TVNewser has confirmed that CNN Saturday and CNN Sunday anchor and CNN Newsroom fill-in anchor T.J. Holmes and his plan to leave CNN at the end of the year.
In a memo to CNN staff members, director of programming Janelle Rodriguez says Holmes "will be leaving the company at the end of the year to pursue other opportunities."
Holmes came to CNN from NBC11 in San Francisco after making stops in Little Rock, AR and Joplin, MO.
No word on where Holmes is headed or who will land in his weekend morning spot on CNN Domestic.
Update: BET confirms signing T.J. Holmes to a deal.
CNN's Coverage Plans Of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Monument Dedication
UPDATE: Live coverage of the dedication is on hold as the proceedings are postponed due to impending impact from Hurricane Irene.
CNN Domestic has released its coverage plans of the Martin Luther King Jr. National Memorial dedication in Washington, D.C. scheduled for this Sunday. Coverage will include the broadcast of the dedication ceremony live, as well as two documentaries. Details from CNN below.
CNN Press Release: CNN’s chief political correspondent and anchor Candy Crowley, anchor T.J. Holmes and anchor and special correspondent Soledad O’Brien will anchor live coverage of the Martin Luther King Jr. National Memorial dedication in Washington, D.C., on Sunday, August 28th. Also reporting from the memorial will be D.C.-based correspondent Athena Jones.
Beginning at 6 a.m. (ET), Holmes will anchor CNN Newsroom from Washington, D.C. From 9a.m. to 1p.m. (ET), Crowley anchors a special edition of State of the Union. CNN’s coverage of the dedication ceremony will begin at 11 a.m. (ET).
CNN will broadcast Freedom’s Foot Soldiers: A Conversation with T.J. Holmes Saturday, August 27at 7:30 p.m. (ET). Holmes exclusively interviews Dr. King’s friends together in the basement of Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta to reflect on the life of Dr. King and the Civil Rights Movement then and now. In the very revealing, sometimes emotional interview with Juanita Abernathy, Xernona Clayton, Rev. Jesse Jackson, U.S. Representative John Lewis (D-GA), Rev. Joseph Lowery and former U.N. Ambassador Dr. Andrew Young, these “living legends” spoke of Dr. King’s desire to quit the movement and concentrate on writing and preaching, and the message the monument sends.
On Sunday, August 28 at 8 p.m. and 11 p.m. (ET), CNN will air the documentary MLK: Words That Changed A Nation, reported by O’Brien. For this documentary, O’Brien interviewed Dr. King’s closest confidants, including Dr. Young, Rep. Lewis, and activist Dorothy Cotton, for their behind-the-scenes insights into many of the historic events of the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 1960s. They discuss the arrest of Rosa Parks, Dr. King’s win of the 1964 Nobel Peace Prize and Dr. King’s time in a Birmingham jail for his participation in a nonviolent protest for civil rights. MLK: Words That Changed A Nation includes an examination of Dr. King’s private library of papers, letters, and speeches that reveal his personal philosophy and theology, as well as his doubts and fears – as he and those around him created a peaceful revolution that forever changed America.
Leading up to this historic memorial dedication, CNN will broadcast coverage through the day, entitled Building the Dream beginning Thursday, August 25, with interviews from the witnesses of the assassination of Dr. King; a conversation with the survivors of the 16th Street Baptist Church bombing (an attack that killed four girls in Birmingham, Alabama); a sneak peek of the collection being compiled for The National Museum of African American History and Culture; a look at the women behind the Civil Rights Movement; and the personal side of Dr. King from the eyes of his driver and personal assistant Tom Houck.
CNN will premiere two must-see original documentaries this weekend. Jason Carroll tells the stories of three soldiers who are currently serving in the U.S Army in 'A Soldier's Story', whilst TJ Holmes looks at how Tiger Wood’s carefully crafted image came crashing down a year ago.
A Soldier’s Story - airs on Saturday and Sunday at 8pm, 11pm, and 2am ET.
CNN’s Jason Carroll follows three people from different walks of life, beginning with the moment they pack their bags through each chapter to becoming soldiers. Taking full advantage of unprecedented Pentagon access, Carroll goes behind-the-scenes to capture the day-to-day lives, triumphs and stumbles – during their transformation from recruit to soldier. Will McLain, from Rosamond, California, enlisted to escape the small town where he grew up. Latricia Rose, a young mother from Columbus, Georgia, sees the army as a way of providing for her family during tough economic times. And, Sgt. Randy Shorter is a father of two and heading back into battle to finish the job he started during his last deployment. These are some of the personal stories behind the deadly war in Afghanistan.
Downfall: The Tiger Woods Story - airs on Saturday at 10pm and Sunday at 1am, 4am and 10:30pm ET.
He was the most famous athlete in the world; on pace to shatter golf’s most prestigious title. But one year ago, Tiger Wood’s carefully crafted image came crashing down. CNN’s TJ Holmes talks exclusively to Tiger’s brother, Earl Woods Jr, and alleged mistress, adult entertainment actress Veronica Daniels for insights into the life of the world’s first billion dollar athlete.
TVNewser has details of changes at American Morning which include anchor John Roberts moving to Atlanta to be closer to fianceé, CNN Newsroom anchor Kyra Phillips.
TJ Holmes will be the first of the rotating anchors to test with Kiran Chetry, as outlined in a memo from CNN president Ken Jautz.
Today on CNN Sunday, Betty Nguyen's colleagues said their farewells to Betty Nguyen as she leaves for CBS starting March 11th. Long time co-anchor TJ Holmes called to send his best wishes while on his honeymoon on the island of St. Lucia.
CNN Press Release - In addition to CNN’s continuing coverage of the aftermath of the earthquake in Haiti and the upcoming State of the Union, CNN will devote programming to the impact of the economic stimulus plan one year after it was enacted. Beginning on January 24 and continuing through January 29, CNN will break down where the money has gone, whom it's helping, and who has abused the program. In advance of the January 30 release of new stimulus data, CNN will utilize its vast TV and online reach to inform its viewers about which projects have received the stimulus dollars, what is and isn't working, if Americans’ lives have changed for the better, and who's still fighting to get help. Beginning on American Morning and continuing throughout dayside and primetime programming, CNN will highlight the stories of everyday people, offering viewers an understanding of the good, the bad and the reality of whether the stimulus money is being well spent or going toward wasteful projects. In his first television interview, Inspector General Earl Devaney, “the stimulus watchdog,” will sit down with CNN correspondent Kate Bolduan to give his take on how the stimulus money has been spent.
Leading the coverage on CNN/U.S. will be chief business correspondent Ali Velshi and CNN business correspondent Christine Romans. Velshi, along with CNN anchor TJ Holmes and correspondents Tom Foreman and Josh Levs, will review stimulus projects from CNN’s “Stimulus Desk,” and bring to light those that are the most interesting and newsworthy. CNN correspondents including Elizabeth Cohen, Drew Griffin, Joe Johns, Randi Kaye, David Mattingly, Ted Rowlands, Gerri Willis, and Kareen Wynter will fact-check the plan and report on which projects have been funded so far, where the jobs are, whether these projects will help the economy recover and where the loopholes are. In addition, CNN’s All Platform Journalists (APJs) have been deployed across the country on “stimulus patrol” and will contribute pieces throughout the week about various projects and people across the country that have been affected by the stimulus.
Online, CNNMoney.com is the premiere destination for all news, information and analysis related to the stimulus, and will feature multi-media photo galleries, text stories and video. Additionally, as part of "The Stimulus Project," CNNMoney.com is launching a data visualization that details how much stimulus money has been spent thus-far and on which programs. The first of its kind, this interactive graphic will provide users with the most comprehensive and accessible view into the state of the stimulus. CNN's chief business correspondent Ali Velshi also will use the data visualization on the Magic Wall on CNN/U.S. to help television viewers understand how the money is being used.
Additionally, at www.CNN.com/Stimulus, CNN.com has a special report that features an economy tracker which shows how stimulus money has been spent so far by state, and where new jobs have been created according to government information, an info-graphic that takes a look at some key factors of the economy and how it has gone up and down. In addition, the section includes opinion pieces on how the stimulus has worked and how it hasn't. CNN iReport, the network's user-generated news community, is asking iReporters to share their personal stories to add color to the numerical data.
Viewers can call CNN at 1-800-TIPS-LINE, to explain what's going on in their communities and how they feel the stimulus has impacted their jobs and lives. CNN will also conduct a poll and release numbers daily about Americans’ views of the stimulus package and the economy as a whole.
CNN is the only cable news network that provides non-partisan programming representing all points of view.
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.
Essence Communications to Partner with CNN, HLN and CNN.com
CNN Press Release - Essence Communications to Partner with CNN, HLN and CNN.com For Weekly News Segments
What Matters Debuted On CNN and HLN on May 8
CNN, HLN, CNN.com and Essence Communications, Inc., today announced a partnership to develop What Matters, a series of weekly news segments focused on issues of importance to the African-American community. As an extension of the regular news items and features in ESSENCE magazine, as well as the ongoing multicultural programming on CNN, the on-air and online segments will be hosted on CNN by Tony Harris and Don Lemon with contributions from Roland Martin, Fredricka Whitfield and T.J. Holmes. The segments will be hosted on HLN by anchor Richelle Carey.
The recurring segment debuted on CNN on Friday, May 8, in the 12 p.m. hour and will feature topics ranging from 401(k) strategies to elder-care issues to pop culture. On HLN, the segment will be seen during the 6 p.m. hour on the Friday, Saturday, and Sunday editions of “Prime News.” Inspired by the monthly “Our News” section of ESSENCE magazine, content for the segments will be developed collaboratively.
Online users also can view the “What Matters” segments on-demand at CNN.com and on Mondays via CNN.com Live, the Internet's only live multi-stream video news service. This online content will be available beginning May 15. In addition, Essence.com will offer users related articles, additional commentary, blog discussions and the opportunity to view the “What Matters” segments.
“ESSENCE is proud to partner with CNN, HLN and CNN.com to launch What Matters as a platform to inform, educate and define the cultural discussion,” said Angela Burt-Murray, Editor-in-Chief, ESSENCE. “Last year’s collaboration on the ESSENCE/CNN co-production CNN & Essence: Reclaiming the Dream laid the groundwork for What Matters – a project that will combine our reach and expertise to further the development of quality programming for African-Americans.”
“Our partnership with ESSENCE has been a very productive one, and What Matters is an important next step in those collaborative efforts,” commented Jon Klein, president of CNN/U.S. “The power of our two brands promises to continue to enhance the dialogue about issues important to our collective audiences.”
What Matters is sponsored by McDonald’s, who is also the presenting sponsor of CNN’s Black in America 2, the sequel series to 2008’s groundbreaking initiative. Reported by CNN anchor and special correspondent Soledad O’Brien, Black in America 2 reveals the stories of community leaders and innovative pioneers who are creating solutions to challenges within African-American communities – closing achievement gaps in education, reducing health disparities, and launching business enterprises. The two primetime documentaries for the series premiere on Wednesday, July 22, and Thursday, July 23. The 2009 co-production with Essence Communications, CNN & Essence: Reclaiming the Dream 2, will be filmed on July 4 at the Essence Music Festival in New Orleans.
About CNN Worldwide 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.
About HLN HLN, a division of Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., a Time Warner Company, is designed especially for viewers who want relevant and comprehensive news and personality-driven programming in a way that suits the urgency of their schedules. Via its “news and views” format, the network 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 at night, utilizing the best resources of CNN Worldwide.
About Essence Communications, Inc. Essence Communications Inc. (ECI) is the leading media and communications company dedicated to African-American women. With a multi-platform presence in publishing, live events, and online, the Essence brand is “Where Black Women Come First”. The company’s flagship publication, ESSENCE magazine, is the preeminent lifestyle magazine for African-American women; generating brand extensions such as the Essence Music Festival, Women Who Are Shaping the World Leadership Summit, Window on Our Women (WOW I & II) and Smart Beauty I, II & III consumer insights, the Essence Book Club, Essence.com, and ventures in digital media (mobile, television and VOD). For 38 years, ESSENCE magazine, which has a readership of 8.1 million, has been the leading source of cutting-edge information relating to every area of African-American women’s lives.
Additional information about ECI and ESSENCE is available at www.essence.com.
TVNewser has confirmed that CNN Saturday and CNN Sunday anchor and CNN Newsroom fill-in anchor T.J. Holmes and his plan to leave CNN at the end of the year.
