CNN today released their numbers for the month of January. CNN's press release below.
CNN Press Release:CNN TOPS MSNBC IN PRIMETIME
ANDERSON COOPER 360 TOPS MSNBC AT 10PM; UP 61% WHILE MSNBC LOSES VIEWERS
AC 360 ONLY SHOW TO HAVE RATINGS GAINS AT 8PM
CNN Tops MSNBC in Total Day Demo and Dayside
January 2012 Highlights:
CNN tops MSNBC in M-F and M-Su primetime in both total viewers and key demo CNN tops MSNBC in total day demo and grows, while MSNBC loses viewers CNN tops MSNBC throughout the daytime AC 360 at 10p tops MSNBC in both categories and increases +61% in the target demo while MSNBC is down -18% AC 360 at 8p grows +42% in key demo and +20% in total viewers; while MSNBC is down -29% and -12% respectively Erin Burnett OutFront (7p) is up vs. CNN programming a year ago and at 11p tops MSNBC’s Ed Show in the key demo
In M-F primetime (8-11p), CNN topped MSNBC in both total viewers (976k vs. 942k) and in the target demo (329k vs. 225k) in January 2012. Compared to a year ago, CNN increased +58% in the key demo (329k vs. 208k) and MSNBC lost -14% of its primetime audience (225k vs. 262k). Without the debates, CNN still outperformed MSNBC in the key demo 25-54 (250k vs. 225k) this month.
In M-Su primetime, CNN topped MSNBC in total viewers (842k vs. 804k) and in the demo (282k vs. 219k). In total day, CNN bested MSNBC in the target demo (139k vs. 133k) and grew +7% (139k vs.130k) while MSNBC fell -14% (133k vs. 154k) compared to year ago. CNN also outperformed MSNBC in daytime (9a-5p) in January, averaging 126k in P25-54 vs. MSNBC’s 86k.
Show Highlights (January 2012 vs. January 2011):
10p, ET: AC 360 topped MSNBC in both total viewers (765k vs. 705k) and in the demo (282k vs. 179k) – and grew an impressive +61% among 25-54 (282k vs. 175k) and +28% in total viewers (765k vs. 596k). MSNBC’s Last Word was down -18% in the demo vs. a year ago (179k vs. 218k).
9p, ET: Piers Morgan Tonight did not launch until January 17 last year, and this year PMT was preempted five nights due to political coverage. Compared to last month (December 2011), the program was up +10% in the demo (170k vs. 155k).
8p, ET: AC 360 is the only program to post growth vs. a year ago; increasing +42% in the demo (177k vs. 125k) and +20% in total viewers (573k vs. 479k). MSNBC is down -29% (184k vs. 260k) and FNC is off -17% (615k vs. 739k) in the key demo.
7p, ET: Erin Burnett OutFront continues to show growth, increasing +8% in the key demo (138k vs. 128k) and +3% in total viewers (450k vs. 437k). The 11pm, ET replay (west coast primetime 8p, PT) of OutFront topped MSNBC’s Ed Show in the key demo (145k vs. 141k).
4p, ET: The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer topped MSNBC’s Dylan Ratigan in both total viewers (581k vs. 499k) and in the demo (142k vs. 87k). Sit Room also grew vs. a year ago, increasing +11% in the target demo.
7a, ET: Starting Point with Soledad O’Brien grew +5% in total viewers vs. CNN programming a year ago (254k vs. 241k).
Reach:
CNN reached a cumulative audience of 97.955 million viewers in January, representing the network’s best month since August 2011. FNC followed with 82.921 million and MSNBC averaged 80.701 million.
CNN today released its plans for coverage of Tuesday's Florida Primary. Coverage will simulcast on CNN International. CNN en Español will also cover the Florida Primary. Details from CNN's press release is below.
CNN Press Release: As the focus of the next Republican Presidential primary battleground zeroes in on Florida, CNN plans to utilize resources across its platforms for coverage on the ground and from the CNN Election Center. Anchors Wolf Blitzer, Anderson Cooper, Erin Burnett and John King will headline the network’s America’s Choice: The Florida Primary coverage beginning at 7 p.m. A special edition of AC360 will air following the network’s primary coverage at 10 p.m. and a special edition of Piers Morgan Tonight will air at midnight. All times Eastern.
CNN chief political analyst Gloria Borger and senior political analyst David Gergen, along with political contributors Donna Brazile, James Carville, Alex Castellanos and Ari Fleischer, will be on set in the CNN Election Center to offer insight and analysis throughout the evening.
Reporting from Florida on primary day will be anchor and chief political correspondent Candy Crowley live from the Romney campaign headquarters, national political correspondent Jim Acosta and Miami-based correspondent John Zarrella. CNN political contributors Erick Erickson and Roland Martin will be live from Miami. From Washington, chief White House correspondent Jessica Yellin will provide the latest updates on reaction from the Obama campaign.
Looking ahead to the Nevada caucuses, senior congressional correspondent Dana Bash and senior political correspondent Joe Johns will report live from Las Vegas and Henderson, Nevada, respectively, tomorrow night. Tom Foreman also will report live from a focus group location of undecided Republican voters in Las Vegas.
CNN Radio
CNN radio reporters Lisa Desjardins and Bob Costantini will cover the primary results for the CNN Radio network and its affiliates. Desjardins will gather sound for the American Sauce podcast and Costantini will produce a Political Notebook podcast.
CNN Digital
Users can check out the CNN Election Center to track real-time election results and analyze the exit polls and results thus far from Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina. The GOP Delegate Calculator allows users after each caucus or primary to try their hand at predicting which candidates will win each state and eventually, the Republican presidential nomination. CNN.com will continue to provide the CNN Electoral Map with the most recent predictions on battleground states as updated by CNN’s political experts.
CNN.com will live stream campaign events leading up to and on the day of the Florida primary. To engage and comment on election night news as it happens, users can visit the CNN Politics Facebook page. On Twitter, users may follow @CNNPolitics for breaking developments and join the conversation by using hashtag #CNNElections.
CNN iReport, the network’s global participatory news community, will be asking for submissions related to the events in Florida, some of which will be shown on CNN.com and broadcast on CNN.
Across CNN’s mobile platforms, the latest election stories and opinion pieces will be available via CNN’s mobile website and on the CNN apps for iPhone, iPad, Android phone and Android tablet. The new Election Center section can also be accessed on CNN’s mobile platforms. All apps will live stream the candidate speeches and events during the primary. On primary night, live results can be viewed on CNN's mobile website and in the CNN App for iPad.
CNN en Español and CNN International
CNN en Español will offer extensive coverage of the Jan.31 Florida primaries, one in which the Latino vote is expected to play its most significant role yet. On Tuesday, Washington D.C. correspondent Ione Molinares will be reporting live from Tampa, and reporter Rafael Fuenmayor will offer live updates with guests from Miami throughout the day. Starting at 7 p.m., Washington D.C. anchor Juan Carlos López will host a special edition of Directo USA from Atlanta joined by anchors Patricia Janiot and Fernando del Rincón, and a panel of political contributors Maria Cardona, Juan Hernandez and Roberto Izurieta to offer analysis of the events of the day.
CNN International will simulcast the domestic network’s coverage beginning at 7 p.m. ET.
Programming schedule for Tuesday, Jan. 31 – Florida Primary day (All Times Eastern):
7:00PM – 10:00PM: America's Choice 2012: The Florida Primary (Live) 10:00PM – 12:00AM: Anderson Cooper 360° – Special Edition (Live) 12:00AM – 1:00AM (Feb.1): Piers Morgan Tonight (Live)
Sanjay Gupta Special On Concussion In Youth Football Airs Tonight
CNN Domestic will tonight debut a new Dr. Sanjay Gupta special investigating the risks associated with concussion in high school football players. A preview and rundown of the program from CNN is below.
CNN Press Release:‘Big Hits, Broken Dreams’ Examines Concussion Hazards in Youth Football
‘Dr. Sanjay Gupta Reports’ documentary debuts Sunday, January 29, 8:00pm ET
Football is a cornerstone of family life in Greenville, NC, and four-time statewide football champion JH Rose High School is one reason why. But the costs for all of that football glory can be very high. The hard hits can mean concussion injuries and the community has borne terrible consequences.
In summer 2008, JH Rose junior and star running back, Jaquan Waller, died as a result of repeated concussion injuries. Weeks earlier, neighboring RJ Reynolds High School sophomore Matthew Gfeller had died from concussion injury. In 2010, JH Rose head coach Todd Lipe had to permanently sideline the varsity quarterback, AJ Flores, after he sustained his fourth football-related concussion. In 2011, JH Rose starting linebacker Gray Dixon was one of nearly a dozen players to sit out part of the season with a serious concussion.
In a new, one-hour documentary, CNN chief medical correspondent and practicing neurosurgeon Dr. Sanjay Gupta had exclusive access to follow the JH Rose team for their full 2011 season, exploring concussion in high school football – what happens to the brain under concussive brain injury, and what parents, coaches, and athletes need to be aware of to try to protect themselves. Big Hits, Broken Dreams debuts Sunday, January 29 at 8:00p.m. ET.
In September 2008, Jaquan Waller hit a middle linebacker head-on during an intense practice. When he came off the playing field, Waller described headaches and balance issues, but the team trainer who later checked him, sent him home with no special instructions for further medical follow up. Dressed for practice the following day, team mate and friend Zach Rogers describes Waller as seeming “normal.”
But during that Friday’s game, some 48 hours after his first concussion, Waller sustained what has been described by others as a relatively low intensity hit, after which it was quickly apparent that something was very wrong with him. Waller seemed confused, began foaming at the mouth, and soon collapsed. Emergency medical services arrived approximately ten minutes after he was sidelined. Within the hour, Waller was declared dead.
The second guessing at JH Rose following Waller’s death has been painful. “You wouldn’t know how many times I thought about doing something different,” reflects Coach Lipe to Dr. Gupta in the documentary.
Superintendent Beverly Reep, PhD, acknowledges that having a certified athletic trainer on the field for practices and games, and having Waller medically evaluated following his first concussion, may have changed Waller’s outcome.
In 2008, the concussion protocol at JH Rose was not unique. Every season, according the Sports Concussion Institute in Los Angeles, one in ten high school football players get a concussion. Yet, despite this troubling statistic, the Center for Injury Research & Policy at the Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital reports that less than half of American high schools have a certified athletic trainer on the field during games and practices. And many high school trainers are not actually athletic trainers, they may be skilled in first aid, but not certified to recognize possible head trauma. This is coupled with the fact that young players often want to return to play quickly – and some will even not tell the truth in order to keep playing.
Brock Niceler, MD, a Greenville family and sports medicine physician says that because their brains are still developing, “adolescents take longer to heal from their concussions, than their college or pro counterparts.”
“Everybody just thought that he just got his ‘bell rung,’” said Rogers of his friend, Waller in the documentary. “Nothing out of normal. It’s just how you play. You play hurt when you have to.”
Kevin Guskiewicz, PhD, one of the nation’s leading concussion researchers, feels that part of the problem is the terminology. Like Dr. Gupta, he prefers to refer to concussion as “brain injury” – since that is what it is – and he hopes the strong terminology will encourage players, families, and coaches to take the injury more seriously. And, Dr. Guskiewicz’s research demonstrates that even subconcussive blows to the head, particularly when repeated, can cause sustained cognitive impairment.
Coach Lipe and Dr. Reep have supervised the implementation of new procedures and protocols to improve the safety of the game since Waller’s death. Now, certified athletic trainers are present at practices and games and are considered essential. Athletes do not have the last word when it is time to assess whether they can play football. Cognitive baseline tests for each player are repeated at intervals during the season and following concussions, to determine if players are healthy enough to return to the game.
In addition to the documentary, more resources for athletes, parents, and coaches can be found on CNN.com about concussion. Online, Dr. Gupta, both a father and a neurosurgeon, describes why it is so important to protect young athletes – including young girls – from concussion and subconcussive blows. And Dr. Gupta has developed an online video demonstration of what happens to the brain when it sustains a concussion, which is supplemented by Dr. Guskiewicz’s “Five Things” viewers need to know about concussion.
Melissa Dunst-Lipman is a senior producer, and Nadia Kounang is a producer for Big Hits, Broken Dreams. Roni Selig is the senior executive producer for the CNN Medical, Health, and Wellness unit.
CNN today released details of television ratings and statistics from their online coverage of Thursday's GOP Florida debate. Details from CNN below.
CNN Press Release:CNN'S GOP FLORIDA DEBATE WAS #1 LAST NIGHT; POSTS BEST CNN DELIVERY YET IN THE KEY DEMO 25-54
DRAWS 5.4 MILLION TOTAL VIEWERS AND 1.7 MILLION IN KEY DEMO 25-54
ALSO DRAWS AN ADDITIONAL 1.2 MILLION TOTAL VIEWERS AND 562K IN THE DEMO DURING WEST COAST PRIMETIME
ANDERSON COOPER 360 TOPS THE COMPETITION AT 10P
CNN.com total day video highest of last five CNN debates
According to Nielsen Fast National data, CNN's Florida debate (8-10p, ET), moderated by Wolf Blitzer delivered 5.4 million total viewers and 1.7 million in the key target demographic 25-54 last night, Thursday, January 26. This represents CNN's best debate yet this election cycle in the key demo and second best among total viewers (behind the Las Vegas GOP debate on 10/18). Last night's debate ranked fourth among all primary debates so far this cycle in the key demo (including broadcast) and second among cable-only debates (behind only FNC's 12/15 debate).
CNN was, by far, top rated during the 8-10p, ET time period last night among the cable news networks in both total viewers and the key demo. CNN topped FNC among total viewers by 160% (5.4m vs. 2.1m) and MSNBC by 444% (5.4m vs. 985k). In the target demo CNN topped FNC by 330% (1.7m vs. 405k) and MSNBC by 702% (1.7m vs. 217k).
During the west coast primetime airing (8-10p, PT/11p-1a, ET replay), CNN had an additional 1.2 million total viewers and 562k in the key demographic 25-54.
With post-debate analysis, Anderson Cooper 360 easily outperformed its cable news competition at 10p. AC360 topped FNC’s On the Record among total viewers by 30% (2.5m vs. 1.9m) and MSNBC’s Last Word by 130% (2.5m vs. 1.1m). In the target demo AC360 topped FNC by 88% (895k vs. 477k) and MSNBC by 261% (895k vs. 248k).
CNN Digital:
During last night’s CNN debate, CNN Digital’s stats include:
CNN.com page views were up 37% over the previous 4-Thursdays and up 5% over the average of the prior five CNN debates with 3.7 million page views. CNN.com page views for the day hit 46.8 million, up 6% over the average of the past five CNN debates.
Video starts on CNN.com were also up 71% over the prior 4 Thursdays and 45% over the prior debates with 4.9 million.
Mobile page views were up 6% during the debate. In total, CNN Mobile had 6.1 million page views for the day.
(Source: Omniture SiteCatalyst Prior 4-Thursday average based on 12/22, 12/29, 1/5, 1/12. Prior debate dates include 6/13, 9/12, 10/18, 11/22, 1/19.)
(Source: Bango. Prior 4-Thursday average based on 12/22, 12/29, 1/5, 1/12. Prior debate dates include 6/13, 9/12, 10/18, 11/22, 1/19. Note: International mobile site does not contain video.)
Users also interacted with CNN across social media.
Facebook:
For last night’s Florida Republican debate there were 3 postings on the main CNN Facebook fanpage which generated 3,000 likes and comments.
The CNNbrk account had 13 posts surrounding the debate which were retweeted 2,100 times.
The hashtag #CNNDebate was a trending topic throughout the evening, ranking as high as #1 in the US and Worldwide throughout portions of the broadcast.
Wolf Blitzer and Erin Burnett were also trending topics during last night’s debate coverage, with Wolf Blitzer ranking as high as #3 and Erin Burnett ranked #8 in US throughout the broadcast.
CNN en Español's Patricia Janiot Marks 20 Years At CNN
CNN en Español senior anchor Patricia Janiot today marks 20 years with CNN. She was a founding anchor of CNN en Español when the network launched in 1997.
Since joining CNN in 1992, Janiot has reported extensively from Latin America and currently co-hosts CNN en Español's nightly news bulletin, Panorama Mundial. She is also an advisor to the executive vice president and general manager of the network.
CNN en Español will tonight air a tribute to Janiot with a special edition of Cala. During the one hour program, Janiot will discuss her favorite interviews and recall some memorable moments from behind the scenes. Janiot will also discuss her experience representing Colombia in the 1984 Miss World contest and her social work away from CNN en Español. The special airs at 9:00pm (eastern).
In addition to the special, you can view of gallery featuring images of Janiot's career at CNN here.
CNN tonight hosts the final GOP Presidential debate before the Florida Primary on Tuesday January 31. The debate simulcasts on CNN International and CNN en Español. Details from CNN on what to expect follow below.
CNN Press Release:Wolf Blitzer to Moderate; Cooper, King, Burnett, O’Brien Anchor Special Coverage
Just days before Florida Republicans go to the polls to choose their nominee, the GOP presidential hopefuls will meet for a final debate hosted by CNN, the Republican Party of Florida and the Hispanic Leadership Network. CNN lead political anchor Wolf Blitzer will moderate the two-hour presidential debate which will take place at the University of North Florida in Jacksonville on Thursday, January 26 at 8 p.m. ET.
Blitzer, John King, Erin Burnett and Soledad O’Brien will anchor their respective programs live and in Jacksonville on the days surrounding the CNN debate. Anderson Cooper will anchor special, post-debate coverage.
Reporting from Florida in the final days before the primary will be chief political correspondent Candy Crowley, anchor Brooke Baldwin, national political correspondent Jim Acosta, senior political correspondent Joe Johns, correspondent Ed Lavandera, Miami-based correspondent John Zarrella, and CNN Radio’s Bob Costantini. On the campaign trail covering the GOP candidates are reporter-at-large Peter Hamby, political reporter Shannon Travis, and political producers Rachel Streitfeld and Shawna Shepherd. CNN chief political analyst Gloria Borger, senior political analyst David Gergen and CNN political contributors Alex Castellanos, Donna Brazile, Ari Fleisher, John Avlon will be on hand in Jacksonville to offer insight and analysis for all programming.
Four presidential contenders will participate in Thursday’s debate: former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, Texas Rep. Ron Paul, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum. In addition to questions posed to the candidates by Blitzer and Florida Republicans in the audience, CNN will solicit questions and comments submitted in real-time from CNN.com, the CNN Politics fan page on Facebook and by using the #CNNDebate hashtag on Twitter.
CNN Digital
CNNPolitics.com will cover the Florida debate and primary and will be the online destination for all news and analysis related to the 2012 Elections. Users can check out the CNN Election Centerto track real-time election results and analyze the exit polls and results thus far from Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina. CNN.com has also launched the GOP Delegate Calculator, which allows users after each caucus or primary to try their hand at predicting which candidates will win each state and eventually, the Republican presidential nomination. CNN.com will also continue to provide the CNN Electoral Map with the most recent predictions on battleground states as updated by CNN’s political experts as well as the 2012 Primary Caucus Calendar, an interactive datebook where users can slide over a specific month to see when states will hold their primaries and caucuses throughout the year.
CNN.com will live stream all of the events in Florida – the debate on Thursday as well as the events from the Florida primary next Tuesday. After Thursday’s debate, CNN.com will be live-streaming the Spin Room with CNN’s Jim Acosta. To engage and comment on election night news as it happens, users can view the CNN Politics Facebook page for political stories and photos of CNN’s favorite faces and also follow @CNNPolitics on Twitter for breaking developments all night.
CNN iReport, the network’s global participatory news community, will be asking for submissions related to the events in Florida, some of which will be shown on CNN.com and broadcast on CNN.
Across CNN’s mobile platforms, the latest election stories and opinion pieces will be available via CNN’s mobile website and on the CNN apps for iPhone, iPad, Android phone and Android tablet. The new Election Center section can also be accessed on CNN’s mobile platforms. Additionally, all apps will live stream the debate and carry live video of candidate speeches and events during the primary. On primary night, live results can be viewed on CNN's mobile website and in the CNN App for iPad.
CNN en Español and CNN International
CNN en Español will offer pre-debate analysis starting at 7.45pm hosted by anchor Juan Carlos López and joined by the network's panel of political contributors Maria Cardona, Roberto Izurieta and Juan Hernandez. At 8pm, the network will carry the debate live with simultaneous interpretation and will feature López fielding questions for the candidates from attendees of the Hispanic Leadership Network Conference taking place in Miami. The debate will be followed by 30 minutes of analysis with our political contributors and guests onsite in Miami.
The debate will also be carried live on CNN International.
CNN today released data on the performance of its digital networks in 2011. The numbers from CNN below.
CNN Press Release:CNN Earns 73 Million Unique Users Monthly; Key Sections Post Double Digit Gains
According to end-of-year data, more people rely on CNN than any other television network for news and commentary – both online and on the go. In total, CNN Digital earned more than 73 million unique visitors in 2011, beating MSNBC by 38%, Fox News by 187%, ABC News Digital by 217% and CBS Interactive by 260%. With 2.3 billion total page views for the year, CNN Digital outperformed MSNBC by 83%, Fox News by 143%, CBS News by 819%, and ABC News Digital by 1013%. (Source: comScore Media Metrix, Jan – Dec 2011; average monthly)
In the wake of the Japanese Tsunami, CNN.com’s most trafficked day of the year was March 11, 2011 with 135.9 million global page views. (Click to enlarge slide below).
In addition to breaking news and events coverage, CNN.com’s sections that inspired passion and engagement earned double-digit gains for the year. With 15.7 million average monthly page views, the site’s Opinion section showed a 58% growth rate year over year. Earning a 64% gain in traffic over 2010, CNN.com’s Belief section averaged 7.8 million page views per month. Other beats that showed double-digit growth for 2011 include Living (11%), Travel (37%), U.S. (16%), World (23%), This Just In (29%), Marquee (18%), The Political Ticker (25%) and The Chart (17%).
Video
CNN.com served more than 101.3 million average monthly global video starts in 2011 – a 19% increase over 2010. Click here for CNN.com’s top ten days for video consumption.
Mobile
CNN Digital has remained No. 1 in mobile news for the past 4 consecutive years. In 2011, CNN Digital boasted 19.4 million unique users monthly, beating its nearest competitor – Fox News Digital – by more than 60% (Nielsen Mobile Media View, January – November 2011). CNN’s mobile website generated a monthly average of 210.4 million global page views for the year. (Bango Analytics, January 1 – December 31, 2011).
CNN’s mobile apps for iPad, iPhone, Android and Nokia have now surpassed 17 million downloads, of which 13 million occurred in 2011. (iTunes Connect, Android Market, Ovi Store, January 1-December 31, 2011). In addition, CNN’s newly-acquired Zite application was named the best news app of 2011 by Apple iTunes and CNN’s app for iPad earned a spot as one Apple’s top ten free applications of the year.
Social
With nearly 1 million more fans than Fox News and 8 times as many fans as MSNBC, CNN’s Facebook fan page has the most followers of any news brand. On May 1, 2011, CNN had the highest number of interactions ever recorded in single day – over 42,000 likes and comments related to the death of Osama bin Laden. (Source: Facebook Insights)
On Twitter, @CNNBRK and @CNN have a combined total of over 9.4 million followers. @CNNBRK, with over 6 million followers, is the No. 1 news account on Twitter, 1.8 million more followers than its closest competitor, The New York Times. @CNNBRK also ranks as one of the top 25 accounts on all of Twitter. @CNN’s most popular tweet of 2011 (the death of Osama bin Laden) was re-tweeted more than 10,000 times. (Source: Twitter Analytics)
iReport
CNN is also home to iReport, the No. 1 participatory news community online. By adding more than 250,000 registered users in 2011 (up 11% YOY), the community has grown to over 1 million iReporters. At a 19% growth rate over 2010, more than 185,000 iReports were submitted last year. iReport set a monthly record in August with the addition of 38,000 registrants and a daily record with 8,000 new iReporter registrations on Aug. 23. (Source: iReport Internal Server Data)
CNN's Coverage Of Tonight's State Of The Union Address
CNN today released details of its coverage of tonight's State of the Union Address. Coverage will be simulcast on CNN International. Details from CNN below.
CNN Press Release: CNN Presents Live Coverage of President Obama’s State of the Union Address and GOP Response
Special Edition of AC 360 to Follow
Anderson Cooper and Wolf Blitzer will lead CNN’s coverage of the State of the Union beginning at 8 pm tonight along with John King and Candy Crowley. President Obama’s State of the Union Address will begin at 9:00 pm. The GOP response with Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels will follow.
Blitzer and King will anchor the special coverage live from Capitol Hill, where chief political analyst Gloria Borger and senior political analyst David Gergen will provide analysis immediately following the address. In addition, senior congressional correspondent Dana Bash will report live from inside the Capitol surrounding the address while chief White House correspondent Jessica Yellin provides the latest reports and insights of the president’s remarks from the White House. Political contributors participating in tonight’s special coverage include Paul Begala, Ari Fleisher and Roland Martin.
A special edition of AC 360 will follow CNN’s State of the union coverage and analysis, and will air live until midnight.
CNNPolitics.com will offer extensive coverage and real-time analysis of the State of the Union address with live-blogging on the Political Ticker and reader interaction on CNN iReport. Additionally, the address will be live-streamed on CNN.com/Live, via the CNN App for, iPhone and Android.
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 today announced that CNN iReport has reached a major milestone - one million users worldwide. Details from CNN's press release below.
CNN Press Release: CNN iReport, the network’s global participatory news community announces a major milestone – the platform has reached more than one million registered contributors.
The news comes on the heels of a complete overhaul of the iReport site last November, the launch of Open Story, a storytelling tool that allows the community to participate in the news in real time and the release of a custom built app for Android.
iReport continues to set the standard in citizen journalism and has further plans to grow the platform in 2012. Included in those plans will be new tools and features designed to carry iReport into all the places where people are telling stories, and then connect them back to CNN and the wider web.
CNN is noting its numbers for coverage of Saturday's South Carolina Primary.
CNN Press Release: According to Nielsen time period data for South Carolina primary election night: Saturday, January 21
Highlights:
CNN tops MSNBC in primetime (8-11p) and during full coverage block (7-11p)
CNN has a +60% advantage over MSNBC in demo in primetime and +74% during full coverage block
CNN has its best election night performance so far this cycle
CNN increases from 2008 South Carolina GOP primary night in both total viewers and the demo
During Saturday night’s coverage of the GOP South Carolina primary, CNN topped MSNBC in primetime (8-11p) in both total viewers and in the key demo adults (25-54). In total viewers CNN averaged 1.148 million, +20% more than MSNBC’s 954k and in the target demo CNN had 394k, a +60% advantage over MSNBC’s 247k.
CNN had triple digit growth compared to the prior four Saturdays (excluding holidays) in primetime among total viewers and in the key demo. CNN was up +193% in total viewers (1.148m vs. 392k) and increased +237% in the demo (394k vs. 117k).
From 7-11p, CNN also topped MSNBC in total viewers (1.213 vs. 985k) and in the key demo 25-54 (417k vs. 240k).
South Carolina represents CNN’s best election night performance this cycle in total viewers, topping Iowa caucuses (1.213m vs. 1.173m) and NH primary (1.213m vs. 996k). Compared to the 2008 South Carolina GOP primary night four years ago, CNN grew in this year (2012) among total viewers (1.213 vs. 1.098m) and in the demo (417k vs. 380k).
CNN Newsource Adds René Marsh As National Correspondent
René Marsh is joining CNN Newsource from WSVN, Miami. CNN says Marsh will serve as national correspondent for the network's affiliate service. Details from CNN's press release below.
CNN Press Release: René Marsh will join CNN Newsource from WSVN in Miami, Florida, as a national correspondent serving more than 800 affiliates, it was announced today by Paul Crum, vice president of news operations, administration and affiliate services for CNN/U.S.
Marsh will cover breaking news and topical news stories for CNN’s affiliates. She will be based in Washington, D.C. and will report from locations throughout the U.S.
“René is a sharp and poised reporter with a solid background in covering a vast array of news stories, from investigative to major breaking events. She will be on the frontlines of national breaking news and with her insights and presence, she will be a differentiator for our affiliate news partners and their viewers,” Crum said.
Marsh joins CNN Newsource from our affiliate WSVN in Miami, where she served as a general assignment reporter. Before WSVN, she was an investigative reporter and weekend anchor at CBS 6 in Albany, New York. While in Albany, she gained recognition covering major stories in New York State politics and for her investigation into an underground society operating out of public bathrooms in the Capital Region. She was also a reporter and anchor at KTAL in Shreveport, Louisiana.
Marsh graduated with honors from Binghamton University and holds a master’s degree in broadcast journalism from Syracuse University’s S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications.
CNN Newsource, comprised of more than 800 affiliates including TV stations and local/regional cable news channels throughout North America, is the most widely distributed syndicated news service. Through continuous digital media distribution and five digital satellite channels, CNN Newsource provides partners with the news content necessary to produce competitive newscasts. This includes: CNN Worldwide's global newsgathering resources; the collective coverage power of CNN Newsource affiliates; customized live coverage of breaking news from CNN correspondents and localized CNN Money Matters reports live from the floor of the NYSE. Additionally, CNN Newsource stations benefit from CNN Newsbeam, which provides satellite time and fiber connectivity from CNN's vast global resources at lower than market rates. CNN Newsource also helps prepare tomorrow's journalists by providing service at no charge to colleges and universities through its Newsource in the Classroom program.
“America’s Choice 2012: South Carolina Primary” CNN Coverage
CNN is noting its plans for covering the South Carolina Primary. Coverage will be simulcast on CNN International and begins at 6:00pm (eastern) tonight.
CNN Press Release:CNN’s “America’s Choice 2012: South Carolina Primary” Coverage Starts at 6 p.m. ET
CNN anchors Wolf Blitzer, Anderson Cooper, Erin Burnett, Candy Crowley, John King and Brooke Baldwin will lead CNN’s special coverage of the South Carolina Primary at 6 p.m. ET live from the CNN Election Center. A special edition of Anderson Cooper 360° will air at 11 p.m. followed by a special live midnight edition of Piers Morgan Tonight.
In addition, chief political analyst Gloria Borger, senior political analyst David Gergen, along with CNN political contributors, Donna Brazile, James Carville, Alex Castellanos, Erick Erickson, Ari Fleischer and Roland Martin will provide insight and analysis throughout the evening.
Correspondents on the ground in South Carolina include: Jim Acosta, Dana Bash, Joe Johns and Don Lemon. Jessica Yellin will report on the latest on the Obama campaign from the White House. Tom Foreman will report from a focus group of undecided Republicans in Jacksonville, FL.
TV / Online Numbers For CNN's Southern Republican Presidential Debate
CNN today released details of television ratings and statistics from their online coverage of the Southern Republican Presidential Debate in South Carolina.
CNN Press Release:CNN'S GOP SOUTH CAROLINA DEBATE WAS #1 LAST NIGHT
DRAWS 5.03 MILLION VIEWERS AND 1.72 MILLION IN THE KEY DEMO 25-54
AC 360 Top-Rated at 10 pm
According to Nielsen Fast National data, CNN's GOP South Carolina debate (8:00-10:00pm*), moderated by John King, delivered 5.03 million total viewers and 1.72 million in the key demo 25-54 last night, Thursday, January 19. CNN was, by far, #1 during the 8-10pm time period last night among cable news networks.
CNN's South Carolina debate outperformed FNC's South Carolina debate earlier this week (1/16) in the key demo (1.719m vs. 1.573m). Last night's debate was CNN's best yet in this election cycle among the key demo (25-54) and its second best among total viewers (behind the Las Vegas GOP debate).
From 8-10pm, CNN topped FNC by +157% among total viewers (5.03m vs. 1.96m) and by +312% in the target demo 25-54 (1.72m vs. 417k). CNN also topped MSNBC by +512% (5.03m vs. 821k) in total viewers and by +1061% in the key demo (1.72m vs. 148k).
Following the debate, CNN's Anderson Cooper 360 ranked first in cable news at 10pm in total viewers, averaging 2.58 million, FNC followed with 2.15m and MSNBC posted 885k. In the key demographic 25-54 CNN delivered 892k at 10pm, while FNC trailed with 564k and MSNBC averaged 187k.
Fast National data is representative of 8:00-10:00pm. Final data will reflect actual debate time of 8:00pm-9:58pm.
As CNN notes, those numbers were for the overnight figures. TV Newser has the final debate numbers here.
CNN Digital statistics for last night's debate:
CNN Press Release: The CNN Southern Republican Presidential Debate drove the social conversation Thursday night for the CNN Debate.
CNN viewers posted on Facebook, engaged in the conversation on Twitter and 'checked-in' on GetGlue to share with their social followings what they were watching.
The following are the stats from last night's debate:
Facebook
· For last night’s South Carolina Debate there were 5 postings on the main CNN Facebook fanpage which generated more than 6,000 likes and comments. The highest of which was:
· Who came out on top in tonight's Southern Republican Presidential Debate? Live NOW on CNN.com: CNN's Jim Acosta hosts the post game discussion in the spin room with the candidates. - with nearly 1,800 likes and comments.
· Interactions (likes/comments) for the South Carolina Debate content were up 90% from the New Hampshire Primary and up 67% from the average of the four debates last year.
· The CNN Politics Facebook fan page added 9,000 new followers since the New Hampshire primary on 1/11 for a total of 61,000 followers. Posts on the fan page have generated over 5,500 likes and comments.
· Interactions (likes/comments) for this debates content were up 130% from New Hampshire Primary and up 12% from the average of the three debates last year. (CNN Politics Fan Page launched in early September)
· The CNNbrk account had 28 posts surrounding this debate which were retweeted 4,500 times. Retweets were up 406% compared to New Hampshire Primary and 258% from the average of the three debates last year.
· The hashtag #CNNDebate was a trending topic throughout the evening, ranking as high as #1 Worldwide throughout portions of the broadcast. John King was also trending topic last night, ranking #2 in US and #4 Worldwide.
· The CNN Southern Republican Presidential Debate had over 6,200 GetGlue check-ins and generated an estimated 1.2 million impressions across Facebook and Twitter.
Source: GetGlue 9/12, 10/18, 11/22 & 1/20
Meanwhile, debate moderator John King says he stands by his decision to ask Newt Gingrich about his marriage at the start of the Southern Republican Presidential Debate. King addressed the issue again on tonight's John King, USA.
David McKenzie Reports On 'Chocolate's Child Slaves' In New CNN Freedom Project Special
In the latest installment of CNN's ongoing "Freedom Project" initiative, David McKenzie investigates what is happening to children working in the Ivory Coast's cocoa fields.
The special premieres today (Friday) on CNN International at 2000 GMT, with replays scheduled to air across the weekend. Details on additional airtimes, as well as a preview of the program from CNN, is below.
A decade after agreements and pledges were made to end the worst forms of child labour in the West African cocoa plantations, CNN’s David McKenzie in a CNN Freedom Project investigation travels deep into the heart of the Ivory Coast, the world’s largest cocoa producer, to find out exactly what progress has been made.
In September 2001 after a series of reports highlighted human trafficking and physical abuse in West African cocoa farming, which supplies an estimated 35% of the world’s cocoa, the global chocolate industry signed the Harkin-Engel Protocol, or ‘Cocoa Protocol’ an international agreement to end child labour in the production of cocoa. However, ten years on after the protocol, with the promised certification system that would ensure chocolate was free from the worst forms of child labour still not in place, CNN exposed, an industry which remains, for the majority, unchanged. What they discovered was shocking: a human trafficking network and farmers using child labour and a country bitter from an industry offering low prices and little more than broken promises.
Chocolate’s Child Slaves premieres Friday 20th January 2012: 8.00pm GMT.
After the premiere, CNN's Becky Anderson and Richard Quest will host a panel discussion with experts in the field of forced child labour in the cocoa industry.
Questions for the panel can be posted here or you can use #endslavery on Twitter as well as visit the CNN dedicated Freedom Project website, where CNN’s David McKenzie will be available for a live chat.
Additional air times on CNN International include:
Saturday 21st January 2012: 1400 GMT Sunday 22nd January 2012: 0200 GMT, 0730 GMT, 1030 GMT and 2130 GMT. Tuesday 24th January 2012: 0400 GMT, 1030 GMT and 1730 GMT.
Nina dos Santos Officially Joins CNN International
CNN International has officially added Nina dos Santos to their anchor and correspondent team.
CNN says as well as continuing to co-anchor World Business Today, Nina will also be a regular substitute host of the network's other business programs, Quest Means Business and Global Exchange.
The announcement from CNN is below.
CNN Press Release: CNN International today announced that Nina dos Santos is officially joining the network’s roster of specialist business correspondents as it continues to deliver first class business programming to audiences around the world.
A familiar face already to viewers of World Business Today on CNN International, dos Santos has also presented the network’s coverage of a number of major news events over the past 12 months. She was part of the team that covered the British Royal Wedding, and was instrumental in CNN’s reporting of the Euro zone crisis – anchoring from the pivotal Brussels and Paris summits. She also reported from Rome as the crisis began to envelope Italy. Elsewhere, dos Santos was the first journalist to obtain a copy of IMF managing director Dominique Strauss-Kahn’s resignation letter following his arrest in New York, and highlighted debate among female IMF staff about whether the organisation should have a woman at its helm.
As well as co-presenting World Business Today, dos Santos will be found standing in for Richard Quest on CNN International’s flagship business programme, Quest Means Business, and for John Defterios on the newest addition to its business stable, Global Exchange.
Deborah Rayner, VP & managing editor of CNN International, said: “We’ve built a vibrant portfolio of business programming here at CNN, and that has been based on highly talented, knowledgeable and engaging presenters. Nina’s business expertise taps into that perfectly and we’re delighted to welcome her as a permanent member of the team.”
Nina dos Santos added: “International business is at the heart of so many of the biggest stories around at the moment, so it’s wonderful to be part of an international network that follows it in such depth and detail.”
Before joining CNN, dos Santos worked as a freelance correspondent for NBC News. During that time she covered the Amanda Knox murder trial, Pope Benedict XVI’s historic visit to the U.K, and the longest ever professional tennis match – at Wimbledon. She has also worked for Sky News and Bloomberg, as well as Dow Jones & The Wall Street Journal, and The Financial Times.
Dos Santos holds a BSc in Biological Sciences from Imperial College London and a Masters in Economics. She also speaks English, French, Italian, German, Portuguese and Spanish.
CNN International Relaunches Global NewsView Survey
CNN International has partnered with Vision Critical to relaunch its Global NewsView survey.
Unveiled just over a fortnight ago, the new CNN Global NewsView survey continues to invite CNN International viewers to participate in regular discussions on the network's programming and news coverage.
There doesn't seem to be any indication of how regular new surveys will be available at this stage, but the previous partnership with market research company GfK produced a survey each week.
As with the previous incarnation of the CNN Global NewsView survey, permanent residents of the United States attempting to register will be denied membership. The reason, according to the website, appears to be an attempt to avoid confusion with CNN's domestic operations.
"This panel is aimed towards viewers of the CNN International TV channel (not CNN or HLN shown in the USA) so at this time, we are not accepting new memberships from permanent residents of the United States."
CNN International viewers who reside outside of the U.S. can register for the new survey here.
The website launched on this day (January 19) in 2002, with a mix of news, special reports and exclusive interviews in Arabic for readers around the world.
CNN is noting the 10th anniversary of the website with the press release below.
CNN Press Release:CNNArabic.com celebrates 10 years of coverage
Today marks a significant milestone in the history of CNNArabic.com, as the site marks 10 years since it began providing news in Arabic to audiences around the world.
Launched on 19 January 2002, the site has seen the Arab world change beyond recognition, and charted a decade of events across world news, theMiddle East, science and technology, business, entertainment, and sports for a global audience of Arabic speakers. Its mix of special reports, videos, exclusive interviews and daily stock market reports has gained the site around a million unique users per month and seven million page views per month.
The site has also become a key part of CNN’s international newsgathering capability, contributing to reporting across the network’s services. It has also played a pioneering role in reaching out the Arab world’s influential blogging community and introducing dedicated sections for Arabic-speaking social media groups.
“Right from the moment it launched, the layer of analysis, knowledge and nuance that CNNArabic has given to CNN’s coverage of the Arab world has been invaluable,” said Tony Maddox, senior vice president at CNN International. “It has enabled us to deliver a picture of events, issues, people and places in fully rendered detail, right across the network. Audiences across the globe turn to CNN for this considered coverage, and this is in no small part down to the hard work, dedication and resourcefulness of the CNNArabic team.”
The events of the Arab Spring have seen CNNArabic.com’s contribution become even more valuable to the network, especially online. "The contribution of CNNArabic.com to CNN’s coverage of global news has been vital to our digital success, especially during last year’s Arab Spring," said Susan Grant, executive vice president of CNN News Services. "We’re proud to celebrate CNNArabic.com's 10-year anniversary and their excellent coverage of the Arab world for audiences everywhere, whether in Arabic, English or Spanish."
Caroline Faraj, CNN Arabic digital services director, highlighted the interactive relationship the site has with its growing audience. “Our audience is a constant source of ideas and inspiration for us. Throughout our first decade they have given us ideas, suggestions and comments, and we have walked together step by step. This has been invaluable in delivering credible news and professional journalism across the network. We’re hugely thankful for this input and look forward to our next decade growing together.
The way in which the Arab world has embraced digital media over the past decade was also highlighted, "The digital revolution has had a profound impact across the Middle East, especially among the youth”, said Rani Raad, SVP & Managing Director, CNN International Advertising Sales and Business Development, “In a region that generates close to a thousand tweets a minute and has more than 36 million Facebook users, CNNArabic.com has been at the forefront – delivering a credible window on the region and beyond."
Speaking about the future plans for CNNArabic.com, Peter Bale, Vice President & General Manager, Digital, CNN International, added: “CNN Arabic is a vital and growing part of the CNN digital network. Its dedicated team has carved out a strong voice in the region and a big following among Arabic speakers worldwide. It is an authentically Arab service with the integrity and independence consumers and advertisers expect from the CNN brand. We aim to grow CNN Arabic to better serve one of the world’s most economically dynamic and newsworthy regions.”
CNN will tonight host the final Republican Presidential candidate debate before the South Carolina Primary.
Moderated by John King, the debate will air live on CNN Domestic, CNN International and CNN en Español.
CNN Press Release:CNN to Host Final Debate Ahead of Crucial South Carolina Primary
John King to Moderate Jan. 19 Face-Off; Blitzer, Cooper, Burnett, O’Brien, Crowley Anchor from Charleston
On Thursday, Jan. 19, just two days before the highly anticipated primary election in South Carolina, CNN and the Southern Republican Leadership Conference (SRLC) will present a presidential town hall debate live from the North Charleston Coliseum. The two-hour debate will begin at 8 p.m. ET and will be moderated by CNN anchor and chief national correspondent John King.
Wolf Blitzer, Anderson Cooper, Erin Burnett, John King and Soledad O’Brien will anchor their respective programs live and on-location in Charleston on Thursday. Then, on Saturday, Jan. 21, the anchors will be live beginning at 6 p.m. from the CNN Election Center for America’s Choice 2012: South Carolina Primary. A special edition of Anderson Cooper 360° will air at 11 p.m. followed by a special live midnight edition of Piers Morgan Tonight. Candy Crowley will report from South Carolina throughout Saturday evening and will anchor State of the Union on Sunday, Jan. 22.
Reporting from the field in the days leading up to the debate and primary in the Palmetto State will be national political correspondent Jim Acosta, senior congressional correspondent Dana Bash, CNN Radio Capitol Hill correspondent Lisa Desjardins, senior political correspondent Joe Johns, anchor Don Lemon, and national correspondents David Mattingly and Gary Tuchman. On the trail with the GOP candidates are reporter-at-large Peter Hamby, political producer Rachel Streitfeld, political reporter Shannon Travis and South Carolina-based political producer Shawna Shepherd.
The following five presidential contenders will participate in Thursday’s debate: former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, Texas Rep. Ron Paul, Texas Gov. Rick Perry, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum. In addition to questions posed to the candidates by King and southern Republicans in the audience, CNN will solicit questions and comments submitted in real-time from CNN.com, the CNN Politics fan page on Facebook and by using the #CNNDebate hashtag on Twitter.
CNN.com
In the days leading up to the South Carolina primary, CNNPolitics.com will be the online destination for all news and analysis related to the 2012 Elections. New for the South Carolina primary, CNN has launched the GOP Delegate Calculator. After each caucus or primary, users can try their hand at predicting which candidates will win each state and eventually, the Republican presidential nomination. CNN.com will also provide a CNN Electoral Map with the most recent predictions on battleground states as updated by CNN’s political experts as well as the 2012 Primary Caucus Calendar, an interactive datebook where users can slide over a specific month to see when states will hold their primaries and caucuses throughout the year.
On the day of the primary, CNN.com will live stream the events in South Carolina and live blog the night’s developments. As the primary results come in, users will be able to track them in real-time at the CNN Election Center. To engage and comment on election night news as it happens, users can view the CNN Politics Facebook page for political stories and photos of CNN’s favorite faces and also follow @CNNPolitics on Twitter for breaking developments all night.
CNN iReport, the network’s global participatory news community, will be asking for submissions related to the South Carolina primary, some of which will be shown on CNN.com and broadcast on CNN.
Across CNN’s mobile platforms, the latest election stories and opinion pieces will be available via CNN’s mobile website and on the CNN apps for iPhone, iPad, Android phone and Android tablet. The new Election Center section can also be accessed on CNN’s mobile platforms. Additionally, all apps will carry live video of candidate speeches and events. On election night, live results can be viewed on CNN's mobile website and in the CNN App for iPad.
CNN en Español and CNN International
Starting at 7:45 p.m. on Thursday, CNN en Español anchor Juan Carlos López will be joined by the network’s team of political contributors Maria Cardona, Roberto Izurieta and Juan Hernandez for pre-debate analysis. At 8 p.m., CNN en Español will take the debate live with simultaneous interpretation followed by 30 minutes of post-debate analysis.
The debate will also be carried live on CNN International.
CNN today announced Simon Barnett's hire as Director of Photography for CNN's digital networks. Details from CNN's press release below.
CNN Press Release: CNN Digital welcomes Simon Barnett, who starts today as Director of Photography. In this role, Barnett will oversee how the network’s photography will be used across CNN’s web, tablet, mobile, and emerging platforms, as well as lead the vision for integrating photography into CNN’s multimedia journalism efforts. He is based at CNN’s global headquarters in Atlanta, and will report to CNN Digital’s VP, Executive Creative Director, Marisa Gallagher.
In addition to his cross-platform photography responsibilities, Barnett will also play a key role with CNN Photos. Launched in the fall of 2011, CNN’s photo blog tells stories through compelling, powerful and inspiring imagery and has created an engaged community around photography’s power to connect people to the news. Barnett will work closely with the CNN Photos team to ensure its continued quality and success.
Barnett brings extensive experience to CNN, and previously held positions as Director of Photography for Esquire and Discover magazines, Managing Editor for Allsport USA and was a founding Picture Editor at ESPN the Magazine. He most recently served as Director of Photography for Life.com, which was awarded the 2011 ASME National Magazine Award for digital media for photography.
Throughout his career, Barnett has led other award-winning photo departments that have received accolades from the Overseas Press Club, World Press Photo, Deadline Club, Pictures of the Year, White House News Photographers' Association and Society of Publication Designers awards. While serving as the Director of Photography for Newsweek, the magazine won the ASME National Magazine Award for general excellence for their coverage of the events of 9/11 and achieved three of the top four selling issues in the magazine’s 78-year history.
CNN Teams With Hong Kong Restaurant For Branded Dining Experience
CNN has partnered with 'The News Room' restaurant in Hong Kong to create a branded dining experience for customers.
CNN's programming will air live on screens around the restaurant, while images of CNN's coverage of iconic news events from the past three decades will be displayed on the walls, coasters and menus.
The initial branding agreement will run for two years. CNN's press release follows below.
CNN Press Release:CNN and ‘The News Room' Restaurant announce exclusive brand partnership in Hong Kong
CNN live broadcast and iconic news images feature in new restaurant in Quarry Bay
CNN announced today that it has entered into an exclusive brand partnership with ‘The News Room' restaurant in Quarry Bay, Hong Kong.
Located minutes from the network's regional headquarters in Taikoo Place's Oxford House, the restaurant features CNN's live feed on LCD screens and iconic CNN news images from the past thirty years on menus, coasters and notably in black-and-white artwork on restaurant walls.
The unique and innovative brand association will initially last for two years as the region's leading news network secures a strategic and long-term branded environment in the dynamic media hub of Quarry Bay.
‘The News Room', part of premier restaurant group ‘Press Room Group', will receive targeted brand exposure across the international edition of CNN.com and the network's lifestyle and travel site www.cnngo.com.
"Hong Kong has been CNN's Asia Pacific HQ for more than fifteen years, so there are few more tangible or innovative ways to reaffirm our longtime presence than this unique branding partnership on our doorstep" said Chris Dwyer, Executive Director CNN Communications Asia Pacific. "The News Room features some of the most iconic news moments of the past thirty years, many of which people will have experienced through watching CNN. Coupled with screens showing our live feed, it's a first class branding opportunity to reach out to our discerning and upscale Hong Kong audience."
"The News Room is inspired not only by media legends, but also by the neighborhood context," said Louisa Harker-Marin, Press Room Group's Marketing Director. "Quarry Bay is home to much of Hong Kong's communications industry. As well as providing current news content for our customers, our partnership with CNN is great means of enhancing the restaurant's understated character with iconic archive imagery."
About CNN International
CNN is the world's leading global 24-hour news network and one of the world's most respected and trusted sources for news and information. The CNN brand is available to two billion people via 18 CNN branded TV, internet and mobile services produced by CNN Worldwide, a division of Turner Broadcasting System Inc and a Time Warner company. CNN International is the international directorate of CNN Worldwide and distributes news via 14 services in seven different languages. CNN International can be seen in more than 280 million households and hotel rooms in over 200 countries and territories worldwide, including over 37 million across the Asia Pacific region and online at www.cnn.com/international
About The News Room
‘The News Room' is the latest addition to the Press Room Group's growing portfolio of restaurants. Located at 33 Tong Chong Street, Quarry Bay, The News Room is open daily from 7.30am weekdays and 10am weekends serving breakfast, lunch and dinner and weekend brunch. Industrial-style interiors comprising dark wood, polished timber and textured surfaces evoke a sense of warmth while wine-dispensing systems allow guests to try a variety of international wines. With their sophisticated tastes, trend-spotting instincts and eye for design, Press Room Group co-founders - Alan Lo, Paulo Pong and Arnold Wong - have changed the dining scene in Hong Kong. Together with The News Room, The Press Room Group portfolio of dining concepts now includes The Press Room, Classified, The Pawn and SML.
Nick Paton Walsh has joined CNN as an international correspondent. Walsh has been reporting for CNN as a freelance journalist since March 2011. He was previously Asia correspondent for the UK's Channel 4. CNN's press release below.
CNN Press Release:Award-winning correspondent Nick Paton Walsh joins CNN
Award-winning journalist Nick Paton Walsh has joined CNN as an international correspondent, it was announced by Parisa Khosravi, senior vice president of international newsgathering.
Walsh made his name and reputation as a tenacious and committed reporter through more than a decade working at the UK's Guardian newspaper and Channel 4 News.
"Nick is an accomplished and respected journalist, bringing with him an impressive portfolio of award-winning coverage on stories of global significance," Khosravi said. "We are pleased to add him to our excellent team of journalists at CNN and look forward to his reporting across the international news agenda," she added.
Nick first reported for CNN in March 2011, from Afghanistan and Pakistan. He was subsequently the first correspondent for CNN reporting live from Abbotabad covering the death of Osama Bin Laden, where he obtained exclusive video from inside the al-Qaeda leader's compound and broke the global story that a courier's cellphone signal had led American troops there.
Prior to taking up his position with CNN, Walsh spent several years traveling to Kabul as Channel 4 News' Asia correspondent. Amongst numerous stories during his time with the British broadcaster, he was embedded with troops in locations across Afghanistan from Kandahar to Helmand, gained rare access to a tiny and isolated American outpost near the Pakistani border which was overrun by insurgents and covered the 2009 presidential election crisis.
Previously, while Asia and foreign affairs correspondent at Channel 4 News he secured a rare and exclusive interview with the Russian alleged arms dealer Viktor Bout, while his teams' reports on alleged human rights abuses in Sri Lanka at the end of the civil war led to their forced deportation from the country. Walsh was also the program's undercover correspondent in Zimbabwe for the violent 2008 elections, reported on the July 2008 war between Russia and Georgia, the Mumbai hotel sieges in India, Naxalite rebels in Chhattisgarh, India and the protests that shook Bangkok in May 2010.
From 2002 to 2006, he was the Moscow Correspondent for the Guardian newspaper during the rise of Vladimir Putin. He reported on both the Dubrovka theatre siege and the Beslan school hostage crisis, alongside the revolutions in Georgia, Ukraine, and Kyrgyzstan and developments from the troubled North Caucasus.
Walsh won the British Press Awards' Young Journalist of the Year in 2000 and four years later was nominated for their Foreign Correspondent award for the Guardian's coverage of the Beslan school hostage crisis. He won Amnesty International's Gaby Rado Award for his work in the former Soviet Union and their television award for his work in Sri Lanka in 2010. In February this year his work in Kandahar, Afghanistan was part of a body of reports that won Channel 4 News the prestigious Broadcast television award for news and current affairs coverage.
Lizzie O’Leary Joining CNN As Aviation & Regulation Correspondent
CNN today announced the hiring of Bloomberg's Lizzie O'Leary. She will assume the role of Aviation and Regulation Correspondent when she starts at the network later this month.
CNN Press Room: Lizzie O’Leary will join CNN in the newly-created aviation and regulation correspondent position, it was announced today by Sam Feist, CNN Washington bureau chief and senior vice president. O’Leary will report on all facets of U.S. transportation, including air, rail, maritime and space, in addition to covering the many agencies in Washington that have a daily impact on the lives of Americans.
“Lizzie brings to the beat everything we’re looking for,” said Feist. “She is a smart and experienced reporter, and I look forward to Lizzie joining our ranks as we expand reporting out of the Washington bureau.”
O’Leary joins CNN Washington from Bloomberg Television, where she was D.C.-based correspondent covering politics and economic policy. In that role, she reported on the global credit crisis, the housing market and the government’s financial rescue package. In 2010, she interviewed U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner during a trip to Mumbai, India. She was also first to break the news that major American automaker Chrysler would file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.
Previously, O’Leary was producer and reporter for National Public Radio. She got her start in journalism at ABC News, where she was a member of the Peabody Award-winning team that covered the terror attacks of September 11th.
O’Leary earned her master’s degree from Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism and graduated cum laude with her bachelor’s degree from Williams College.
CNN today released a first look at the overnight numbers for its coverage of the New Hampshire Primary vs. FNC and MSNBC. Details from CNN below.
CNN Press Release:CNN Tops MSNBC in Primetime for New Hampshire Primary
CNN tops MSNBC in primetime in both total viewers and key demo
CNN has a +64% advantage over MSNBC in the target demo
FNC has only a slight bump compared to regular night of programming
During last night’s coverage of the GOP New Hampshire primary, CNN topped MSNBC in primetime (8-11pm) in both total viewers and in the key demo adults 25-54. In total viewers CNN averaged 1.11 million vs. MSNBC’s 1.05m and in the key demo 25-54 CNN had 401k a +64% advantage over MSNBC’s 245k.
Comparing the New Hampshire primary to the prior four Tuesdays (excl. 1/3 Iowa), FNC’s audience was relatively unchanged in total viewers, increasing just 4% (2.25m vs. 2.16m), while CNN grew triple digits +106% (1.11m vs. 541k) and MSNBC was up 17% (1.05m vs. 903k). In the key demo 25-54 CNN increased even more, up +164% (401k vs. 152k), MSNBC increased 21% (245k vs. 203k) and FNC only grew 15% (550k vs. 478k).
CNN has appointed Patrick Oppmann to the network's Havana bureau. He will be responsible for covering Cuba and the surrounding region for all CNN television and digital networks.
Since joining CNN in 2000, Oppmann has worked as Assignment Editor and then Field Producer with the network’s Miami Bureau. In 2010, he was one of CNN's main correspondents reporting on the rescue of 33 trapped Chilean miners.
The Havana bureau position was previously held by Shasta Darlington who is now based at CNN's bureau in São Paulo.
CNN has announced the forthcoming launch of the CNN App for Windows Phone. The news was revealed Tuesday at the consumer technology trade show CES. The app is expected to be available within a month. Early details from CNN below.
CNN Press Note: The CNN App for Windows Phones will provide the latest news and video from CNN's reporting around the globe. Offering a robust user experience, the CNN App takes full advantage of Windows Phone 7 features to offer a vivid, panoramic interface, the ability to pin sections of the app to a home screen, Live Tile for real-time news updates, and direct access to iReport, CNN's participatory news community. For the first time on an app, users will have the ability to submit an iReport while simultaneously capturing the event. Launching globally for free in the next month, the CNN App will be exclusive to Nokia users for 90 days and then available on all Windows Phone devices as they come to market.
"The CNN App will offer Windows Phone users a customizable CNN experience shaped for their environment," said Louis Gump, vice president of CNN Mobile. "The Windows platform and Nokia phones will enable millions of people to plug in using the CNN app and interact with the world – where, when and how they want."
Errol Barnett Named New Host Of CNN International's Inside Africa
Errol Barnett has been named as the new host of CNN International's Inside Africa. Barnett replaces Isha Sesay. The announcement was made on the Inside Africa facebook page late Tuesday.
"We have a very special announcement about Inside Africa. We are pleased to welcome CNN’s Errol Barnett, who has moved to the continent to become the new host of Inside Africa.
Errol will be embarking on a journey of discovery around Africa, and we invite you to take this journey with him. This week, we start in Zambia – where you will experience everything from the historical town of Livingstone to a bungee jump from the bridge near Victoria Falls.
After years of incredible work on the show, Isha Sesay will be moving on to focus on BackStory and her work with AC360, among her many other projects. Thanks again to Isha for everything, and welcome Errol to the IA Team!"
Barnett's appointment to hosting duties means the program will now be hosted full time from the African continent itself. It was previously taped at CNN International's headquarters in Atlanta. On Twitter, Barnett commented that he was "thrilled to be joining the [Inside Africa] team".
Christian Purefoy, CNN's West Africa correspondent, has left the network. He announced his departure from CNN a few days ago on his facebook page.
"Dear All, I have now moved on from CNN - I'd like to thank everyone for the support over the last seven years! But this is not the end...
... this is an extremely important year for Nigeria and I'll be returning in the New Year with a BIG project (but no Naija wife yet!)"
Purefoy joined CNN in 2005 and initially worked as a producer, editor and cameraman. He was appointed to correspondent in 2008 and reported on various news and feature stories from his base in Lagos, Nigeria.
Vladimir Duthiers, AC360 production assistant and CNN journalist, is currently reporting from Nigeria for CNN.
CNN yesterday released its coverage plans for next Tuesday's New Hampshire Primary. Details on CNN en Español's coverage is also contained in CNN's press release below.
CNN Press Release:CNN in High Gear for New Hampshire Primary Coverage
As the race for the Republican presidential nomination heats up, CNN anchors Wolf Blitzer, Anderson Cooper, Erin Burnett, Candy Crowley, John King and Soledad O’Brien will headline CNN’s Jan. 10 coverage of the New Hampshire primary election live from the CNN Election Center and the Granite state beginning at 7 p.m. Chief political analyst Gloria Borger, senior political analyst David Gergen, and political contributors James Carville, Ari Fleischer, Dana Loesch and Roland Martin, will offer expert analysis throughout the evening. Piers Morgan will broadcast a special edition of Piers Morgan Tonight at midnight.
Also reporting from New Hampshire will be CNN senior political analyst Ron Brownstein, along with CNN political contributors, Donna Brazile, Erick Erickson, David Frum, Mary Matalin and Hilary Rosen.
CNN correspondents on the ground in New Hampshire will be national political correspondent Jim Acosta, senior political correspondent Joe Johns, senior congressional correspondent Dana Bash, chief White House correspondent Jessica Yellin, and CNN Radio correspondents Bob Costantini and Steve Kastenbaum. CNN reporters embedded in early primary voting states over the last several months will also be in New Hampshire to play a role in coverage, including New Hampshire-based political producer Rachel Streitfeld, political reporter Shannon Travis and political producer Shawna Shepherd. Reporter-at-large Peter Hamby will look one step ahead in the primary contest, live from South Carolina.
Anchors Candy Crowley, John King, Soledad O’Brien, along with Reliable Sources host Howard Kurtz, will report and anchor their respective programs from New Hampshire in the days leading up to the New Hampshire primary. Crowley and O’Brien will remain in New Hampshire through the primary to anchor coverage from the ground the evening of Jan. 10. Through the weekend and primary day, CNN will give viewers an unfiltered look at GOP candidates by airing extensive live events from the campaign trail.
Programming on Tuesday, Jan. 10 – New Hampshire Primary Day
5 a.m. – 7 a.m. Early Start with Ashleigh Banfield and Zoraida Sambolin– live from CNN Election Center 7 a.m. – 9 a.m. Starting Point with Soledad O’Brien– live from N.H. 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. CNN Newsroom – live from CNN Election Center 4 p.m. – 6 p.m. The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer – live from CNN Election Center 6 p.m. – 7 p.m. John King, USA – live from CNN Election Center 7 p.m. – 12 a.m. CNN America’s Choice 2012: New Hampshire Primary – live from N.H. & CNN Election Center 12 a.m. – 1 a.m. Piers Morgan Tonight – live from CNN Election Center
Technology and Social Media (#CNNElections):
Anchor and chief national correspondent John King will utilize innovative features on CNN’s Magic Wall to explore incoming results. Anchor Erin Burnett and chief political analyst Gloria Borger will drive the dual-screen “FlickBoard” to explain how exit polls are calculated. Animated 3-D virtual voters will again be used to help explain how a primary works.
The network will aggregate social media conversations happening using the hashtag #CNNElections. Those tweets will be displayed in the lower third of the screen throughout CNN’s programming and will display user sentiments about candidates and issues in real time.
CNN.com
In the days leading up to the New Hampshire primary, CNNPolitics.com will be the online destination for all news and analysis related to the 2012 Elections. New for the New Hampshire primary, the CNN Electoral Map will provide the most recent predictions on battleground states as updated by CNN’s political experts, and the 2012 Primary Caucus Calendar will serve as an interactive datebook where users can slide over a specific month to see when states will hold their primaries and caucuses throughout the year. Across CNN’s mobile platforms, the latest election stories and opinion pieces will be available via mobile web and the CNN apps for iPhone, iPad, Android phone and Android tablet.
On the day of the primary, CNN.com will live stream the events in New Hampshire and live blog the night’s developments. As the primary results come in, users will be able to track them in real-time at the CNN Election Center. To engage and comment on election night news as it happens, users can view the CNN Politics Facebook page for political stories and photos of CNN’s favorite faces and also follow @CNNPolitics on Twitter for breaking developments all night.
CNN iReport, the network’s global participatory news community, will be asking for submissions related to the New Hampshire primary, some of which will be shown across CNN.com and broadcast on CNN.
CNN en Español and CNN International
CNN en Español will offer extensive coverage of the Jan. 10 New Hampshire primaries with correspondent Adriana Hauser reporting live from New Hampshire throughout the day. Starting at 7 p.m., the network will offer periodic updates with Washington, D.C. anchor Juan Carlos López. At 9 p.m., López will host a special edition of Directo USA from Atlanta joined by anchors Patricia Janiot and Fernando del Rincón, and a panel of political contributors Maria Cardona, Juan Hernandez and Roberto Izurieta to offer analysis of the events of the day. Gustavo Valdés will be reporting live from South Carolina throughout the day for a look ahead to the next prize in the primary race.
CNN International will simulcast the domestic network’s coverage beginning at 7 p.m.
Nick Paton Walsh has joined CNN as an international correspondent. Walsh has been reporting for CNN as a freelance journalist since March 2011. He was previously Asia correspondent for the UK's Channel 4. CNN's press release below.
