Monday, July 18, 2005
CNN Plans High-Tech News Show
An article in the LA Times gives us more details about The Situation Room. The article quotes Wolf Blitzer as saying, "We're not going to compromise on journalism but we're going to take you behind the scenes and let viewers see what we're getting when we're getting it, especially in those critical hours where news is gelling," Blitzer said. "I've been frustrated that viewers are only able to [see] a small fraction of what we are able to gather." The program, which would air from 3 to 6 p.m. ET, is loosely modeled on the concept of the White House Situation Room, and would combine traditional reporting with online resources, such as blogs, Blitzer said.
UPDATE: This from the official CNN Press Release: The program will gather dozens of experts, analysts and opinion leaders to explore homeland security, politics, national and world affairs, establishing a “CNN Security Council” with expertise spanning topics from personal security to the economy to the war on terrorism. Regular contributors will include political commentators and analysts Paul Begala, James Carville, Robert Novak, Jeff Greenfield, Bill Schneider and Carlos Watson; former Republican advisor and spokesperson for the Department of Defense Victoria Clarke; security analysts such as former Defense Secretary William Cohen, Richard Falkenrath, a former terrorism advisor to President George W. Bush, Clark Kent Ervin, former inspector general for the Department of Homeland Security, and John McLaughlin, former acting director of the Central Intelligence Agency; and military analysts Gen. David Grange and Gen. Don Shephard.
In addition, Jack Cafferty will offer commentary and insights on the day’s events; CNN business correspondent Ali Velshi will contribute regular business features and updates; and Zain Verjee, co-anchor of CNN’s international news report Your World Today, will report on international news developments. CNN’s groundbreaking Internet reporters Abbi Tatton and Jacki Schechner will cover the blogs and beyond on the Internet. CNN Correspondent Mary Snow will also contribute to The Situation Room.
Sam Feist, senior executive producer of political programming for CNN, will be executive producer of The Situation Room.
# posted by ATN @ 10:43 AM 
