CNN Press Release - Allison Gollust will join Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. as senior vice president of communications for CNN Worldwide. In her new role, which she assumes in March, Gollust will have oversight of all messaging strategy and execution on behalf of the portfolio of CNN networks and businesses, which includes CNN/U.S., HLN and CNN.com, as well as domestic operations of CNN International and CNN en Español. She will serve as chief spokesperson for the news brand and will lead publicity and public relations teams in New York, Washington, D.C., Atlanta and Los Angeles. Gollust will be based in New York and will report to Jeff Matteson, senior vice president of communications for Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., while working closely with her longtime colleague Jeff Zucker, president of CNN Worldwide.

“Allison is among the most experienced and respected communications executives in the media industry, and her close working relationship with Jeff Zucker is one of its most successful professional partnerships,” said Matteson. “The regard in which she is held by the press and her peers; her reputation for integrity, accessibility and candor; her ability to lead talented teams; and her importance to Jeff as an adviser and spokesperson make her a great fit for this key role, and a great addition to Turner Broadcasting’s leadership ranks.”

“In the 15 years that Allison and I have worked together, I’ve depended on her judgment, counsel and relationships,” said Zucker. “Allison is joining CNN at an exciting time, and she and the strong communications team she’s inheriting will play a critical role in shaping the organization and its story going forward. It’s great to have her at CNN.”

Most recently, Gollust served as communications director for New York State Governor Andrew M. Cuomo.  Prior to that, she was executive vice president of corporate communications for NBC Universal, where she oversaw all aspects of the company’s global communications efforts.  She started at NBC in the Corporate Communications group in 1996 and was named senior publicist for Today in 1997.  With successive promotions, Gollust added responsibility for communications efforts supporting NBC News, MSNBC, CNBC and the Weather Channel, and signature programs including NBC Nightly News, Dateline and Meet the Press.  She began her career as a news anchor, reporter and producer in Denver.

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 number-one network of news Web sites in the United States; CNN Newsource, the world’s most extensively syndicated news service; and strategic partnerships within both television and digital media.

CNN Press Release - Series Will Air Weekends on CNN/US in 2013

CNN has acquired the non-fiction series Crimes of the Century, which explores historic news events in depth, from the Madoff scandal to the Oklahoma City bombing. The series is being executive produced by acclaimed director Ridley Scott along with David Zucker and Mary Lisio of Scott Free Productions, which will air on weekends on CNN/US beginning in 2013.

This acquisition is another step in our mission to broaden the scope of programming on CNN and give viewers even more of the stories and information that impact their lives. It is an expertly-produced, captivating series that delves deeply into some of the most fascinating news events of our day that demand further scrutiny, said Vinnie Malhotra, senior vice president of development and acquisitions for CNN Worldwide.

Each episode of the series examines a major news event – one that attracted national attention and helped define the era. With a visual style that includes CGI and animation, the program places the viewer at the scene of the crime employing never-before-scene-footage and interviews with witnesses, victims, and investigators of crimes that became part of the Zeitgeist.

Malhotra and Amy Entelis, senior vice president of talent and content development for CNN Worldwide, oversee the CNN program development department. Crimes of the Century is among the department's recent series acquisitions that include Anthony Bourdain' Parts Unknown and Morgan Spurlock's Inside Man, both of which will also air weekends on CNN in April 2013.

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

CNN Press Release - Nichols Will Anchor New Weekend CNN Sports Program and Report for Turner Sports Across Television and Digital Platforms

CNN and Turner Sports have hired veteran ESPN reporter Rachel Nichols, it was announced today by Jeff Zucker, President, CNN Worldwide, and David Levy, President, Sales, Distribution & Sports, Turner Broadcasting System, Inc.

Nichols will serve as a sports reporter for CNN and Turner Sports and will anchor a new weekend sports program on CNN/U.S. beginning later this year. Her CNN program will focus on the most interesting stories and personalities in the world of sports. In her role with Turner Sports, Nichols will handle a wide variety of assignments across the division’s vast sports properties including the NBA and Major League Baseball. Additionally, Nichols will cover all major sporting events, including the Olympics for CNN. Her first assignment will be the Super Bowl in New Orleans.

“We're just thrilled that a sports journalist of Rachel's stature and expertise will now be a regular part of the CNN lineup," said Zucker. "Her arrival, beginning next week, is an important step in expanding the range of programming and storytelling on CNN."

"Rachel is a high profile talent and skilled reporter and we are proud to have her join the Turner Broadcasting family," said Levy. "Rachel's broadcast experience covering a wide variety of assignments including breaking news, major sports events, human interest features and investigative pieces will be a perfect fit across Turner Sports' many properties and platforms."

"I couldn't be more excited to join the CNN and Turner Sports family,” said Nichols. “I believe in Jeff’s vision for CNN, and have always admired the great work of Turner Sports and what David has done there. I’m looking forward to getting started at the Super Bowl."

Prior to joining CNN and Turner Sports, Nichols spent nine years at ESPN, working as a correspondent for SportsCenter, NFL Countdown, NBA Countdown and the network's newsmagazine show, E:60, as well performing sideline duties on a number of Monday Night Football broadcasts. Earlier in her career, Nichols worked as a reporter for the Washington Post and the Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel.

A native of Potomac, Maryland, Nichols received a Bachelor of Science degree in journalism from Northwestern University.

Turner Sports, a division of Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., is an industry leader in televised and multimedia sports content, airing championship-level sporting events on TBS, TNT and truTV, and managing some of the most popular digital sports brands. Turner Sports’ television lineup includes the NBA, Major League Baseball, the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship, NASCAR and professional golf. The company’s digital portfolio includes Bleacher Report, NCAA.com and March Madness Live, and PGA.com, as well as an accompanying collection of mobile websites and connected device apps. Turner Sports and the NBA also jointly manage NBA Digital, which includes NBA TV, NBA.com, NBA LEAGUE PASS, NBA Mobile, the NBA Game Time App, NBADLEAGUE.com and WNBA.com.

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.

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CNN Press Release - Award-winning anchor and investigative reporter Chris Cuomo is joining CNN. He will have a major role in a new CNN morning show and across the network, anchoring and reporting on major events, it was announced today by Jeff Zucker, President of CNN Worldwide.

“Chris is an accomplished anchor who is already an established name in morning television, as well as a widely respected investigative journalist,” said Zucker. “What I love about Chris is that he is passionate about every story he tells, never forgets about the viewer, and represents the type of journalism that makes CNN great.”

“This is a fantastic opportunity to do what I value the most and hopefully to do the work that I do best,” said Cuomo. “While it’s very difficult to leave ABC News, a place filled with people I have loved working with for many years, I am excited about my future with CNN.”

Prior to joining CNN, Cuomo was co-anchor of the Emmy Award-winning ABC News newsmagazine 20/20 and chief law and justice correspondent for ABC News. In just the last year, he booked major interviews in the Madoff scandal, Rutgers student case, the John Edwards scandal, and with Penn State Coach Jerry Sandusky’s victim No. 1. From September 2006 – December 2009, Cuomo was the news anchor for Good Morning America, and covered every major story at home and abroad during that time. Overseas, he was an embedded reporter in Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iraq. Domestically, he distinguished himself covering the continuing problem of shootings like Virginia Tech, Ft. Hood, and the Pennsylvania Amish school shootings; hurricanes Katrina and Rita; the Sago Mine collapse, and the Minneapolis bridge collapse in August 2007. Cuomo has been honored with numerous industry accolades for his investigative reporting including multiple Emmy nominations and awards, a Polk, a Peabody, two Edward R. Murrows, a Loeb and the American Bar Association Silver Gavel Award.

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.

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CNN Press Release - Jeff Zucker will join CNN Worldwide as president of the multi-platform global news enterprise, it was announced today by Phil Kent, chairman and CEO of CNN parent company Turner Broadcasting System, Inc.  In January 2013, Zucker will assume executive oversight of a portfolio of 23 branded news and information businesses that includes CNN/U.S., CNN International, CNN.com and HLN and reaches more than 2 billion people in some 200 countries around the world.  Zucker will report to Kent and will be based at CNN in New York.

Zucker started his 25-year career with NBC as a researcher for NBC Sports' coverage of the 1988 Summer Olympic Games and rose to president and chief executive officer of NBC Universal.  He was named executive producer of Today in January 1992; under his eight-year leadership, the program was the most-watched morning news show and the most profitable program on television.  Zucker went on to executive-produce NBC Nightly News with Tom Brokaw and the network's coverage of the Persian Gulf War, the 1993 and 1997 presidential inaugurations and the 2000 elections.  He was promoted to president of NBC Entertainment, president of the NBC Entertainment, News & Cable group and president and CEO of the NBC Universal Television Group.  Currently, Zucker is executive producer of the syndicated daytime show Katie.

"Jeff's experience as a news executive is unmatched for its breadth and success," said Kent.  "He built and sustained the number-one brand in morning news, and under his watch NBC's signature news programming set a standard for quality and professionalism.  As a programmer, a brand-builder and a leader, he will bring energy and new thinking to CNN.  I couldn't be happier to welcome him or more excited about what he'll accomplish here."

"I am thrilled to join the distinguished team of journalists across the worldwide platforms of CNN," said Zucker.  "The global reach and scale of the CNN brand is unparalleled in all of news.  Outside of my family and the Miami Dolphins, there is nothing I am as passionate about as journalism.  I spent the most rewarding years of my career as a journalist, and it's where I look forward to spending many more.  I am grateful to Phil Kent for this opportunity, and I'm excited to return to daily newsgathering and compelling storytelling in a place that values those above all else."

The original 24-hour news network, CNN has the greatest reach of any domestic news network.  The CNN brand on television extends to 100 million households in the U.S. and 265 million households abroad, with significant online and mobile reach and a global newsgathering network with 45 locations.  CNN signatures include Anderson Cooper 360°, The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer, Piers Morgan Tonight, State of the Union, Amanpour and Quest Means Business, as well as award-winning documentaries, unrivaled breaking news coverage and peerless political reporting.

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.

There's a fraction too much friction between two of CNN's top dogs, according to The New York Post (via Inside Cable News).

According to the Post, some within CNN are blaming the network's woes directly on frosty relations between Ken Jautz, executive vice president of CNN, and Mark Whitaker, executive vice president and managing editor for CNN Worldwide.

"Sources were quick to cite “misaligned management” within the top ranks as a major reason for the dysfunction. Jautz, who previously ran HLN, replaced former CNN US head Jon Klein two years ago — but some of Klein’s duties were given to Whitaker.


“When Jon was there, the structure was more linear,” said an insider, adding that Jautz and Whitaker, “have competing ideas for what we should do.”


The insider further told us: “Ken is not an editorial guy. He really is an operations guy. Mark’s strong suit is editorial, but he doesn’t know as much about television.”


Sources pointed to O’Brien’s show, which Whitaker oversees, as an example of competing, confusing philosophies. One insider said: “Ken does not like all of the ‘conversation on camera’ on the morning show. Mark does, because his vision is to make it that go-to conversation piece that ‘Morning Joe’ has become. It’s a constant battle.”


Making matters more unclear, both execs report to CNN honcho Jim Walton, and chatter’s swirling on how long he’ll remain."

More from The New York Post here.

Apologies for the sporadic blogging during the course of the past month and a half. Regular observations should commence from now - touch wood. Here's a rough list catching up on some of the bigger stories we've missed during our absence.


- CNN's health care ruling debacle  ...  How CNN got it wrong  ...  CNN memos promise internal investigations

- CNN reveals the recipients of the Second Annual CNN iReport Awards

- ICN explores CNN's ratings woes and latest programming changes

- John King says goodbye to ‘John King USA’

- CNN experiences 21-year ratings low in second quarter 

- CNN launches 'Newsroom International' during 12pm hour

- CNN is undisputed #1 international news channel in EMS Middle East survey

- Politico's Dylan Byers writes: "What’s wrong at CNN"

- Kyung Lah moving from Far East to West Coast

David Carr takes a look at CNN's hiring last week of Anthony Bourdain.

CNN, the former cable news leader, is at loose ends, having recorded its lowest ratings in 10 years in April. The channel still makes a lot of money, an expected $600 million in operating profit this year. But nothing — not the lift of an election year, the switch-out of Piers Morgan for Larry King or firm edicts from Time Warner management — has moved the needle on viewership.

Even as profits pile up, CNN is in danger of becoming a niche channel. Perhaps signing a proven niche player — according to Nielsen, Mr. Bourdain’s show draws about 450,000 viewers on a channel that lives far down the dial — is a small part of the answer.

It’s not as if Mr. Bourdain is a television lightweight: He and his production company, Zero Point Zero, which will continue to produce the show, have won Emmys for programs on Haiti and Laos, and the crew was nominated for an Emmy for an episode shot in Beirut during Israel’s 2006 war with Hezbollah in Lebanon.

Mark Whitaker, managing editor of CNN Worldwide, has been working to decrease the network’s reliance on politics, where its middle-of-the-road approach often suffers in comparison to the edgier, more partisan offerings of Fox News and MSNBC. He began talking with Mr. Bourdain back in March in the belief that the chef’s penchant for traveling to far-flung places like Thailand and Saudi Arabia was a fit with CNN’s international credentials. More important, Mr. Whitaker wanted CNN’s first move out of its lane to come with a ready-made audience attached. CNN has no trouble attracting eyeballs, it just has trouble persuading them to stick around when the world is not on fire.

“Tony is appointment viewing and sticky in a way that we need to be,” Mr. Whitaker said on the phone. “We are big fans of what he does and what he stands for, which is global and smart, but he goes beyond politics and war coverage. We need to be broader than that and we are looking hard to make that happen. Tony was the first person that came to mind.”

 You can read Carr's full piece here.

CNN today announced the appointment of Vinni Malhotra to senior vice president of development and acquisitions. CNN's press release below.

CNN Press Release: VINNIE MALHOTRA JOINS CNN AS SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, DEVELOPMENT AND ACQUISITIONS

Vinnie Malhotra, a former program development executive at ESPN and long-time ABC News producer, joins CNN as senior vice president for development and acquisitions, it was announced by Mark Whitaker, CNN Worldwide managing editor.

Based in Los Angeles, Malhotra will report to Amy Entelis, senior vice president for talent and content development. He will pursue development opportunities with outside production companies on behalf of the various networks of CNN Worldwide.

“Vinnie has a strong record of creating captivating programming, an award-winning news background covering major national and international stories, and experience integrating content across multiple platforms.” said Entelis. “We welcome Vinnie to CNN and are thrilled to have him join our team.”

Malhotra joined ESPN in 2010 as vice president, executive producer, content development. In this position, he was responsible for the development of films that includeEverything in Between: The Tim Tebow Story, The Color Orange, The Brady 6 and The Marinovich Project. He also developed scripted and non-scripted series for the network, and was part of the development team that created the new ESPN Quarterback rating “Total QBR” that is now being used in association with all NFL coverage on ESPN.

Malhotra began his career with ABC News in 1997 and worked on several of the news organization’s signature programs including Nightline and World News Tonight, and served as a producer for Peter Jennings for three years. He later worked with co-anchors Elizabeth Vargas and Bob Woodruff and was part of the convoy in Iraq when Woodruff and a cameraman were hit by an IED in January 2006. Malhotra was uninjured.

During his thirteen years at ABC News, Malhotra covered major global events including the Iraq War and the inauguration of President Barack Obama. From 2007 to 2010, Malhotra was executive producer of ABC News’ weekend news content, includingWorld News Saturday and World News Sunday, and oversaw the weekend editorial content and production for ABCNEWS.com and ABC News Now, among other ABC News digital platforms.

Malhotra has received numerous industry honors including five News and Documentary Emmy Awards and a duPont.

Malhotra is a graduate of the University of Massachusetts and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science and communications.

CNN Worldwide has appointed Lynn Brindell to the role of senior vice president of marketing, with her portfolio to cover all CNN brands. Full details from CNN below.

CNN Press Release: Lynn Brindell Named Senior Vice President of Marketing for CNN Worldwide

Lynn Brindell, a veteran media marketing executive, will join CNN Worldwide as senior vice president of marketing, it was announced today by Janet Rollé, executive vice president and chief marketing officer of CNN Worldwide. Brindell will work across all CNN brands and businesses to lead off-channel and digital marketing efforts, as well as develop strategies and programs to drive brand strength, and audience growth and engagement on all platforms. She will report directly to Rollé, and she will be based in Atlanta

Brindell’s significant media marketing experience includes multi-platform brand work at The Weather Channel, Food Network and Lifetime Television. She has developed brand positioning, launched prime time series, directed off-channel and digital marketing strategies, overseen marketing initiatives for cable networks, and online ad sales and affiliate sales. She has also collaborated with national marketing partners at retail and in cause-related campaigns.

"Lynn’s tremendous experience and track record will bring great value to the marketing team,” said Rollé. “I’m thrilled to have someone who is well-respected as both a leader and developer of marketing talent join us."

“It’s a very exciting time to join the CNN Marketing team. I’m delighted and honored to work with such a powerful and important brand,” said Brindell.

Brindell’s extensive media marketing experience includes launching a prime time series and an award-winning national environmental marketing platform for The Weather Channel; launching signature Iron Chef America and Next Food Network Star series for Food Network; and developing and managing all aspects of Television for Women branding for Lifetime Television.

Brindell earned her bachelor’s of arts degree in English, magna cum laude, from Bowdoin College, in Brunswick, Maine. She was the first woman in the college’s history to solely receive the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Award. She also studied at the School of Visual Arts in New York, New York. She has received numerous recognitions for creative excellence and achievement, including BDA, BPME/PROMAX, AWRT (now AWM), AWMS, AIGA, Telly, International Flame and New York Festivals.

CNN Press Release - February 09 Forum to be moderated by CNN International Anchor Hala Gorani at Atlanta’s Emory University

The political uprisings ignited in 2010 and 2011 in North Africa and the Middle East, labeled the ‘Arab Spring,’ have altered history and upended the balance of power in the region. The uncertainty and struggles that continue to unfold are the focus of “The ‘Arab Spring’: A Path to Democracy?,” a CNN Dialogues event that will be held at the Glenn Memorial Auditorium (1652 North Decatur Road) at Emory University in Atlanta on Thursday, Feb. 09 at 7:00pm ET.

CNN International anchor Hala Gorani will moderate a dynamic evening forum, exploring issues of democracy, women’s rights, the role of Islamists, and the role of social media in the uprisings from Tunisia to Egypt to Bahrain to Yemen with scholars, journalists, and activists. Gorani is based in Atlanta, but has reported from every country in the Middle East and North Africa, including Syria, Egypt, Lebanon, Israel, and Saudi Arabia. She spent much of 2011 covering the tumultuous political uprisings in the region, particularly the Egyptian revolution.

The panelists for this discussion are:

• Lamees Dharif is an award-winning journalist and activist who has been active in the Bahraini resistance campaign. She has been banned from writing by the Bahraini government since the beginning of the democracy movement there;
  
  
• Nic Robertson is a senior international correspondent, based in CNN’s London bureau. Robertson has been with the network for twenty years and covered every major global news event since that time, including war and conflict. Robertson has continued to provide key coverage for events associated with the ‘Arab Spring,’ including reporting on the democracy demonstrations and conflict in Libya, Egypt, Yemen, and Tunisia.
  
  
• Ahed Al Hendi is a founder of the Syrian Youth for Justice and has worked as a journalist for publications including The Wall Street Journal, Foreign Affairs, and The Daily Beast. He lives in the United States.
  
  
• Carrie Rosefsky Wickham is an associate professor of political science at Emory University, specializing in political opposition movements and political integration in the Arab World. She is the author of Mobilizing Islam: Religion, Activism and Political Change in Egypt: 1st Edition (2002).
  
  
• Dalia Ziada is director of the Egypt office of the American Islamic Congress which promotes education and literacy for Arab youth. She is a published poet and active in pro-democracy politics.

This is the first CNN Dialogues event of 2012. Admission for this program is free, but pre-registration is required by visiting www.cnndialogues.com, or by calling the James Weldon Johnson Institute for Race and Difference at 404.727.2515, or the National Center for Civil and Human Rights at 404.991.6988.

About CNN Dialogues
CNN Dialogues represents a partnership between CNN, Emory University’s James Weldon Johnson Institute for the Study for Race and Difference and the National Center for Civil and Human Rights for a series of community discussions on major topics shaping our times, led by leading thinkers of the day. The planning committee for CNN Dialogues includes writer Pearl Cleage, Morehouse College President Robert Franklin, president and trustee of The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation Penelope McPhee, vice president for communications and marketing for Emory University Ron Sauder, executive vice president and director of programming for Atlanta’s World Affairs Council Cedric Suzman, president and CEO of the Georgia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Tisha Tallman, and Eric Tanenblatt of the Atlanta-based law firm of McKenna, Long, and Aldrich.

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.

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.

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 Press Release - CNN has named Amy Entelis to a newly created position of Senior Vice President, Talent and Content Development for CNN Worldwide, it was announced today by Mark Whitaker, CNN Worldwide Managing Editor.

Reporting directly to Whitaker, Entelis will be responsible for show development, including pilots and content acquisitions, and talent recruitment and strategy for all CNN networks and platforms including CNN, HLN and CNN International. Entelis will begin on January 17 and will be based in CNN’s New York offices.

Entelis has had an extensive career in television news as a producer and as a senior executive, spending more than 30 years at ABC where she was Senior Vice President of Talent Strategy, Development and Research until May 2011. While at ABC, Entelis hired and developed the careers of hundreds of journalists, both on and off-air, including recruiting and managing talent for the network’s most high-profile programs including Good Morning America, World News, Nightline and 20/20. Following ABC, Entelis served as Executive Vice President, Talent Strategy at Sucherman Consulting Group.

“Amy's eye for talent and gift for nurturing it are legendary throughout the television industry,” said Whitaker. “In this key new executive role, she will help us even better showcase the great anchors, reporters and producers we already have at CNN and our other networks, attract the next generation of talent, and work with program developers both inside and outside the company to create our shows and specials of the future."

“This position offers me a special opportunity to work with the talented journalists of CNN and to contribute to shaping its programming vision,” said Entelis. “I am thrilled to be joining the CNN team.”

Entelis served in a number of capacities while at ABC News. In addition to hiring and cultivating on-air talent, Entelis oversaw all off-air editorial recruiting, hiring and growth and development opportunities. She created mentoring programs, career development initiatives and a diversity advisory board. For ten years she led ABC News’ Business Affairs department, supervising all talent negotiations. As Senior Vice President of Talent Strategy, Development and Research, she was responsible for the news division’s strategic plan for on-air and off-air talent.

Entelis began her career on the weekly news magazine 20/20, and then spent five years as a producer at World News Tonight with Peter Jennings, specializing in business and economics reporting. ABC News President Roone Arledge recruited Entelis for her first management role with a mandate to develop women and minorities for on-air positions. Later at ABC, Entelis pioneered the first system in network news that coordinated the identification, recruitment and development of on-air talent.

Entelis has received many awards for her work as a producer, including the National News Emmy, the duPont Columbia Award, the Front Page Award from the Newswomen’s Club of NY, the Headliner Award, and the Planned Parenthood Award. A graduate of Vassar College, Entelis received her Masters in Journalism from Columbia University and serves as a member of the Board of Visitors of the Columbia Graduate School of Journalism.

CNN Worldwide, a division of Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., a Time Warner Company, is the most trusted network for news and information on television and has the leading news website in the U.S. 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 U.S.; CNN Newsource, the world’s most extensively syndicated news service; and strategic international partnerships within both television and the digital media.

A month out from the live premiere of CNN Heroes 2011, the network has announced a new way for viewers to donate to organizations associated with this year's nominees. Details from CNN's press release below.

CNN Press Release: Supporters can now contribute to the CNN Heroes' Non-Profit Organizations through Google Checkout

In advance of the global live premiere of 2011's CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute on Sunday, December 11, at 8 pm ET, CNN and Google have teamed up to enable people around the world to donate to this year's Top 10 CNN Heroes and their causes.

Through Google Checkout, Google is providing payment processing functionality for donations made to the Top 10 Heroes' non-profit organizations. Google Checkout provides a fast, secure and free way to donate online using a credit or debit card. Beginning today, through December 31, 2011, online users can support the work of the Top 10 CNN Heroes of 2011 by clicking the "donate" button on CNNHeroes.com and on each of the Top Ten Heroes' individual fan pages.

The CNN Heroes gala is the only show of its kind, bringing out Hollywood's brightest stars to honor individuals who are making extraordinary contributions to help improve the lives of others. This year's tribute show is hosted by Anderson Cooper and will air live from the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles at 8 pm ET, on Sunday, December 11, 2011. Since its inception, five years ago, "CNN Heroes" has received over 40,000 submissions from more than 100 countries and profiled over 150 heroes.

For more information, including video of the Top 10 CNN Heroes, links to their organizations, and highlights from previous years, visit: CNNHeroes.com.

CNN Press Release - Velshi to Launch Signature Segments on CNN/U.S. and Anchor CNN International's ‘World Business Today’

CNN Chief Business Correspondent Ali Velshi is adding new roles across CNN Worldwide. Beginning next month, Velshi will provide business reporting and analysis for CNN’s domestic channel, launching signature segments that will interpret and explain a top story of the day. In addition, in 2012, he becomes an anchor of CNN International’s World Business Today, a daily global business news program. Velshi also continues as host of Your Money on weekends on CNN/U.S.

In Velshi's new role for CNN/U.S., he will take a look at one of the top economic, global or political stories of the day and deconstruct and translate it for viewers. Drawing upon Ali’s global business news experience, this segment is geared towards breaking down for audiences some of the most complex issues of our time.

Velshi is anchoring one-hour of CNN International’s World Business Today, which is broadcast live to over 200 countries across the world.

“Ali’s global business expertise is an asset that we want to showcase more broadly across a range of CNN programs," said Ken Jautz, Executive Vice President, CNN/U.S. "He will help viewers understand and decode some of the most complex and important stories of the day, particularly economic and global issues.”

CNN International Executive Vice President and Managing Director Tony Maddox added, “With new economic superpowers emerging across different continents, Ali brings the right mix of curiosity and business news experience to play a prominent role in reporting these crucial stories to CNN Worldwide’s global audience.”

Trusted for his hallmark explanations of complicated issues during the financial crisis and during times of political and economic uncertainty, Velshi will expand his now familiar role as a decoder of political and economic issues and fact-checking across CNN’s U.S. and International programming. He has reported extensively on the global financial meltdown since 2008; the financial collapses of Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, AIG and Lehman Brothers; the U.S. government’s bailout plan; the battle over the fate of the American big three automakers; and the U.S. debt ceiling and budget debate.

“I’m looking forward to the daily intellectual exercise of taking the most important and intricate issues, breaking them down and providing the context necessary to help the CNN viewer make the smartest decisions they can,” said Velshi.

Velshi’s in-depth reporting for CNN’s “How The Wheels Came Off” was honored with a National Headliner Award for Business & Consumer Reporting in 2010. He anchored CNN’s breaking news coverage of the attempted terror attack on a flight into Detroit, delivering CNN’s worldwide newsgathering for which the network was nominated for a 2010 Emmy. Velshi is the co-author of “How To Speak Money,” which releases on November 8, 2011; and author of “Gimme My Money Back,” which released in January 2009.

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 is launching a new bureau in Brazil. Shasta Darlington, previously based at the network's Havana bureau, will move to the new newsgathering office in São Paulo. Details from CNN below.

CNN Press Release: CNN Worldwide to Open Newsgathering Bureau in São Paulo; Appoints Shasta Darlington as Correspondent

With Brazil’s news importance on the global stage, CNN Worldwide is announcing today that it will open a permanent newsgathering hub in São Paulo. CNN journalist Shasta Darlington will be moving to São Paulo effective immediately to assume the reins of CNN’s Brazil coverage.

Darlington will be focused on covering stories from Brazil and the surrounding region across all of CNN’s diverse platforms, on air and online.

“CNN is pleased to be establishing a bureau in Brazil with Shasta Darlington as the correspondent,” said Parisa Khosravi, senior vice president of international newsgathering. “Her depth of experience reporting on the Latin American region, specifically the time she’s spent in Brazil, coupled with her knowledge of business reporting will serve her well in this economic powerhouse.”

With CNN’s commitment to distinctive reporting, Darlington will cover business and current affairs, as well as the upcoming 2014 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 Summer Olympics.

Darlington most recently served as an international correspondent for CNN based at the network's bureau in Havana, Cuba, filing stories in English and Spanish across a range of topics including Fidel Castro's illness, his handover to his brother Raul Castro, and the first years of Raul’s succession. Darlington also travelled multiple times to Brazil from Havana, most recently to cover the 2011 floods in Rio de Janeiro State and President Barack Obama’s visit in March, and the 2010 Presidential elections for CNN’s global audience.

Prior to joining CNN in 2006, Darlington worked as a correspondent for Reuters in Italy for four years. From 1997-2001, Darlington served as a correspondent for Bloomberg and then Reuters in Brazil, where she focused on covering the devastating economic crisis, drug wars, and massive prison riots. Before moving to Brazil, she worked for the Los Angeles Times in Mexico City.

Darlington began her career as a reporter for The News, a Mexico City-based English newspaper, and has since devoted more than 15 years to journalism. She holds a Bachelors of Arts in English literature and Spanish from Middlebury College and is fluent in English, Portuguese and Spanish.

As rumored last week by various tech blogs, CNN has bought out Zite, a popular news app for the iPad. Details from CNN below.

CNN Press Release: CNN has acquired technology company Zite, a news app for the iPad that gives users a personalized magazine-like experience, it was announced today by Jim Walton, president of CNN Worldwide. CNN has added Zite to its already robust portfolio of digital products as a separate, stand-alone business that will continue to innovate and provide users with the news and information they want.

“Zite represents the next generation of content discovery and personalized publishing, and CNN wants to help lead in that space,” said KC Estenson, general manager of CNN Digital. “We think we can advance the industry in a meaningful way that helps content creators expand their businesses while growing the distribution of a product that people already love. The Zite technology can also help CNN's Websites and apps serve more personalized content, making our current digital services even better.”

Zite is an iPad app that leverages deeper technology to provide an individually personalized experience. Zite surfaces content to users that they will find most interesting from a variety of sources across the Web by learning users' preferences and getting smarter as it’s used.

“Zite is thrilled about combining forces with CNN to create a world-class news discovery platform,” said Mark Johnson, CEO of Zite. “In CNN, we have found a partner who shares our vision and passion. Being part of the CNN family gives us the capital to grow Zite's business and continue to innovate in the space.”

Johnson will continue to run Zite’s day-to-day operations out of headquarters in San Francisco and will report to Estenson. Founder Ali Davar will stay on board as Executive Director. Mike Klass will continue to lead Zite’s technology R&D as CTO. Zite will be a wholly owned subsidiary of CNN.

Available for free on the iPad, users can download Zite from the App Store or iTunes.

About Zite:

Zite is a free, personalized iPad magazine that understands what you like and gets smarter as you use it. Zite helps you discover what you’ve been missing in one convenient app. Zite learns as you use it to bring you the articles you will find most interesting from a variety of sources across the web. Headquartered in San Francisco with offices in Vancouver, British Columbia, Zite is wholly-owned subsidiary of CNN. To get to know Zite, go to www.zite.com.

CNN Domestic and CNN International are currently in continuing breaking coverage with the news that U.S. forces have killed Osama bin Laden. No word yet on overnight schedule changes from CNN, but we expect CNN Domestic and CNN International to continue simulcasting rolling coverage in the hours ahead.


A rough timeline of how events on CNN have unfolded so far on Sunday night...

- During the 10:00pm (eastern) hour, Wolf Blitzer replaces Don Lemon on air after word broke of an unscheduled announcement from President Obama. John King is in Washington with analysis and additional reporting.

- Speculation on what the announcement could be builds, with early reports from sources suggesting that the U,S. had killed Osama bin Laden.



- Announcement from Obama was timed for 10:30pm (eastern); this was delayed by almost an hourr.

- CNN receives confirmation from 3 intelligence sources that Osama bin Laden is dead.

- Shortly after 11:15pm (eastern) President Obama announced to the world that bin Laden had been killed during a U.S. operation in Pakistan.

Monday Morning...

- 12:08 am (eastern) - CNN Domestic and CNN International continue rolling coverage of the breaking news with Wolf Blitzer anchoring from Washington. Live report from Kabul, Afghanistan with CNN's Nick Paton Walsh. Ed Henry reports from the White House with scenes of crowds gathering at the White House gates and cheering.

- 12:14am (eastern) - CNN security expert Peter Bergen says the death of bin Laden is the "end of the War on Terror". Not clear if Mr. Bergen just mispoke, or whether he meant to say that. It seems to be at odds with what we've heard from his analysis in the past.

- 12:20am (eastern) - CNN Pentagon correspondent Chris Lawrence reports that the entire operation took only 40 minutes, with U.S. led forces practicing attack prior to launching assault.

- 12:25am (eastern) - CNN Domestic says it will continue live simulcast coverage through 1am (eastern). As of now, CNNUS will take the live CNN International broadcast after 1am.

- 12:30am (eastern) - CNN replays President Obama's announcement of bin Laden's death in full.

- 12:43am (eastern) - CNN's Jason Carroll reports live from Ground Zero in New York City where crowds have started to gather and cheer.

- 12:48am (eastern) - CNN airs first video from Geo Newsof mansion in Pakistan where bin Laden was killed.

- 01:03am (eastern) - Wolf Blitzer continues to anchor coverage on CNN Domestic / CNN International.

- 01:05am (eastern) - Chants of "U.S.A., U.S.A." break out behind Jason Carroll while he speaks with members of the crowd gathering at Ground Zero in New York City.

- 01:22am (eastern) - CNN senior political analyst Gloria Borger reports new information from congressional source that bin Laden was shot in the head.

- 01:28am (eastern) - CNN takes its first commercial break since rolling coverage started during the 10:00pm (eastern) hour.

- 01:39am (eastern) - For the first time during this coverage (?) John King uses his "magic wall" to explore area where bin Laden was killed. Abbottabad, Pakistan is a city of around a million people.

- 02:00am (eastern) - CNN Domestic simulcasts continuing coverage from CNN International.