Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Isha Sesay On AC360°

We have received several emails today wondering who anchored the 360° Bulletin on 'Anderson Cooper 360°' last night. It was CNN International's Isha Sesay.

The 'International Desk' host also subbed for Michael Holmes on CNNI's 'Back|Story' yesterday afternoon.

You can catch Isha on 'International Desk' weekdays at 1400 GMT (10:00am EST) on CNN International, and on twitter at @IshaSesayCNN

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New EP Named For The Situation Room

TV Newser notes that CNN has named a new Executive Producer for The Situation Room.

In a memo to staffers this morning announcing the move, CNN's DC bureau chief David Bohrman and Feist had some kind words for the new EP:

Everyone who has worked with Patricia DiCarlo will agree that she is tenacious, full of ideas, full of energy, and a virtual force of nature. The energy and enthusiasm Patricia brings to everything she does will be a perfect fit as she takes the helm of the Sitroom. And we couldn't be more pleased to have found our new executive producer within our own ranks.

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International Observations

Playing catch-up with several recent notables from CNN International...

* Justin Armsden, London-based World Sport presenter, has left the network after 10 years.

* Back|Story host Michael Holmes is currently in Iraq; he'll be reporting on the official pullout of U.S. combat forces from the country. Related promo is here

* CNN International has commenced marketing 'World Business Today'. The first promo for the current incarnation of the show is for Asian audiences.

* Connect The World introduces a new interactive feature this week called, 'Global Connections'. Each week, viewers will be asked to find the connection between two random countries. Learn more about the weekly segment here.

Several hours across the day have been reformatted. The main change has seen two editions of World Business Today extended to 60 minutes (from 30 minutes), and the 0600 GMT World Report also extended from 30 minutes to 60 minutes. The new weekday schedule - introduced last Monday - is below.


0000 GMT - World Business Today w/Colleen McEdwards & Pauline Chiou
0100 GMT - The Situation Room (delayed broadcast) (Monday: World View - 0100 / Taped feature -0130)
0200 GMT - Anderson Cooper 360 (Monday: Taped feature - 0200 / Taped featured - 0230)
0300 GMT - World Sport (tape)
0330 GMT - Taped feature
0400 GMT - World Report w/Pauline Chiou
0430 GMT - Back|Story (replay) w/Michael Holmes
0500 GMT - World Report w/Rosemary Church
0600 GMT - World Report w/Rosemary Church
0700 GMT - World Business Today w/Andrew Stevens & Charles Hodson
0800 GMT - World Report w/Zain Verjee
0830 GMT - Taped feature
0900 GMT - Larry King Live (delayed broadcast)
1000 GMT - World Report w/Monita Rajpal
1030 GMT - World Sport
1100 GMT - World Report w/Kristie Lu Stout
1130 GMT - Taped feature
1200 GMT - World Report w/Kristie Lu Stout
1300 GMT - World Business Today w/Andrew Stevens, Charles Hodson & Maggie Lake
1400 GMT - International Desk w/Isha Sesay
1500 GMT - The Brief w/Jim Clancy
1530 GMT - World Sport
1600 GMT - Prism w/Stan Grant (Friday: World Report)
1630 GMT - Taped feature
1700 GMT - International Desk w/Hala Gorani
1800 GMT - Quest Means Business w/Richard Quest
1900 GMT - World One w/Fionnuala Sweeney
2000 GMT - Connect The World w/Becky Anderson
2100 GMT - Back|Story w/Michael Holmes
2130 GMT - World Sport
2200 GMT - World Report w/Anna Coren
2300 GMT - World Report w/Anjali Rao

The refreshed schedule brings with it a couple of new anchor rosters:

* Rosemary Church has moved from weekend duties and been appointed anchor of the 0500 GMT World Report on weekdays. Rosemary is also currently hosting the second hour until a new host is named.

* Zain Verjee moves back to anchor the 0800 GMT, as well as host of the monthly 'iList' series.

*Don Riddell has moved back to sport duties to anchor World Sport and host the monthly 'Living Golf' program.

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Friday, August 20, 2010

Larry King leaving CNN later than planned?

The New York Post is reporting that Larry King might be leaving CNN later than his original Fall plan. Michael Shain's article reports that Larry was asked to stay around until the end of the year due to problems with Piers Morgan, who is thought to be King's replacement, getting a Visa to work in the United States.

UPDATE: The Wrap has a different story.

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Nancy Lane Leaving CNN

Senior Vice President of Editorial for CNN Domestic Nancy Lane is leaving the network, it was announced today by internal memo to staffers.

Recently at CNN she oversaw domestic newsgathering operations. She previously served as Vice President and News Director as well as Washington D.C. Deputy Bureau Chief/Senior Executive Producer. She has been an assignment editor, field producer, line producer, senior political producer, New York executive producer and Washington executive producer since joining CNN in 1981 as an intern.

TVNewser has the memos from Lane and CNN President Jon Klein.

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Wednesday, August 18, 2010

New HLN Daytime Lineup

TVNewser is reporting that there are now some changes to the HLN lineup:

Mike Galanos moves from Prime News to HLN News Updates during the 12 PM-4PM ET hours. Richelle Carey, Susan Hendricks and Christi Paul will be with him in supporting ensemble role.

Natasha Curry will be the solo-anchor of Weekend news updates on HLN.

Carey, Curry and Hendricks will rotate as anchors of the 10AM ET hour (formerly anchored by Richard Lui).

Coming over from "In Session" will be Vinnie Politan as the new host of Prime News and Ryan Smith as a new contributor to Morning Express with Robin Meade.

These seem to be effective immediately.

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Tuesday, August 17, 2010

CNN Student News Comes Of Age

CNN Press Release: CNN Student News Comes of Age Globally downloaded show a must for teachers everywhere

For 21 years, CNN Student News has provided a cost-free and commercial-free news program for middle, high school and college students around the world, along with free teacher materials. On Monday, August 16th, CNN Student News returns for the new school year, continuing a long tradition of quality news programming for the classroom.

The new series of the award-winning program airs each weekday during the school year. CNN Student News provides educators, parents and students with a 10-minute news program anchored by Carl Azuz. In addition to airing on HLN each Monday through Friday at 4:00 a.m. ET, the newscast is streamed on www.CNNStudentNews.com and is available as a free downloadable video podcast on CNN.com and on iTunes.

As CNN Student News launches this new school year, look for a new show open and other new segments that engage students and challenge them to think about their world. Students can continue to interact and give their views on the CNN Student News blog “From A to Z with Carl Azuz” and on Facebook CNN Student News anchor Carl Azuz has over 32,000 fans on the “Official CNN Student News – Carl Azuz” fan page.

During the remainder of 2010, CNN Student News will air special programming segments focusing on mid- term elections, anti-bullying and special observances including Hispanic Heritage Month. In November 2010, CNN Student News anchor Carl Azuz will moderate a session at the International Bullying Prevention Conference. In addition, CNN Student News produces Teacher and Parent guides as complements to CNN’s documentaries.

CNN Student News delivers the most important and inspiring news of the day to middle and high school students around the world,” said Donna Krache, executive producer of CNN Student News. “I’m honored that CNN’s commitment to education continues to be so valued by educators and parents everywhere.”

CNN Student News
is a daily digest of the top news stories of the day, presented in a classroom-friendly, engaging format. Over the past two decades the show has focused on a wide variety of news and feature stories. From the economy to natural disasters and issues including immigration and bullying, CNN Student News has covered it all and in a way that explains current events for students.

CNN Student News, CNN’s cost-and-commercial-free educational program for middle and high schools uses the vast resources of CNN Worldwide to create news and information content specifically for the classroom. CNN Student News airs on HLN, Monday - Friday throughout the school year at 4 a.m. (ET). The show is available for on-demand viewing on the Web at www.CNNStudentNews.com and as a video podcast on CNN.com and iTunes.

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Friday, August 13, 2010

Don Riddell Signs Off World Report

CNN International's Don Riddell has signed off as anchor of World Report.

The London-based anchor announced on his Twitter page on Monday that this would be his last week hosting the daily news bulletin.

As he signed off Friday, Riddell teased his next project at CNN:
"I'll be in a new role the next time I'll be in this studio. I'm very much looking forward to it, and I hope to see you again soon."

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Velshi / Quest Q&A

Thursday was the debut of a new business segment co-produced for CNN Domestic and CNN International.

The segment, titled Q&A, is simulcast live on both networks, and hosted by Ali Velshi and Richard Quest. During the block, both Velshi and Quest will answer one viewer's question each week, followed by a topical quiz.

Watch the first Q&A below and let us know your thoughts on the segment in our comments section.



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Thursday, August 12, 2010

CNN Marks 5 Years Since Katrina

CNN Press Release: CNN Commemorates the Fifth Anniversary of Hurricane Katrina with Special Programming throughout the Month of August

This month marks five years since Hurricane Katrina roared ashore in Louisiana and Mississippi, killing over 1,800 people and displacing many more. Just as residents were rebuilding their cities and towns after the storm, the Gulf oil disaster has crippled the region's fishing and tourism industries. CNN programming throughout dayside and into primetime will commemorate the 5th anniversary of the storm with special coverage across all platforms that will chronicle how communities, people and businesses have changed over the past five years and how far the region has come in their rebuilding efforts.

CNN Heroes: Coming Back from Katrina,hosted by CNN anchor Anderson Cooper kicks off CNN’s coverage and checks in with past CNN Heroes who are still in the area including: 2008’s CNN Hero of the Year Liz McCartney and her progress rebuilding homes with her group The St. Bernard Project; Top Ten CNN Hero Tad Agoglia and his First Response Team of first responders to natural disasters; 2009 Top Ten CNN Hero Derrick Tabb and his Roots of Music program for New Orleans kids; as well as additional new interviews with others in New Orleans who are doing great things to help rebuild the city. The half-hour special premieres Saturday & Sunday August 14th & 15th at 7:30pm ET. CNN International will broadcast the special on Sunday, August 22nd at 7am, 2:30pm and 10pm ET and Tuesday, August 24th at 8:30am and 12:30pmET.

New Orleans Rising, reported by CNN’s In America anchor and special correspondent Soledad O’Brien, is an in-depth look at how five years after the hurricane; even a united and highly successful middle-class community like Pontchartrain Park struggles to rebuild. The one-hour documentary, premiering on August 21st at 8pm ET& PT, tells the story of actor and accidental developer Wendell Pierce. Pierce evacuated his elderly parents from their Pontchartrain home before the storm, and it became his mission to lead a charge to return his beloved childhood community to its former glory. While heagreed to lead the effort, Pierce had no experience as a neighborhood developer. But being ‘Pontchartrain to the core,’ he assembles a home-grown team of experts and forms a non-profit community development corporation. CNN documents his battle against bureaucratic red tape, miniscule financing and residents reluctant to return. Terence Blanchard composed and performed the theme music for New Orleans Rising. CNN International will broadcast New OrleansRising on Sunday, August 22nd at 3pm ET.


In 2005, CNN chief medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta reported from the darkened, flooded hallways of New Orleans’ Charity Hospital with doctors and nurses who had refused to abandon their patients during the chaotic aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. For Sanjay Gupta M.D. (airs in two parts on Saturday and Sunday, August 28th & 29th at 7:30am ET), Gupta revisits the now-shuttered Charity Hospital with Dr. Ben Deboisblanc, the last doctor standing at Charity following the storm – and learns how the terrible storm has affected his life. Caring for patients during Katrina turned out to be a reprieve of sorts, his 20-year marriage ended shortly before the storm, and living alone and depressed as he battled to rebuild Charity, he discusses with Gupta the challenges many in New Orleans with medical needs have faced five years ago – and now.

CNN.com will feature a special section commemorating the 5th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina at www.cnn.com/katrina. The site will feature select video packages and photos from New Orleans Rising and CNN Heroes: Coming Back from Katrina. Additionally, the section will showcase the rebuilding effort by featuring select photos and videos from CNN iReport, the network's user-generated news community. At CNN iReport, users can find dozens of CNN images taken in 2005 and early 2006 of the aftermath of the storm. iReporters can share information about the neighborhood or area where each photo was taken in the comments section, as well as download the image. Those iReporters located in the Gulf Coast region are encouraged to print the downloaded image, find its original location, and take a photograph lining the old photo up to the present-day view. iReporters can upload these dramatic, past-meets-present photos here.

CNN en Español senior correspondent Juan Carlos López will go back to New Orleans to talk to the families that he encountered when the powerful hurricane hit the coast. He’ll find out where the communities are in their rebuilding efforts. Live coverage will begin Thursday, August 26th and continue through Monday, August 30th.

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Tuesday, August 10, 2010

Mohammed Jamjoom Tapped As CNN's New Middle East Correspondent

CNN Press Release: New Middle East Correspondent Mohammed Jamjoom to join CNN’s Abu Dhabi Production Hub

Saudi-born Jamjoom joins CNN’s roster of anchors and correspondents covering the Middle East and his remit includes reporting the day-to-day news from the United Arab Emirates, covering breaking news stories across the region where the network’s newsgathering needs require and continuing as part of the rotation of correspondents reporting for the network from Iraq.

“I’m delighted Mohammed is bolstering our growing team in the Middle East. This appointment signals CNN's continued commitment to the region and investment in our Middle East production hub based in Abu Dhabi which launched in November 2009. He brings additional experience to the region gained from reporting and producing major breaking news stories for CNN and previously in Saudi Arabia. He is a strong talent with an impressive track record and we're pleased viewers will get to know Mohammed much better as he becomes an integral part of our reporting from the region,“ says Parisa Khosravi, senior vice president of international newsgathering for CNN Worldwide.

Jamjoom was most recently based at CNN’s Atlanta headquarters where he was the assignment editor on the international news desk. While in Atlanta, Jamjoom also continued to work extensively on Middle East-based stories for CNN, both as a reporter and producer covering breaking news, politics, human rights and business in Iraq, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Yemen. In 2009 and 2010, Jamjoom also travelled to Iraq, the United Arab Emirates and Yemen to produce and report.

He takes up his position mid August.

About Mohammed Jamjoom

Jamjoom began his career at CNN as a freelance reporter and producer while he was living in Saudi Arabia in late 2006. His first story for CNN International involved Iraqi conjoined twin girls who underwent successful separation surgery in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia and he then worked with the CNN Hajj Coverage team that same year.

Jamjoom then joined CNN's International Desk in late 2007 and until July 2010 worked as a full time assignment editor. While in Atlanta, Jamjoom also continued to work extensively on Middle East-based stories for CNN, both as a reporter and producer covering breaking news, politics, human rights and business in Iraq, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Yemen. In 2009 and 2010, Jamjoom also travelled to Iraq, the United Arab Emirates and Yemen to produce and report.

In Iraq, Jamjoom reported on several aspects surrounding the country’s parliamentary election. In April 2010 he interviewed the family of the Iraqi journalist - Saeed Chmagh - killed in a 2007 attack by a US helicopter gunship in Iraq, after WikiLeaks posted a video showing that he was being rescued when the gunship’s crew fired on the van to which he was being carried. He has also worked on CNN’s Iran desk covering stories such as the case of the Iranian mother who was sentenced to be stoned to death after an adultery conviction.

He was part of the team nominated for the 2010 News and Documentary Emmy Awards for CNN's coverage of the story of the failed attempt to down the Northwest Airlines flight from Schipol in the Netherlands to Detroit in the US on 25th December 2009.

In January 2010, Jamjoom travelled to Yemen to produce a series of reports and set up an exclusive interview with Dr. Nasser al-Awlaki, the father of American-born Islamic cleric Anwar al-Awlaki. The CNN team also filed stories on how Umar Farouk AbdulMutallab disappeared in Yemen for more than two months before he allegedly tried to bring down a Northwest Airlines jet with explosives concealed in his underwear, plus how al Qaeda is able to operate across large areas of Yemen.

In May 2010, CNN gained exclusive access to one of Baghdad’s two female juvenile prisons and Jamjoom became the first reporter for a Western television network to file a story from inside.

Prior to joining CNN, Jamjoom worked for Saudi Arabia’s English language Channel 2, where he worked as a co-anchor on its primetime news show; anchored the news-in-brief segments; co-hosted, the morning show 2U; and hosted, wrote and produced for several other programmes for the channel. He also freelance produced and coordinated for other journalists and outlets visiting the Kingdom.

Jamjoom was born in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. He spent his childhood living between Saudi Arabia and the United States. He attended Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas, where he studied journalism, cinema and history. He is fluent in both English and Arabic.

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Friday, August 06, 2010

Embed Code For Wolf Celebrated 20 Years with CNN in May

It was five years ago, August 8, 2005, when CNN created The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer, its own command center for breaking news, politics and extraordinary reports from around the world. From images of the devastation of Hurricane Katrina to the search for survivors in the Haiti earthquake, the Emmy award-winning The Situation Room has transformed the way viewers watch developing news stories.

The video wall filled with multiple video feeds delivers stories into living rooms across the country, makes the newsgathering process transparent and provides perspective to the day's news.

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HLN Observations: Meade, Lui and Roberts

Robin Meade will be performing and emceeing Jim Brickman's Summer Musicfest on Saturday in Cleveland, Ohio. Click here for more information and how to purchase tickets.

Robin will also be appearing in Nashville, Tennessee at this month's Puddle Palooza Concert on August 21st. In an E-Mail to us, Meade said: "This is a fundraiser benefit to bring attention to the public that the businesses near Opryland area are up and running, post flood. Check out the list of performers. I’m very honored to be among them!" Click here for tickets and information.

After our tweet about Richard Lui's move from HLN to MSNBC, it is was officially confirmed on Monday. Lui begins there August 30th.

Last week, HLN's most senior anchor Chuck Roberts signed off for the last time. Roberts was one of the longest-serving anchors among the CNN networks and anchored weekday Headline News (now HLN) broadcasts since the network's debut as CNN2 on New Year's Day, 1982. Below you'll find a video of Christi Paul's announcement of his departure and his last words.

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