Monday, May 16, 2005
What Happened To Bobbie Battista?
Source: US News.com Whenever reporters bail out of journalism into public relations, they're sure to get razzed by ex-colleagues for "crossing over to the dark side." But former television anchor Bobbie Battista makes no apologies for her midlife job change. Back in November 2001, Battista ended her 20-year career at CNN--she was one of its original newscasters as well as one of its most recognizable faces--to cofound Atlanta-based Atamira Communications along with three other former CNNers.
"Nine eleven had a little to do with it, and when you're hitting 50, you want do something different," says Battista, who will be 53 in July. But perhaps an ever bigger motivation was the change in management and ownership at CNN. In January 2001, Time Warner, CNN's parent company, merged with America Online. And in July 2001, a new CEO was named to run the network. "I didn't think the merger was good for the company, and I didn't think the revolving door of management was good for the company." Battista sensed CNN was drifting away from its heritage of serious news. "They were closing bureaus and doing more talking-head voice-overs. There was more bottom-line pressure. So I opted to take my leave." MORE
# posted by ATN @ 8:06 AM 
