspondent. He will serve to cover both the UAE and the surrounding region from his base in CNN’s new Abu Dhabi newsgathering and production center slated to open later this year. Previously, Grant served as a Hong Kong-based anchor for CNN International and later as the network’s Beijing-based correspondent, where he gained recognition for his exclusive coverage of the Tamil Tigers in Sri Lanka in the aftermath of the South Asian tsunami.

Emily Chang, who joins John Vause as the second correspondent in Beijing, boosts CNN’s presence in China at a time when many media outlets are reducing their coverage in the post-Olympic climate. Chang has already reported on a variety of stories including the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, the tainted milk scandal and the effects of the global financial crisis on China.

Over the past year, CNN has also announced the opening of newsgathering operations in Chennai, India; Lagos, Nigeria; Mumbai, India; Nairobi, Kenya; and Santiago, Chile, where CNN Chile launched late last year. In addition, CNN has placed correspondents in Istanbul, Turkey; Islamabad, Pakistan; Johannesburg, South Africa; London, Great Britain and Tokyo, Japan.

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.

Larry King interviewed Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich last night on Larry King Live.

CNN continues to grow its reporting strength with the appointment of Ivan Watson as an international correspondent based in Istanbul, Turkey. Watson returns to CNN from NPR where he has reported from many of the world’s trouble spots in recent years.

Prior to joining NPR, Watson was a producer for CNN based in Moscow. In this new position, he will continue to cover major international stories around the world as well as from Turkey. CNN’s Istanbul bureau complements CNN’s other operations in Turkey, which includes CNN Turk, a Turkish-language news service, jointly operated by Turner Broadcasting International and Turkey’s Dogan Media Group.

“Having Ivan back in the CNN family is a great coup for us,” said Parisa Khosravi, senior vice president for international newsgathering. “As we continue to invest in and grow our newsgathering strength, Ivan will be an important part of our international reporting team.”

Over the past year, CNN has announced the opening of new newsgathering operations in Abu Dhabi, which will include a new production center; Chennai, India; Lagos, Nigeria; Mumbai, India; Nairobi, Kenya; and Santiago, Chile, where CNN Chile launched last month. In addition, CNN has placed new and additional correspondents in Islamabad, Pakistan; Johannesburg, South Africa; London and Tokyo.

Watson has reported extensively from many countries in Africa, the Middle East and Eastern Europe. He worked for CBS News, before joining CNN and then NPR.

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 Observations and CNNFan.org have teamed up to offer readers and members of the forum the chance to put past and present CNN staff under the spotlight. To kick off the new feature, we went in search of one of CNN’s originals.

After joining CNN Headline News in 1981, she went on to join the main CNN network in 1988 where she served as anchor of numerous scheduled programs and breaking news coverage. She was also one of the most recognisable faces on CNN International in the 90’s.

Our first interview this year is with the legendary, Bobbie Battista.

The questions below were submitted by members of CNNFan.org and readers of CNNObservations.com.


Q. You anchored programs on both CNN domestic and CNN International. Were there any editorial differences between the two networks?

Yes, CNN International's focus was very global. There was much less coverage of US domestic news. Many of the producers and anchors came from different countries and cultures and that brought a more expanded view to news coverage.


Q. Were stories sometimes formatted for the American audience, and as such with the international audience?

The audience for CNNI was the world so in that sense, the news programming was formatted with an independent view. Having said that, the network also realized CNNI was heavily viewed by Americans abroad, so an effort was certainly made to keep them up to date on what was happening at home. But the coverage came from multiple perspectives and not just the American view, which really separated CNNI from CNN domestic.


Q. Do you feel international news in the United States has been limited since you've left CNN?

Absolutely. One example, how often do you see Christiane Amanpour's reporting on CNN anymore? Very selectively. Her reports and those of others around the globe used to be daily fare. And CNN has closed a number of bureaus overseas as well. The thinking is that people aren't interested in international news. I think that's wrong, especially as the world continues to grow smaller and more inter-connected.


Q. Back when you were with CNN, did you ever sit at the anchor desk and watch correspondents like Christiane Amanpour and Nic Robertson report from hot spots around the world and wish you were there as an International Correspondent?

I do wish that I had taken a few years and spent them overseas in one of our bureaus, but I had my hands full at CNN and we had a whole team of qualified international correspondents doing such a great job back then.


Q. As you observe the CNN networks at the time you were there and right now, you will notice how different they have become, especially the main CNN network. What do you think the thrust was in the 90s that warranted programming like those during your time and the thrust that exists today to warrant more opinionated, personality-driven and drama-driven programmes?

Wow, that could probably be a thesis for a PHD! I would have to say the advent of FOX News was the biggest catalyst for change. As objective as we tried to be back then, there was a slight leaning to the left at CNN in the 90s and Roger Ailes and others saw the need for other viewpoints, found their opportunity and their audience and then drove a truck through it! FOX not only created a right-leaning network, but a personality-driven one as well. CNN had always focused more on the news and downplayed its personalities. Suddenly personalities became more important than the news because they attracted more attention. What followed then, was a blurring of the lines between reporting and opinion. Back in the day, opinions and editorials were banned from CNN and the news was the "star". But the rules of the game changed and CNN had to change to stay in the game. And of course, all this is more about money and the bottom line than anything else. These news networks are first and foremost, now owned by very large profit-oriented conglomerates.

Q. Has cable news changed for the better or worse since your time at CNN?

Double-edged sword. I would have to say "better" because of all the technical advancements in news gathering and the integration of the internet and social media, etc., but "worse" because there has been a deterioration in the quality and depth of coverage. I think we haven't yet managed to figure out how these two things work well together yet! And I have to say sometimes I really miss getting my news straight up without all the bells and whistles and over-the-top, tiresome personalities.


Q. You anchored on 3 of 4 CNN TV networks, Headline News, CNN and CNN international. Did you have a favorite network?

That's like picking a favorite child! I loved working for them all.


Q. What was your best experience at CNN?

Being one of the first anchors hired and being lucky enough to work for Ted Turner back when CNN and its mission was a dream to fulfill. Those beginning years were the best ones. (And nobody was even watching back then!)


Q. Could you name one person (living or deceased) that you would love to interview, but haven’t?

Bruce Springsteen and Jesus Christ. They might be one and the same, I'm not sure. :) (Just kidding!)


Q. I remember that I was devastated when I had learned you were leaving CNN back in 2000/2001, what are you doing now?

I occasionally still do some TV work, most recently for Retirement Living TV, but I was too young for that network!! I am also part of a new content development company and we're working on documentary and reality style programming. And I have just done some web videos for the Onion.com (a parody news site) which will air in February. They're pretty funny. I wasn't sure I should do them at first, but I think it's always important not to take yourself too terribly seriously!


Q. Do you have any advice for aspiring journalists?

Yes, practice journalism, not blogging. Remember there is such a thing as journalistic ethics. Think globally. And if you work in broadcast news, don't shout.


Q. Do you have any hobbies?

Interior design, tennis, cooking and crossword puzzles.


Q. What is something people would not know about you?

I'm only 5' 3" and I once went out with Steve Perry of Journey.


(C) 2009 – CNNFan.org / CNNObservations.com
CNNFan.org members who contributed to this interview: Arrapare, Sarah, Jon, headliner101, Leeroy, Dustin.

As we speculated on earlier, CNN International rolled out a new look for their graphics Friday night. The new design is almost a replica of the package CNN U.S. rolled out in December.

CNN Press Release: The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer Joins CNN’s Saturday Lineup

Viewers will get an additional dose of The Situation Room with Wolf
Blitzer each week, starting Saturday, Jan. 24 when the weekend edition
premiers. Every Saturday at 6 p.m. (ET), The Situation Room will include
news-making interviews and stories compiled from the weekday editions of
the program, as well as fresh perspectives on recent events.

The addition comes on the heels of a record-breaking year for CNN and The
Situation Room. In 2008, more viewers in the 25-54 demographic turned to
CNN during the 5 p.m. hour than to any other cable news channel.
Additionally, The Situation Room, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.,was No. 1 among
18-34 and 18-49 viewers in 2008.

The Situation Room airs weekdays from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Eric Sherling is
the program’s executive producer.

For the past two months, users at the CNNFan.org forum have been speculating on a graphics revamp coming to CNN International. In a sign that the new look could be imminent, a new CNN International bug has been spotted within the last 12 hours. The apparent new bug appears on an “Impact Your World” report that is airing on the network, as well as streaming on CNN.com (where we grabbed the picture below from)


CNN US introduced a new graphics package in December last year, and some are pointing out the similarities to that package, and the look of the apparent new CNN International bug. There is some speculation that the new look will mostly mirror that of CNN US. If this is the case, it will be the first time both networks have shared a common look since the mid 90’s.

Also in news from CNN International, the first in a series of new programs launching this year will debut on the network over the next fortnight: “Quest Means Business” - Richard Quest's new program - premieres this coming Monday at 1900 GMT, while ‘International Desk” will premiere at 1700 GMT on February 2.

CNN Press Release: Nearly 8.5 Million Viewers Turn to CNN for Inaugural Address; CNN.com Shatters Previous Records

CNN’s multi-platform coverage of the Inauguration of President Barack Obama reached a ratings milestone on Tuesday, Jan. 20, with CNN's television coverage dominating the competition throughout the day, and CNN.com shattering records across the board during Inauguration Day.

More Americans turned to CNN on television from 12:00 – 12:30 pm, ET (according to Nielsen Media Fast National data), which included the new president’s swearing in and inaugural address than any other cable news network. CNN dominated the competition with 8.497 million total viewers, FNC placed a distant second with 5.488 million, and MSNBC trailed with 3.076 million. In the key demographic adults 25-54, CNN attracted more viewers than FNC and MSNBC combined, with 3.459 million viewers, a 101% advantage over FNC’s 1.722 million, and a staggering 211% lead over MSNBC’s 1.113 million.

From 11:00 am – 2:00 pm yesterday, CNN was also top-rated among total viewers with 6.941 million tuning in, FNC followed with 4.438 million, and MSNBC was a distant third with 2.571 million. This represents the network’s highest 11:00 am – 2:00 pm average in history. In the key demographic adults 25-54, CNN posted 2.811 million viewers, a 104% more than FNC’s 1.379 million and a 204% advantage over MSNBC’s 924,000.

According to preliminary, internal data -- CNN.com generated more than 182 million page views and served more than 36.7 million total video streams on Inauguration Day. Of the 36.7 million video streams, CNN.com Live served 26.9 million live video streams globally, breaking its all time total daily streaming record set on Election Day with 5.3 million live streams. (Source: Omniture SiteCatalyst, global). Additionally, CNN.com Live estimates it served more than 1.3 million concurrent live streams during its peak, which occurred immediately prior to President Obama's inaugural address. (Source: Internal CDN monitoring data). Also, iReport.com, CNN’s user-generated community, more than doubled its previous submission record of 5,100 set the day before the 2008 Election with more than 11,300 photos and videos uploaded to the site on Inauguration Day. (Source: iReport.com internal data).*

Other key CNN television ratings highlights:

6:00 am – 3:00 am/Total Day coverage:

CNN was No. 1 with 3.979 million total viewers/1.626 million among adults 25-54

FOX placed second with 2.543 million total viewers/750,000 among adults 25-54

MSNBC was last with 1.689 million total viewers/610,000 among adults 25-54

6:00 am – 9:00 am/Morning Show coverage:

CNN’s American Morning was No. 1 with 1.315 million total viewers/638,000 adults 25-54

FNC Fox and Friends was second with 1.165 million total viewers/377,000 adults 25-54

MSNBC Morning Joe was third with 686,000 total viewers/253,000 adults 25-54

4:00 pm – 7:00 pm/Afternoon coverage:

CNN’s Situation Room was No. 1 with 5.487 million total viewers/2.133 million among adults 25-54

FOX Obama Parade/Glenn Beck/Special Report was second with 3.079 million/792,000 adults 25-54

MSNBC Obama Parade/Hardballwas last with 2.158 million/741,000 adults 25-54

7:00 pm – 1:00 am/Extended Prime Time coverage:

CNN was No. 1 with 3.740 million total viewers/1.585 million among adults 25-54

(includes Campbell Brown: No Bias. No Bull (7-9 pm), Anderson Cooper 360 (9 pm – midnight) and Larry King Live (midnight – 1:00 am).

FNC followed with 2.604 million total viewers/755,000 among adults 25-54

(includes Fox Report (7-8 pm) O’Reilly Factor (8-9 pm) and Special Coverage/The 44 President (9:00 pm -1:00 am).

MSNBC placed third with 1.915 million total viewers/712,000 among adults 25-54

(includes Hardball (7-8 pm), Countdown (8-9 pm), The Rachel Maddow Show (9-10 pm), Special Coverage/President Barack Obama (10 pm – 1:00 am).

This represents a 44% and 110% advantage over FNC in total viewers and adults 25-54 respectively, and a 95% and 123% lead over MSNBC in total viewers and adults 25-54.

CNN Public Relations - According to early data, as of 11:45a ET today, CNN.com Live has served 13.9 million live video streams globally since 6a, shattering its all time total daily streaming record set on Election Day with 5.3 million live streams. (Source: Omniture SiteCatalyst, global).

- CNN.com Live/Facebook US presidential inauguration initiative

- CNN International’s coverage of the World Economic Forum in Davos

The world’s largest wind energy company Vestas Wind Systems A/S begins its 2009 commercial association with CNN International with an online sponsorship of the network’s exclusive collaboration with Facebook around next week’s historic US Presidential Inauguration on 20th January. In a crucially important month for world news, the sustainable energy giant will also reap the benefits of increased brand exposure with online advertising around CNN.com/international’s coverage of the World Economic Forum in Davos from 28th-30th January.

“We’re delighted to be able to offer Vestas this premium branding opportunity at a time when traffic is expect to spike and when our online audience’s appetite for our compelling coverage of world events has never been greater”, says Max Raven, SVP Advertising Sales, CNN International.

In CNN’s most extensive collaboration with Facebook to date, on 20th January, users can update their own Facebook status directly from the CNN.com Live player, watch CNN’s live video coverage of the presidential inauguration and receive status updates from other Facebook users logged on via CNN.com Live. Vestas video-pre-roll advertising will run within the live player, giving the brand a unique opportunity to target millions of users across Europe, the Middle East, Asia Pacific and Latin America on a day when users will be engaged like never before.

Kasper J, Granat, Global Branding Manager, Vestas Wind Systems comments, “Vestas is always pushing the boundaries with our technology, but also how we engage with our stakeholders. We are therefore thrilled to be part of these unique media concepts. The context is highly relevant for us and our offering of modern energy, which has proven to not only be good for the environment, but also good for the economy.”


Capitalising on the network’s extensive pre-inauguration coverage, Vestas will run banner advertisements across CNN.com’s homepage from today and will continue their advertising through 21st January in order to target users logging on for post-inauguration commentary. The Vestas banner advertising will be visible to CNN.com users worldwide.

Vestas advertising will assume one hundred percent share of voice across www.cnn.com/international, targeted to users in Europe on the 28th and 30th January as CNN provides live daily coverage from its top business presenters on location at the World Economic Forum in Davos.

Vestas advertising will also be associated with ‘Dear Davos’, one of CNN International’s most ambitious audience initiatives yet where online and TV viewers are invited to contribute their thoughts and opinion on the event and the themes it raises. By writing in to deardavos@cnn.com viewers have the opportunity to contribute to CNN’s coverage, with comment included in live reporting from CNN’s Charles Hodson and Richard Quest throughout the week. In addition, CNN will offer all the latest news and analysis from the event as well as behind-the-scene images and blogs from CNN business correspondents at www.cnn.com/davos.

- ends –

ABOUT CNN INTERNATIONAL
CNN International continues to be the international news channel of choice for reaching the European elite, leading all international news channels in monthly reach (EMS Select 2008), and is also market leader for combined TV and online monthly reach, confirming its position as the channel that best reaches the ‘upscale global citizen’ in the digital age. Overall lead in EMS Select positions CNN as #1 television vehicle for advertisers seeking to reach frequent business travellers and business decision makers.

Vestas – No. 1 in Modern Energy
All over the world, people must prepare to use new forms of energy. The sharp rise in energy consumption calls for a sustainable resource that does not create more greenhouse gases, pollution or waste for future generations. Wind power is a renewable, predictable and clean source of energy. Substantial capacity can be built up quickly, offering the energy independence demanded by the world's largest and fastest-growing economies. This is why we call wind power, modern energy. With a 23 per cent market share in 2007, Vestas is the world’s leading supplier of modern energy solutions. We have installed more than 35,000 wind turbines in 63 countries on five continents. We install an average of one wind turbine every four hours around the clock. In 2007 our wind turbines generated more than 60 million MWh – or enough electricity to supply millions of households. These are some of the reasons why Vestas is No. 1 in Modern Energy.

Live from Washington, it's Late Edition, State Of The Union with John King.

Broadcasting from atop the Newseum in Washington D.C., the new Sunday morning political talk show debuted on CNN and CNN International this morning.

The first live interview was with David Axelrod, Senior Advisor to President-elect Obama, followed soon after with an exclusive interview with the incoming President.

CNN Press Release - The highly acclaimed CNN Presents: God’s Warriors continues to garner prestigious awards into 2009 as the Christiane Amanpour documentary received an Alfred I. duPont-Columbia Award from Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism on Monday, Jan. 12. The university cited the documentary for providing a “global documentation of the rise of religious fundamentalism.”

God’s Warriors stands as one of the most honored documentaries of recent years, having already won a George F. Peabody award, the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences’ inaugural Television Academy Honor, a National Headliner award and a Gracie Allen award among many others.

For God’s Warriors, a three-part, six-hour television event aired across CNN’s U.S. and international networks in August 2007, Christiane Amanpour traveled to six countries to report this epic documentary. A critical and ratings success, God’s Warriors was watched by approximately 15 million cumulative viewers in the United States and millions more around the world.

CNN Press Release - On Inauguration Day, CNN.com will provide special coverage of the presidential inauguration and all related events in their entirety through a wide variety of elements, including live streaming and on-demand video, photo galleries, audio slideshows, interactive maps and in-depth articles.

Throughout the day, the site’s coverage will showcase the sights and sounds from the events captured by CNN reporters and photographers, as well as various inauguration attendees. To provide additional perspective on the historic events taking place, the site also will feature reactions, analysis and commentary from CNN.com users and newsmakers alike.

With live coverage starting at 8 a.m. (ET) and running until the last inaugural ball, CNN.com Live, the Internet’s only multi-stream live video news service, will offer users up to four simultaneous live streams of inauguration coverage, including the parade and other related events happening in the nation’s capital, as well as Obama’s inaugural address. CNN.com Live anchor Melissa Long will anchor live from the Capitol grounds in Washington with fellow anchors Reggie Aqui, Naamua Delaney and Nicole Lapin from CNN.com headquarters in Atlanta.

In an effort to enable users to connect and engage with each other while watching live all the events of Inauguration Day on CNN.com Live, CNN.com and Facebook have joined forces. On Tuesday, Jan. 20, CNN.com Live users will be able to update their own Facebook status directly from the CNN.com Live player and also see status updates from their friends and other Facebook users on CNN.com Live.

In addition to live streaming video, audio slideshows, photo galleries and interactives, other special inauguration coverage elements on CNN.com include:
· “Your View of History” – a customized map, built using Google Maps technology, of the inauguration parade route featuring video and still images to provide a comprehensive visual experience of the day’s events and the parade. Images will be placed on the map from the exact locations where they are taken, so that users can zoom in to get street-level views all along the route, giving users a closer glimpse of what it’s like to be there;
· Inaugural Address Report Card – ratings and comments on Obama’s speech from CNN political analysts and CNN.com users; and

· Political Ticker – Just as it has throughout the entirety of the campaign, the CNN Political Ticker - the Internet’s No. 1 political news blog according to Nielsen Online, will provide a special inaugural edition of the blog complete with live rolling updates, analysis and commentary from members of the “Best Political Team.”

iReport.com, the network’s user-generated online news community, will invite contributors to share their thoughts on the historic moment, as well as submit share their videos and photos, whether from the events or their own backyards.

Through CNN Student News, CNN.com has special content for teachers, parents and students including inaugural explainers, learning activities including an inaugural scavenger hunt and discussion questions. Special inauguration programming will also be included in the 10-minute commercial free program available on HLN at 4 a.m. (ET) Monday through Friday; streamed online at www.CNNStudentNews.com; or as a free iTunes podcast.

CNN.com is the world's No. 1 destination for online and wireless news, garnering the greatest audience share of total minutes among current events and global news sites. Launched in 1995, CNN.com draws from the resources of CNN Worldwide and its many partners to provide consumers with the most enriching, immediate interaction with news anywhere, seamlessly combining articles, videos, images, interactive features and user-generated content. CNN.com’s news video offering – both live and on-demand – is unparalleled on the Web. CNN.com’s recent awards include an Edward R. Murrow award, a National Headliner award, four EPpy awards and the Online News Association’s award for general excellence.

CNN Press Release - CNN’s John King will travel to a manufacturing factory in Bedford Heights, Ohio, to interview President-elect Barack Obama for an exclusive interview before being sworn in as president on Tuesday, Jan. 20.

The interview will air during The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer on Friday, which airs 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. (ET). King will question Obama on substantive issues that he will face in the first days of his administration, including the economy and national security. Obama will also discuss his relationship with President George W. Bush, share his thoughts on his family’s move to Washington and reflect on the historic nature of becoming the first African-American U.S. president.

John King is CNN’s chief national correspondent and the anchor of the new Sunday morning program State of the Union with John King, which debuts this weekend from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. (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 Press Release - Network Adds 13.8 Million Households with Freeview Deal

CNN International will double its distribution in the United Kingdom on Wednesday, Jan. 15, when it begins providing its services to more than 13.8 million homes subscribed to Freeview, a U.K.-based digital broadcast service.

The additional households raise CNN International’s U.K. distribution to more than 25 million households, more than double its previous total distribution on Sky, Virgin and Tiscali cable and satellite services. CNN International will now reach more than 244 million households around the world in more than 200 countries and territories.

“We’re delighted to be doubling our U.K. distribution,” said Tony Maddox, executive vice president and managing director of CNN International. “U.K. viewers will be able to enjoy not only our signature global news and feature programming but also a new slate of new program we’re developing for Europe’s prime time.”

CNN International will be available on Freeview seven days a week in a prime-time evening block from 2100 GMT to 0100 GMT. The move offers the network’s award-winning portfolio of news, A-list interviews, business news, sports and feature programming to a new U.K. audience.

In January alone, Freeview audiences will have a front row seat to two of the most important events on the 2009 world calendar. On Tuesday, Jan. 20, CNN will offer coverage of the inauguration of U.S. President-elect Barack Obama that will include the swearing-in ceremony and the inauguration parade. Beginning Tuesday, Jan. 27, audiences can watch CNN’s comprehensive coverage of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, as the world’s business leaders debate the financial crisis and search for solutions.

Earlier we posted what we'd found about some new shows coming to the European Prime-Time Block of CNN International and CNN's response to those findings. One of those ideas was for a new show by CNNI Anchor and Business Traveller host Richard Quest. While it wasn't confirmed by CNN, Richard Quest confirmed a new show this morning via Twitter:

"just starting work...pilots today for new show"

" rehearsing the new show in an hour...still working on new shots."

More details as they become available...

Update (Tuesday 1/13): Quest posted on Twitter that his show will launch around the World Economic Forum in Davos.

"we launch in Davos in two weeks - ar eyou doing to Davos ? c'mon someone
form twitter must be going to Davos"

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6. Body in SUV is Hudson's nephew, FBI says – Oct. 27 – 3.5 million page views
7. Spitzer's escort: 'I love who I am' – March 13 – 3.4 million page views
8. Body proves Bigfoot no myth, hunters say – Aug. 15 – 3.3 million page views
9. Palin's 'going rogue,' McCain aide says – Oct. 26 – 3.2 million page views
10. Some remains found in Fossett plane wreckage – Oct. 3 – 3.1 million page views

Source: Omniture SiteCatalyst

CNN Press Release: CNN.com partners with Facebook to offer unprecedented social community interaction around inauguration day

As the world tunes in to see Barack Obama officially sworn in as the next President of the United States, CNN.com and Facebook will enable users to connect and engage with each other while watching live all the events of Inauguration Day on CNN.com Live, the Internet’s only multi-stream live video news service.

On Tuesday January 20th, users will be able to update their own Facebook status directly from the CNN.com Live player; and also see status updates from their friends and other Facebook users on CNN.com Live.

On Facebook, the status updates for those using CNN.com Live will be published in their News Feed with hyperlinked tags that read “via CNN.com Live,” so users’ friends on Facebook can click the tag and join the CNN.com Live/Facebook experience.

Planet In Peril - Battle Lines is now available on iTunes. Click here to download it today!

CNN Press Release: Cheney, Pelosi to Appear on Final Late Edition with Wolf Blitzer

CNN’s lead political anchor Wolf Blitzer will host Vice President Dick Cheney and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi for the final Late Edition with Wolf Blitzer on Sunday, Jan. 11.

As he prepares to pass the torch to John King who will anchor State of the Union with John King, Blitzer will sit down with the two leaders to discuss the ailing economy, the war on terrorism and the challenges the new administration faces in Iraq, Afghanistan and the Middle East. Cheney will reflect on his legacy as the Bush administration comes to a close, while Pelosi will discuss the upcoming congressional agenda.

Blitzer served as the anchor of Late Edition with Wolf Blitzer for 11 years. The program was seen in more than 200 countries and territories around the world and featured interviews with presidents, heads of state, politicians, candidates and observers.

Blitzer will continue to anchor The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer, which airs weekdays 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. (ET).

King was tapped last month to anchor a four-hour Sunday news power block, following his break-out reporting during the 2008 election season. The program, which will air 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. beginning Sunday, Jan. 18, will offer a blend of newsmaker interviews, political analysis, national and world affairs and cultural segments and will include media analysis from Reliable Sources with Howard Kurtz.

Hugh Riminton, Hong Kong based anchor for CNN International, has left the network after just under four years.

Riminton finished in the anchor chair Friday after joining the network from Australia's Nine Network in 2005.

No word yet on where Riminton is headed, or who his replacement will be.

* Cap credit: Charles from CNNFan.org

Please be advised that CNN will provide uninterrupted coverage of the
Presidential Inauguration on Tuesday, January 20th, 2009 from 11:00 am –
1:00 pm ET. CNN will be commercial-free during this time.

Inauguration programming will air on CNN throughout the day on Tuesday,
January 2th, 2009.

CNN Press Release: CNN Blankets Washington, D.C., with Live, Multi-platform Coverage, Analysis of Inauguration Ceremonies; Brown and Cooper to Lead Primetime Coverage

Building upon the network’s record-breaking coverage of the presidential campaign and election, CNN will provide a front row seat for viewers worldwide with live coverage leading up to the inauguration of U.S. President-elect Barack Obama on Tuesday, Jan. 20, including the swearing-in ceremony and the inauguration parade.

As part of live and in-depth coverage for The Inauguration of Barack Obama, members of the Best Political Team on Television will fan out across the nation’s capital on Inauguration Day to cover every angle of Obama’s official first day in office. CNN anchors Wolf Blitzer and Anderson Cooper guide coverage of the events from the rooftop of the Newseum, a key vantage point along the Pennsylvania Avenue parade route.

“This is one of the most historic events of our time, and CNN will utilize all of our resources to capture the magnitude of the moment,” said Jon Klein, president of CNN/U.S. “Throughout Inauguration Day and beyond, CNN’s winning political team will continue to offer its trademark independent coverage which has been drawing a record number of viewers throughout this election season.”

On Tuesday, Jan. 20, The Inauguration of Barack Obama kicks off with CNN’s John Roberts and Kiran Chetry anchoring a special edition of American Morning live on Capitol Hill from 5 a.m. to 10 a.m.

Beginning at 10 a.m., CNN’s coverage location moves to the Newseum, where Blitzer and Cooper, along with senior political analysts Gloria Borger and David Gergen, will anchor the special programming. Chief national correspondent John King will transport the network’s Magic Wall to a balcony inside the Newseum in order to illustrate traffic and hotspots around Washington. Also reporting from the Newseum, Campbell Brown will cover the day’s events and will moderate a panel with members of CNN’s Best Political Team on Television, including political contributors Paul Begala, Bill Bennett, Donna Brazile,James Carville, Alex Castellanos, Amy Holmes, Roland Martin, Hilary Rosen and Tara Wall.

In the days leading up to and including Inauguration Day, CNN’s Election Express will be stationed on the National Mall to serve as the center of operations for other members of the Best Political Team on Television reporting from across the nation’s capital. On Jan. 20, anchor Soledad O’Brien and senior political analyst Jeffrey Toobin will report from Lafayette Park, the location of the presidential viewing stands and a central spot from which to narrate the parade. Senior political correspondent Candy Crowley will provide viewers with an up-close view of the parade as she reports from within the parade itself and from key locations around the capital. Senior White House correspondent Ed Henry plans to speak with politicians and dignitaries watching from the inauguration ceremony platform. White House correspondent Suzanne Malveaux will be live at the White House reporting on a variety of events, including Obama’s final visit with President George W. Bush.

Senior congressional correspondent Dana Bash will cover her beat from the Capitol Rotunda. National political correspondent Jessica Yellin and correspondent Jim Acosta will bring viewers into the crowds who flocked to Washington to watch the inauguration. Correspondent Joe Johns will do the same from the Washington Mall. Anchor John Roberts also will be live on Capitol Hill.

Homeland security correspondent Jeanne Meserve will report on the intense security measures in place for the inaugural events. White House correspondent Dan Lothian will head to Andrews Air Force Base to be on hand for Bush’s official departure from Washington. Other correspondents covering the inauguration include congressional correspondent Brianna Keilar, general assignment correspondents Kate Bolduan and Elaine Quijano, foreign affairs correspondent Jill Dougherty, Pentagon correspondent Barbara Starr, correspondent Brian Todd and news anchors Don Lemon and Zain Verjee.

The Inauguration of Barack Obama will continue with a special edition of The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., which will include live coverage of the parade, as well as a recap of the day’s happenings. From 7 p.m. to midnight, Campbell Brown and Anderson Cooper will lead CNN’s prime-time coverage, live from Washington D.C., with special editions of Campbell Brown: No Bias. No Bull and Anderson Cooper 360º which will include live reporting from the 10 official inaugural balls. Larry King hosts a special edition of Larry King Live from the Washington, D.C. bureau from midnight to 1 a.m.

CNN.com will provide special live coverage of the presidential inauguration and all related events in their entirety. Throughout the day, the site’s coverage will showcase the sights and sounds from the events captured by CNN.com reporters and photographers, as well as inauguration attendees. To provide additional perspective on the historic events taking place, the site also will feature reactions, analysis and commentary from CNN.com users and newsmakers alike.

CNN.com and Facebook are working together to enable users to connect and engage with each other while watching live all the events of Inauguration Day on CNN.com Live, the Internet’s only multi-stream live video news service. On Tuesday, Jan. 20, CNN.com Live users will be able to update their Facebook status directly from the CNN.com Live player and also see status updates from their friends and other Facebook users on CNN.com Live. On Facebook, the status updates for those using CNN.com Live will be published in their News Feed with hyperlinked tags that read “via CNN.com Live,” so users’ friends on Facebook can click the tag and join the CNN.com Live/Facebook experience.

Throughout the day, CNN.com Live will offer users up to four simultaneous live streams of inauguration coverage, including the parade and other related events happening in the nation’s capital, as well as Obama’s inaugural address. CNN.com Live anchor Melissa Long will anchor live from Washington and interview various guests and contributors as the day’s events unfold.

In addition to live streaming video, audio slideshows, photo galleries and interactives, other special inauguration coverage elements on CNN.com include:

· “Your View of History” – a customized map, built using Google Maps technology, of the inauguration parade route featuring video and still images to provide a comprehensive visual experience of the day’s events and the parade. Images will be placed on the map from the exact locations where they are taken, so that users can zoom in to get street-level views all along the route, giving users a closer glimpse of what it’s like to be there;

· Inaugural Address Report Card – ratings and comments on Obama’s speech from CNN political analysts and CNN.com users; and

· The Political Ticker – a special inaugural edition of the blog complete with live rolling updates, analysis and commentary from members of the Best Political Team.

iReport.com, the network’s user-generated online news community, will invite contributors to share their thoughts on the historic moment, as well as submit share their videos and photos, whether from the events or their own backyards.

HLN will feature special inaugural coverage anchored by anchor Robin Meade of Morning Express with Robin Meade. In keeping with the network’s “News and Views” format, HLN will air full live coverage of Obama’s swearing-in ceremony and inaugural address as well as other news updates but will also offer commentary and a variety of perspectives from CNN and HLN correspondents and other special guests.

CNN International will simulcast domestic programming from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

CNN en Español plans to offerextensive live coverage of Inauguration Day, with senior anchor Patricia Janiot and correspondents Juan Carlos López and Ione Molinares, reporting live from Washington. Special coverage will wrap up with a prime-time special at 9 p.m. with a focus on the events of the day.

CNN Radio’s Bob Costantini, Lisa Desjardins and Dick Uliano and will anchor coverage from the capital starting at 11:06 a.m. and continuing until 1 p.m. or through the end of the inaugural address. Coverage will be provided to affiliates, as well as streamed live on CNN.com.

CNN Newsource will provide its affiliates access to custom reports from correspondent Sandra Endo and RunningMate correspondent Samantha Hayes from one of the best rooftop shots in the nation’s capitol.

CNN Student News provides teachers, parents and students with special inaugural explainers, learning activities including an inaugural scavenger hunt and discussion questions. Special inauguration programming will also be included in the 10-minute commercial free program available on Headline News at 4 a.m. (ET) Monday through Friday; streamed online at www.CNNStudentNews.com; or as a free iTunes podcast.

CNN Press Release: Sam Feist Named Vice President of D.C.-based Programming for CNN/U.S.

CNN political director Sam Feist has been named vice president of Washington-based programming, it was announced today by David Bohrman, senior vice president and the network’s Washington bureau chief. Feist will continue to report to Bohrman in this role.

“Sam has been a driving force behind the team that led CNN to the most successful ratings year in the network’s 28-year history,” Bohrman said. “CNN’s 2008 election coverage is a great example of where we have been and where we can still go. Sam’s enthusiasm for solid, innovative television makes him a natural fit to lead the Washington bureau’s programming as we prepare to cover the new administration and Congress.”

In this new role, Feist will oversee all programming based out of the Washington bureau, including The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer, State of the Union with John King and political specials. In addition to his new responsibilities, Feist will maintain his duties as CNN political director.

As CNN’s political director and senior executive producer of political coverage through the 2006 midterm and 2008 presidential elections, Feist oversaw political coverage for “America Votes 2008” and The Situation Room, the weekday program he helped conceptualize and launch. Feist was instrumental in the “America Votes 2006” coverage of the midterm elections that earned the network an Emmy Award.

Feist previously managed the production of Inside Politics and Crossfire. Prior to joining Crossfire, Feist was the founding executive producer of CNN’s daily newscast Wolf Blitzer Reports. He also served as the executive producer of CNN’s weekend programs Late Edition with Wolf Blitzer, The Capital Gang and Evans & Novak. Feist has produced live programs from nations around the world including China, Israel, Russia and the United Kingdom. He has produced interviews with such world leaders as George W. Bush, Dick Cheney, Bill Clinton, Mikhail Gorbachev, Al Gore, Yitzhak Rabin and Margaret Thatcher.

Feist joined the network full-time in 1991 and has held a number of positions including associate producer, producer and senior producer.

A magna cum laude graduate of Vanderbilt University, Feist also earned a law degree from Georgetown University Law Center, where he graduated cum laude. He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and the Bar of the District of Columbia.

CNN Press Release: Prime-time Special ‘Madoff: Secrets of a Scandal’ to air on Saturday, Jan. 10, and Sunday, Jan. 11, at 8 p.m. (ET)

CNN’s Christine Romans and Fortune’s Andy Serwer will host a special hour-long investigative report on CNN/U.S. examining disgraced financier Bernard “Bernie” Madoff and how he allegedly perpetrated one of the largest investor frauds ever committed by an individual.

“Madoff: Secrets of a Scandal – A CNN-Fortune Special Investigation” will air on Saturday, Jan. 10, and Sunday, Jan. 11, at 8 p.m. (ET). The special will profile Madoff and detail how his scheme played out, robbing many Americans of their money. Serwer and Romans, along with CNN correspondents Abbie Boudreau, Allan Chernoff and Alina Cho, will examine how the Securities Exchange Commission may have dropped the ball on busting Madoff nearly a decade ago and will profile a few of the charities that suffered severe ramifications.

Romans hosts Your $$$$$ on CNN/U.S.; Serwer serves as managing editor for Fortune.

Guests for “Madoff: Secrets of a Scandal” include Fortune reporters Katie Benner and Telis Demos and editor-at-large Allan Sloan. New York Post gossip columnist Cindy Adams will discuss how Madoff fooled New York high society. In addition, Romans will conduct a one-on-one interview with Madoff victim Alexandra Penney, a New York artist and former editor of Self magazine, who says she lost her life savings in the Madoff debacle.

“Madoff: Secrets of a Scandal” will also air on CNNI on Saturday, Jan. 10, at 5 a.m. and noon (ET). Segments from the program will be available on CNNMoney.com.

Tuesday during the afternoon edition of CNN Newsroom, Kyra Phillips showed live pictures of Rusty Dornin's farewell party hosted in the Atlanta Newsroom.

Rusty, you will definitely be missed!

CNN Press Release: Blitzer Leads The Situation Room to No. 1 Among Younger Viewers in 2008

Throughout a record-breaking year for CNN, more viewers in the 25-54 demographic turned to CNN during the 5 p.m. hour than to any other cable news channel. Additionally, The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.,was No. 1 among 18-34 and 18-49 viewers in 2008.

For the three hour block, The Situation Room attracted, on average, 81,000 viewers in the 18-34 demo, as compared to the 61,000 viewers who turned to Fox News and the 53,000 viewers who turned to MSNBC. In the 18-49 demo, an average 219,000 viewers watched The Situation Room versus 209,000 and 129,000 who turned to Fox News and MSNBC, respectively.

At 5 p.m., The Situation Room averaged 245,000 viewers in the 25-54 demographic, compared to the 243,000 for Fox News’ Election Headquarters and 197,000 for MSNBC’s Hardball. According to Nielsen data for the year, The Situation Room also beat its competitors in the 5 p.m. hour in the 18-49 demo with 213,000 viewers, versus Fox News’ 190,000 and MSNBC’s 146,000, as well as in the 18-34 demo with 77,000 viewers, compared with Fox News’ 57,000 and MSNBC’s 58,000.

“I attribute 2008’s ratings to The Situation Room’s incredibly hardworking, talented team who tirelessly wrote, booked, produced, directed, anchored and performed countless other tasks to craft the most comprehensive and fair newscast every weekday,” said Sam Feist, CNN’s political director. “Viewers trusted Wolf Blitzer and this team during 2008, and we promise to not disappoint in 2009 and beyond.”

For some, the thought of working with their partner would be enough to drive them over the edge. That's not the case for CNN correspondent Stan Grant.

Following our news last week that Grant has rejoined the network as an International Correspondent based in Dubai, his partner of 8 years, Tracey Holmes, has also secured a position with the network - also in Dubai.

Holmes, a former sports journalist and radio producer from Australia, filed her first report late Tuesday.

Ray D'Alessio is leaving HLN after almost 8 years.

TV Newser quotes a HLN spokesperson as saying the split is "on good terms".

D'Alessio will finish at the network on February 1 and then head to Louisville, Kentucky where he will anchor mornings at NBC affiliate WAVE.

CNN reports on news that Chief medical correspondent, Dr. Sanjay Gupta, is tipped to become the new U.S. Surgeon General under the incoming Obama administration.

Although Dr. Gupta refused to comment on the story, CNN released a statement saying:

"Since first learning that Dr. Gupta was under consideration for the surgeon general position, CNN has made sure that his on-air reporting has been on heath and wellness matters and not on health-care policy or any matters involving the new administration."

John King also addressed the story Tuesday during The Situation Room:

TV Newser details how CNN's Rick Sanchez was among around 30 people who had their Twitter accounts hacked inside the last 24 hours.

CNN addresses the issue in a statement:

"Twitter accounts used by CNN's Rick Sanchez and many others were recently compromised. As a result, some Twitter users may have received offensive messages attributed to Rick when the breach occurred. This is annoying, though such breaches are not uncommon when using social networking sites.

Rick has notified Twitter of his account's breach and taken some basic steps to secure his account's access. Rick enjoys communicating with viewers via Twitter and he and many others at CNN find social networking a valuable tool in their shows. Rick will continue to use Twitter — along with MySpace and Facebook — to engage CNN's audience."

CNN Press Release: CNN’s Velshi Helps CNN Radio Listeners Get Their Money Back with New Series

After a 2008 economic crisis that left few unscathed, CNN’s chief business correspondent Ali Velshi kick starts the new year with a weeklong series of CNN Radio programming guiding listeners through the financial challenges of the moment and the months to come.

“The Ali Velshi Show: Gimme My Money Back” will be available for CNN Radio affiliates starting today and continuing through Friday, Jan. 9. The series, based on Velshi’s new book Gimme My Money Back: Your Guide to Beating the Financial Crisis, airs each day from 1:06 p.m. to 2 p.m. (ET) and is available on CNN.com.

Guests include John Bogle, founder of The Vanguard Group; Jean Chatzky, a personal finance expert and author; Doug Flynn, a certified financial planner; and Ryan Mack, financial planner and president of Optimum Capital Management. These guests and Velshi will provide steps for listeners to get back on track in 2009 by examining the topics below:

· Today: The root causes of the current financial crises and the chance of such an event happening again;

· Tuesday, Jan. 6: The changing world of credit and how it can affect individuals, jobs and the business world;

· Wednesday, Jan. 7: Building the new nest-egg and protecting it from investing uncertainties;

· Thursday, Jan. 8: Steps for investment success and the ins-and-outs of mutual funds;

· Friday, Jan. 9: More about mutual funds and stocks.

For the series, Velshi and expert guests will take listeners calls and e-mails with the best ones each day earning listeners a copy of Gimme My Money Back: Your Guide to Beating the Financial Crisis. Questions can be submitted by calling 877.266.4189 or sending an e-mail to CNNRadio@CNN.com.

Richard Simmons and the incident from CNN's American Morning that will be a YouTube hit before you finish reading this post...

As we posted earlier, changes are coming to CNN International. A tipster recently posted on CNNFan.org about some of those impending changes:

“The following will be the lead anchors for the new shows...

Richard Quest: The new lead Business anchor
Becky Anderson: Show linking stories across the world
Fionnula Sweeney: Focussing on one on one interviews and world news
Christiane Amanpour: Show based on forums and round tables with world leaders and high brow interviewees.”

CNN Observations followed up with CNN and received this response:

“In the coming months CNN International will roll out some new shows in the primetime block for Europe. These will include business and interview-style formats as well as those with a daily news focus. We have yet to formally announce these shows but yes, Christiane Amanpour will be one of the anchors. Also, these new shows will come from London, Atlanta and New York.”

Former Beijing Correspondent and Hong Kong Anchor, Stant Grant has returned to CNN as a Dubai-based International Correspondent.

Grant joined CNN in 2001 from Australia's SBS News.

In 2007 he moved back to SBS World News Australia then to ABC Local Radio before moving to World Bank as Senior Communications Officer, ultimately returning to CNN in late 2008.

Shown here is his most recent report airing on Saturday's edition of CNN Today.