CNN Press Release - Fast-Paced Headline News Program Led by Robin Meade Goes Live with New Name on Monday, Nov. 5

Headline News’ flagship morning program Robin & Company becomes Morning Express with Robin Meade, effective Monday, Nov. 5, it was announced today by Ken Jautz, EVP of CNN Worldwide.

In an effort to give its viewers the news they need in the morning, in the manner that today’s busy lifestyle requires, Morning Express will continue to deliver news reports every 30 minutes, along with breaking news as warranted.

“We aim to provide a quickly paced and comprehensive summary of the news, which matches people’s needs in the morning as they're preparing for their day,” Jautz commented. “The show’s energy and style stand out in the morning broadcast landscape, and the new name better captures that.”

The program’s lineup includes lead anchor Robin Meade; news correspondent Richard Lui; meteorologist Bob Van Dillen and “Your Money” correspondent Jennifer Westhoven. Morning Express airs from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. (ET) every weekday.

Among the newest additions to the program are Meade’s “Morning Sunshine” e-mail newsletter for viewers and fans; the program’s hourly “Salute to Troops” segment designed to pay homage to military personnel and their families, a feature that also has evolved into an online photo gallery and blog; a segment with Van Dillen featuring weather-related i-Reports submitted from viewers; “V-Mails,” video messages sent from viewers who weigh in on topical issues; and “America’s Favorite Cities,” an on-air extension of Travel + Leisure magazine’s popular survey of the top travel spots in the country.

With the re-launch of the program, Morning Express extends to other platforms with Meade answering viewer e-mails in a Web-exclusive segment for the program’s page at www.CNN/Morning.Express. A weekly podcast with Meade will debut on Friday, Nov. 9, and will be available at http://www.CNN.com/podcasting/ and at CNN’s dedicated space on iTunes.

“Mornings are such an intimate, and frequently hectic, part of the day for our viewers, so I feel privileged that they invite us into their homes each day for their first dose of news and information,” Meade said.

Headline News, a division of Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., a Time Warner Company, updates viewers constantly, 24 hours each day, with complete and concise national newscasts throughout the day and a compelling slate of legal, entertainment and talk programs during Headline Prime at night. The “Need to Know” network delivers fast-paced, lively and engaging news, using the best resources of CNN Worldwide. Headline News is designed especially for viewers who want relevant and comprehensive news in a way that suits the urgency of their schedules.

Monday, November 5th, Headline News' morning program Robin & Company will become Morning Express with Robin Meade. Noted as "Your News in the Fast Lane", Morning Express will be promoted as the fastest morning news show on television.

Airs Monday – Friday, 6 – 10am ET

That Robin Meade is tricky. She mentioned on-air that a member of the Robin & Company team was leaving and that if you received the newsletter you'd know who it was...... well, it made people think it was one of the "final four" left on the show. Just to re-assure everyone, it isn't.

From the newsletter:

the goodbye factor - jack, our sweetheart of a camera operator in the
studio finally gets some sleep. he's switching shifts after something like five
years of putting up with us crazies. my favorite jack moment: when he heard us
talking on set about an elton john outburst. jack runs up, waving his hands
checking the lights, and blurts out "it was like e.j. was drunk on donuts!?
problem was.....we were on the air. and so was he and his 'drunk on donuts'
comment! maybe we'll capture him on camera today.

Watching Robin & Company this morning and Robin mentioned Elizabeth Cohen being CNN's Senior Medical Correspondent now. This is great! Elizabeth has done some great reporting. This must have recently happened because I haven't heard them mention this while listening to the CNN/U.S. audio stream at work. Congratulations, Elizabeth!

Jennifer Westhoven will be in Atlanta tomorrow filing business reports there for Robin & Company and the morning edition of Headline News.

Headline News morning show Robin and Company is looking to start a Podcast, but they need your help! What would you like to see? Visit http://www.cnn.com/robin and click the "Contact Us" link and let Robin and her crew know what you'd like to see. Whether it's behind-the-scenes video, funny bloopers, or anything that comes to mind, they want to know!

Looks like CNN has a new business reporter, probably replacing Felicia Taylor. Her name is Jennifer Lewis-Hall, and she's filling in for Jennifer Westhoven on Robin & Company today.

Looks like Will Selva from CNN Headline News' morning program Robin & Company has left the network. His bio has been removed from the Anchors and Reporters page and his name has been removed from the Robin & Company show page.

Has anyone heard why he left? I'm not sure if it's been mentioned on air. I can only watch from 6-7 daily and haven't heard anything. Thanks!

Update from Feedback Form: It was announced on Fridays Robin and Company that Will was leaving. Atleast in the last half hour that talked about it. They said he was going to a newnetwork and a new job. No other details were givin.

The Official Headline News site at http://www.headlinenews.com/ mentions upcoming changes to the network lineup. From what I can gather (and please, help me out if anyone knows any changes):

Weekdays:
6:00-10:00 AM - Robin & Company
10:00-11:00 AM - Headline News - Richard Lui Anchoring
11:00 AM-12:00 PM - Larry King Live
12:00-5:00 PM - Headline News - Chuck and Linda Anchoring?
5:00-7:00 PM - Prime News with Erica Hill
7:00-8:00 PM - Glenn Beck
8:00-9:00 PM - Nancy Grace
9:00-10:00 PM - Glenn Beck
10:00-11:00 PM - Nancy Grace
11:00 PM-12:00 AM - Showbiz Tonight
12:00-1:00 AM - Glenn Beck
1:00-2:00 AM - Nancy Grace
2:00-3:00 AM - Showbiz Tonight
3:00-5:00 AM - Headline News - Richelle Carey Anchoring

What does that mean for Mike Galanos and Christi Paul? Stay tuned for more information as we have it.

First on CNN Observations: It looks like CNN Pipeline's Richard Lui is joining Robin & Company. Thanks to an anonymous tip for this information. We are checking with our sources at CNN and will have more information if it becomes available.

Update (7:51 PM): (from a source at CNN) Beginning tomorrow, Richard, a former CNN Pipeline news anchor, will report on developing stories throughout the Robin & Company program, and will anchor the 10 a.m. hour.

After an incredibly successful 15-year run in the business world, Richard joined CNN in 2005. During his tenure at CNN Pipeline, Richard anchored major live, breaking stories including the Hezbollah-Israeli conflict, the Mumbai train terrorist bombings and the Enron verdicts.
In addition to anchoring weekday programming, Richard reported live on events including CNN's "America Votes 2006" coverage. Richard also anchored from New York's Ground Zero for CNN Pipeline's live broadcast of the fifth anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, the most streamed news event in Pipeline's history. His reporting also took him to Singapore to research container scanning technology at the world's busiest port, and to Indonesia to examine underage sex slavery and the economic effects of the 2002 Bali bombings.

It seems that Adrianna Costa is out at Headline News. Her photo has been removed from the Robin & Company website, and her bio has been removed from the Anchors & Reporters section of CNN.com.

We don't have any other details as of yet, as to where she's headed or her replacement at CNN, but once we do we will pass them along to you.

Update (2:00 PM): A CNN/O reader posts that during the show this morning, Robin mentioned that Costa has left CNN to work with another network on a reality show.

So it seems that Jennifer Westhoven hasn't left the network, as she's on Robin & Company this morning.

Robin & Company also featured a video report from CNN Radio's Lisa Goddard. I don't believe I've seen a video report from a CNN Radio personality on the networks before.

CNN International's Richard Quest has been all across the CNN platforms today covering the Queen's visit to the United States. He was on CNN Newsroom this morning and afternoon, Your World Today, and most recently The Situation Room.

No word if Robin Meade did her Richard Quest imitation on Robin and Company this morning. *ha*

Looks like the hosts are shuffling again on CNN's In The Money. Christine Romans is replacing Jennifer Westhoven and Alan Wastler with Ali Velshi on the show.

This must have just changed as a couple of weeks ago on the CNN Ali V Podcast, Jennifer came on at the end of the show asking people to join her with Ali Velishi on In The Money.

Update: Makes me wonder if Jennifer Westhoven is still with the network. She hasn't been on Robin & Company at all this week. Stephanie Elam has been filling in for her.

Jennifer did show up on the CNN Ali V Podcast (published 04/30/07) doing the intro/outro to the podcast and mentioning that you could catch Ali Velshi on American Morning weekdays.

Jennifer Westhoven was live with her "Your Money" segments from Atlanta on Robin & Company last week and is in Atlanta this week. Is this a permanent move for her? I missed In The Money this Saturday, was she on from Atlanta?

Edit (4/25/07): Jennifer is back in New York today.

You've had a chance to preview, what do you think of CNN's new American Morning team? Love them! Bring back Miles and Soledad I miss Carol Costello! I think I'll stick with Robin and Company There's a new American Morning team? I'm a International/En Español/etc. viewer, I don't get American Morning I haven't seen them yet. Current Results

CNN Launches ‘Fit Nation Challenge’ at Finish Line of Tour de Georgia on Sunday, April 22, in Atlanta

Harvard researchers revealed recently that for every hour of regular exercise Americans add to their regimen, they add two hours to their life. With that in mind, CNN chief medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta this week encourages Americans to take his “Fit Nation Challenge” and pledge to gain one million hours of life. Related “Fit Nation” segments and materials will appear across CNN/U.S. and Headline News programming, including Anderson Cooper 360º, American Morning and Robin & Company, as well as on CNN.com.

CNN’s cross-country “Fit Nation Challenge” launches on Sunday, April 22, in Atlanta’s Centennial Olympic Park at the finish line of the Tour de Georgia, a seven-day state-wide bicycle race. Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong and Olympian and world class runner Jeff Galloway will also be on hand to support the challenge.

This year, the Fit Nation tour includes a custom-designed airstream trailer that serves as a venue where visitors can share their health lifestyle choices through video, online interaction and on-site activities such as a fit photo, health trivia and cycling. Other tour stops this year include:

· April 27-29: French Quarter – New Orleans;

· May 5 – 6: Celebrate Culture Festival – Denver;

· June 2 – 3: Rock & Roll Marathon – San Diego; and

· June 29 – July 1: Taste of Chicago and the 5K Race to the Taste – Chicago.

After constant reporting on the obesity epidemic, Gupta launched Fit Nation in 2006 as an ongoing multi-platform initiative to stop obesity and encourage healthier lifestyles. With former President Bill Clinton, Lance Armstrong, Maria Shriver and others, Gupta traveled across the country engaging people in their own communities to get more active and develop local programs to meet the challenges of being overweight.

Fit Nation segments are featured on House Call with Dr. Sanjay Gupta, which airs on Saturdays and Sundays at 8:30 a.m.; American Morning, which airs every weekday from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m.; Headline News’ Robin & Company, which airs every weekday from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m.; the afternoon edition of CNN Newsroom, which airs every weekday from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.; and Anderson Cooper 360°, which airs each weeknight from 10 p.m. to midnight. All times Eastern.

In addition, an online report (www.CNN.com/fitnation) features tools for users to log their extra hours of life, podcasts from the Fit Nation events and user-generated iReports to allow users to share success stories and submit health tips.

Dr. Sanjay Gupta is chief medical correspondent for the health and medical unit at CNN. Gupta, a practicing neurosurgeon and an assistant professor of neurosurgery, plays an integral role in the network’s medical coverage, which includes American Morning, the weekend show House Call with Dr. Sanjay Gupta and coverage of breaking medical news. Based in Atlanta, he also co-hosts Accent Health for Turner Private Networks, contributes health news stories to CNN.com, writes a column for TIME magazine, is a contributor to CBS Evening News with Katie Couric, and authored his first book this year, Chasing Life: New Discoveries in the Search for Immortality to Help You Age Less Today.

CNN Worldwide, a division of Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., a Time Warner Company, is one of the world’s most respected and trusted sources 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; four Web sites, including CNN.com, the first major news and information Web site; CNN Pipeline, CNN.com’s premium live video news service; CNN Newsource, the world’s most extensively syndicated news service; and partnerships for four television networks and two Web sites.

CNN Pipeline's Richard Lui was back on Robin and Company this morning. This is the first I've gotten to watch the show this week so he may have been on since Monday.

Looks like CNN Pipeline's Richard Lui hasn't been on Robin & Company this week so he may be done with the show, or if his "TV Time" in his contract is up... who knows. I'll keep you updated if I hear anything.

According to his blog, it looks like Rally Capparas from FlightExplorer.com has been moved to the "Chuck and Linda" timeslot on CNN Headline News.

Also, they're now calling Richard Lui's desk on Robin and Company the "Update Desk".