Friday, October 28, 2005
PZN Special ‘Walking the Thin Line’ to air Wednesday, Nov. 2
Source: CNN PressRoom CNN anchor Paula Zahn dedicates a full hour of Paula Zahn Now to in-depth coverage of eating disorders affecting more than 10 million Americans, in a special “Walking the Thin Line” on Wednesday, Nov. 2, at 8 p.m. (ET). The special will feature the following segments:· Actress Jamie-Lynn DiScala of The Sopranos talks frankly about her near-suicidal battle with bulimia and her fears that the only way young starlets can succeed in Hollywood is to risk it all to be thin;
· Jane Fonda explains how she began bingeing and purging when she was in high school and continued for 30 years. Fonda is part of a growing number of adult women suffering from eating disorders;
· Jockey Shane Sellers found that success on the racetrack meant bingeing and purging to make his body lighter and smaller. Sellers suffers from depression after years of abusing his body for his career. More than a million men in the United States suffer an eating disorder.
Zahn will also explain the most current treatments for young patients with eating disorders. These segments will include the story of a five-year-old child suffering from anorexia and a rare, behind-the-scenes visit to a clinic where a young woman struggles to overcome her life-threatening obsession with food and exercise.
# posted by ATN @ 4:02 PM 
Blitzer to Headline Integrity Week at U of Pennsylvania
Source: The Daily Pennsylvanian CNN news anchor and Emmy Award-winning journalist Wolf Blitzer will speak at Penn on Tuesday, Nov. 15 as the keynote speaker for the University Honor Council's annual Integrity Week.The Honor Council is a student group that advises the provost and the Office of Student Conduct on matters relating to academic integrity.
Leslie Schwab, Honor Council co-chairwoman, said that Blitzer was the group's first-choice speaker.
"We decided on Mr. Blitzer because of his experience within the media circle," Schwab said. "We thought that he would have a really interesting perspective on integrity within the media."
The anchor for CNN's daily newscast The Situation Room, Blitzer writes a daily online column for CNN as well. He also hosts Late Edition with Wolf Blitzer, a Sunday talk show seen in more than 212 countries and territories.
Blitzer is also the author of the books Between Washington and Jerusalem: A Reporter's Notebook and Territory of Lies.
Integrity Week is the UHC's largest annual initiative.
"We'd really like to make this an event that appeals to people across Penn ... to make it something that challenges Penn students to think about the importance of integrity both inside and outside the classroom," Schwab said.
# posted by ATN @ 3:54 PM
Thursday, October 27, 2005
Turner, TV18 Group Form Partnership for 24-hour News Channel in India
Source: CNN PressRoom Turner International and Global Broadcast News (GBN), a TV18 Group Company, today announced a partnership to launch a co-branded, 24-hour, English-language general news channel in India.
Renowned TV journalist Rajdeep Sardesai will spearhead GBN’s foray into the general news space as the editor-in-chief of the service. The co-branded service, CNN-IBN, will build upon the strong foundation of TV18’s newsgathering experience and infrastructure in India, bolstered by CNN’s eminent and extensive global news network.
Under the terms of the agreement, GBN’s proposed channel – formerly known as India Broadcast News (IBN) and now co-branded as CNN-IBN - will have access to CNN’s trademark live breaking news as well as key feature programs. This alliance will enable Indian viewers to view local news as well as relevant global news from CNN on the same platform. The new channel will focus on providing robust and high quality news from every corner of India with a complete commitment to the needs and aspirations of the Indian viewer, while CNN International will continue to deliver global news to Indian viewers.
“The news channel is built on the age-old ethic that editorial sovereignty is inviolable – and this shall be a cornerstone of GBN’s partnership with CNN,” Sardesai said. “It will be a journalist-driven channel rooted in the realities of modern India. With nationwide newsgathering capabilities, superior journalistic talent and a passion for news, the new service will endeavor to get the news first and direct from the ground. In a fast-globalizing India, access to CNN's global news network will add immense value for our audiences.”
“This service will complement CNN International’s global news offering and marks another milestone in CNN's efforts to move closer to its audience though local partnerships,” said Chris Cramer, managing director of CNN International. “The coupling of CNN's global resources and GBN’S local expertise will take news broadcasting in India to a whole new level.”
“With a history of editorial independence and vitality, the enterprising local media is playing an increasingly important role in keeping Indians informed as the global influence of India continues to grow,” said Steve Marcopoto, president and managing director of Turner Broadcasting System Asia Pacific Inc. “Being the world's largest democracy, India has a voracious appetite for news, and this unique partnership with GBN will enable Turner and CNN to bring an unparalleled global scope to this genre.”
Headquartered in New Delhi, the channel will be supported by more than 20 bureaus nationwide, along with a team of experienced newspersons and production staff, backed by TV18’s state-of-the-art broadcast infrastructure and newsgathering technology.
Renowned TV journalist Rajdeep Sardesai will spearhead GBN’s foray into the general news space as the editor-in-chief of the service. The co-branded service, CNN-IBN, will build upon the strong foundation of TV18’s newsgathering experience and infrastructure in India, bolstered by CNN’s eminent and extensive global news network.
Under the terms of the agreement, GBN’s proposed channel – formerly known as India Broadcast News (IBN) and now co-branded as CNN-IBN - will have access to CNN’s trademark live breaking news as well as key feature programs. This alliance will enable Indian viewers to view local news as well as relevant global news from CNN on the same platform. The new channel will focus on providing robust and high quality news from every corner of India with a complete commitment to the needs and aspirations of the Indian viewer, while CNN International will continue to deliver global news to Indian viewers.
“The news channel is built on the age-old ethic that editorial sovereignty is inviolable – and this shall be a cornerstone of GBN’s partnership with CNN,” Sardesai said. “It will be a journalist-driven channel rooted in the realities of modern India. With nationwide newsgathering capabilities, superior journalistic talent and a passion for news, the new service will endeavor to get the news first and direct from the ground. In a fast-globalizing India, access to CNN's global news network will add immense value for our audiences.”
“This service will complement CNN International’s global news offering and marks another milestone in CNN's efforts to move closer to its audience though local partnerships,” said Chris Cramer, managing director of CNN International. “The coupling of CNN's global resources and GBN’S local expertise will take news broadcasting in India to a whole new level.”
“With a history of editorial independence and vitality, the enterprising local media is playing an increasingly important role in keeping Indians informed as the global influence of India continues to grow,” said Steve Marcopoto, president and managing director of Turner Broadcasting System Asia Pacific Inc. “Being the world's largest democracy, India has a voracious appetite for news, and this unique partnership with GBN will enable Turner and CNN to bring an unparalleled global scope to this genre.”
Headquartered in New Delhi, the channel will be supported by more than 20 bureaus nationwide, along with a team of experienced newspersons and production staff, backed by TV18’s state-of-the-art broadcast infrastructure and newsgathering technology.
# posted by ATN @ 5:19 PM
Hogan Named CNN’s Midwest Bureau Chief
Source: CNN PressRoom Christian “Fuzz” Hogan, director of coverage for CNN/U.S., will become the network’s Midwest bureau chief, it was announced today by Jack Womack, senior vice president of domestic news operations and administration for CNN/U.S. As the Midwest bureau chief, Hogan will coordinate CNN coverage from the network’s bureaus in Chicago, Dallas and Denver bureaus.
“Within the CNN ranks, there are few journalists as respected or liked as Fuzz,” Womack said. “Fuzz demonstrated time and again his expertise in deploying CNN’s vast resources as our director of coverage. With such an emphasis following Hurricane Katrina and Rita and other news events in the Midwest, we needed a journalist of Fuzz’s caliber in the region.”
“I’m excited about returning to Chicago and the Midwest where I started my journalism career,” said Hogan, who assumes his new responsibilities immediately. “Plus, the bureau chief position offers a chance for me to more directly affect our newsgathering efforts from the field and closer to where news events actually occur.”
As the director of coverage for CNN/U.S., Hogan was responsible for the oversight of the network’s national desk and newsgathering. Previously, he served as an executive producer for CNN’s National Bureau in Atlanta, managing the work of the network’s Investigative Unit and coverage of the southeastern region of the United States. He was also co-executive producer of the network’s “Terror on Tape” series, which won a Peabody award.
Hogan joined CNN in 1987 when he started with Headline News as a producer. He left for a year to attend graduate school, which ended with his earning a Gannett Urban Journalism Fellowship. He returned in 1991 as a staff writer and has since served as a producer for CNN International and CNN&TIME, the network’s former primary news magazine program. His work included coverage of the O.J. Simpson trial and the Oklahoma City bombing. In 1999, Hogan became an executive producer on CNN’s “The Row,” editing, vetting and producing scripts from correspondents from the network’s domestic and international bureaus.
“Within the CNN ranks, there are few journalists as respected or liked as Fuzz,” Womack said. “Fuzz demonstrated time and again his expertise in deploying CNN’s vast resources as our director of coverage. With such an emphasis following Hurricane Katrina and Rita and other news events in the Midwest, we needed a journalist of Fuzz’s caliber in the region.”
“I’m excited about returning to Chicago and the Midwest where I started my journalism career,” said Hogan, who assumes his new responsibilities immediately. “Plus, the bureau chief position offers a chance for me to more directly affect our newsgathering efforts from the field and closer to where news events actually occur.”
As the director of coverage for CNN/U.S., Hogan was responsible for the oversight of the network’s national desk and newsgathering. Previously, he served as an executive producer for CNN’s National Bureau in Atlanta, managing the work of the network’s Investigative Unit and coverage of the southeastern region of the United States. He was also co-executive producer of the network’s “Terror on Tape” series, which won a Peabody award.
Hogan joined CNN in 1987 when he started with Headline News as a producer. He left for a year to attend graduate school, which ended with his earning a Gannett Urban Journalism Fellowship. He returned in 1991 as a staff writer and has since served as a producer for CNN International and CNN&TIME, the network’s former primary news magazine program. His work included coverage of the O.J. Simpson trial and the Oklahoma City bombing. In 1999, Hogan became an executive producer on CNN’s “The Row,” editing, vetting and producing scripts from correspondents from the network’s domestic and international bureaus.
# posted by ATN @ 5:17 PM
Wednesday, October 26, 2005
TSR Wins P25-54 All Three Hours Tuesday
For the fourth time since launch, CNN’s The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer won the coveted P25-54 demo for all three hours (3-6pm) on Tuesday, October 25, 2005, says CNN. It was also the tenth win in the 5-6pm hour.
During the 3p hour, The Situation Room out-delivered FXNC’s Studio B by 22% (225k v. 184k) in P25-54.
In the 4p hour, The Situation Room surpassed FXNC’s Your World w/ Cavuto by 5% (205k v. 196k) in P25-54.
For the 5p hour, The Situation Room out-delivered FXNC’s The Big Story w/ John Gibson by 11% (208k v. 188k) in P25-54.
# posted by ATN @ 10:06 PM
CNN ImageSource Acquires Distribution Rights for AFP Video
Source: CNN Press Release CNN ImageSource, the video licensing division of CNN, recently secured the rights to license daily updates and archival footage from Agence France-Presse to customers worldwide, excluding French language regions, it was announced today.
“AFP is recognized around the world as a definitive source of news and opinion from France, and we’re delighted to be able to offer its collection to the international production community,” said Kathy Christensen, vice president, News Archives & Research, CNN. “This agreement builds upon our successful representation of U.S. affiliates, expands CNN ImageSource’s coverage to include more news from abroad and kicks off our initiative to develop a broader base of international content providers.”
“AFP enjoys a longstanding relationship with CNN, which this agreement with CNN ImageSource will strengthen,” said Pierre Taillefer, AFP executive news director. “It will provide increased visibility to AFP’s video production, which covers news from France, Europe and the globe, and will allow AFP video to reach TV producers, documentary filmmakers and the educational communities around the world, including the United States.”
Headquartered in Atlanta, CNN ImageSource maintains a historic archive of material from more than 25 years of the network’s award-winning coverage and from more than 400 CNN affiliates. Established in 1987, the division handles footage licensing, talent clearance, public display and transcript reprint permissions, and third-party representation deals. Its Web site, www.cnnimagesource.com, provides easy access to several hundred thousand catalogue records and offers online ordering.
AFP is the world’s oldest established news agency, founded in 1835 by Charles-Louis Havas, the father of global journalism. Today, the agency continues to expand its operations worldwide, reaching thousands of subscribers via radio, television, newspapers and companies from its main headquarters in Paris and regional centers in Washington, Hong Kong, Nicosia and Montevideo. All share the same goal: to guarantee top quality international service tailored to the specific needs of clients in each region.
“AFP is recognized around the world as a definitive source of news and opinion from France, and we’re delighted to be able to offer its collection to the international production community,” said Kathy Christensen, vice president, News Archives & Research, CNN. “This agreement builds upon our successful representation of U.S. affiliates, expands CNN ImageSource’s coverage to include more news from abroad and kicks off our initiative to develop a broader base of international content providers.”
“AFP enjoys a longstanding relationship with CNN, which this agreement with CNN ImageSource will strengthen,” said Pierre Taillefer, AFP executive news director. “It will provide increased visibility to AFP’s video production, which covers news from France, Europe and the globe, and will allow AFP video to reach TV producers, documentary filmmakers and the educational communities around the world, including the United States.”
Headquartered in Atlanta, CNN ImageSource maintains a historic archive of material from more than 25 years of the network’s award-winning coverage and from more than 400 CNN affiliates. Established in 1987, the division handles footage licensing, talent clearance, public display and transcript reprint permissions, and third-party representation deals. Its Web site, www.cnnimagesource.com, provides easy access to several hundred thousand catalogue records and offers online ordering.
AFP is the world’s oldest established news agency, founded in 1835 by Charles-Louis Havas, the father of global journalism. Today, the agency continues to expand its operations worldwide, reaching thousands of subscribers via radio, television, newspapers and companies from its main headquarters in Paris and regional centers in Washington, Hong Kong, Nicosia and Montevideo. All share the same goal: to guarantee top quality international service tailored to the specific needs of clients in each region.
# posted by ATN @ 4:18 PM
Former HLN Anchor Joins Top Atlanta Station
Former CNN Headline News anchor Collins Spencer has joined the top station in Atlanta as the morning and noon news anchor. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports Spencer joins Pam Martin and Karen Minton to co-anchor WSB Channel 2 Action News “This Morning” from 5 a.m. to 7 a.m. He will also co-anchor Channel 2’s one hour noon newscast.“I am looking forward to working with Pam and Karen and the rest of the Channel 2 Action News team,” said Spencer. “Atlanta is a terrific news town with a rich history on so many levels and a bright and exciting future.”
Spencer’s last two jobs have been at the cable network level. Most recently, he spent two years at the anchor desk of CNN Headline News and for CNN/US based. Prior to CNN, Spencer worked as a news correspondent for Fox News in its Washington bureau.
# posted by ATN @ 4:10 PM
Tuesday, October 25, 2005
Klein Defends CNN's Coverage of Hurricanes
In an article in the St Petersburg Times by Eric Deggans, CNN President Jon Klein defends the way CNN covers hurricanes. Here's what Klein had to say: "Our correspondents did an exemplary job of making clear repeatedly that no one at home should be out in that weather," said Klein. "Katrina showed very clearly how essential it is that the media shine a spotlight on preparations, and their aftermath. Yes, that does entail some risk. But it's a risk that unfortunately has to be taken."
Read the full article HERE.
Read the full article HERE.
# posted by ATN @ 10:52 PM
Delayed Post: Reporting the Death of Rosa Parks
CNN was first to report the death of Rosa Parks on Monday night. CNN broke in during NewsNight to report the news and run a pre-produced obit package by Gary Tuchman at 10:16pm ET, while Greta over at FNC was busy talking about Nancy Holloway(remember that news?) Anyway, FNC issued a Fox News Alert at 10:22pm ET with Greta quickly doing a 15 second news bit then it was back to CSI-FNC. And bringing up the rear in reporting the news was MSNBC.
# posted by ATN @ 10:04 PM
Say Goodbye to Daybreak
Source: Multichannel News Cable News Network is pulling the plug on its dawn morning show, Daybreak, to make way for an expanded American Morning, officials said Tuesday.
The all-news network will expand American Morning by one extra hour -- to four hours daily, from 6 a.m.-10 a.m. versus its current 7 a.m.-10 a.m. time slot -- CNN/U.S. president Jon Klein said in a memo to his staff Tuesday.
Early morning show Daybreak, which airs from 5 a.m.-7 a.m., is being canceled. The changes will take effect Nov. 28, according to Klein.
Daybreak’s staff will be reassigned to American Morning or other CNN shows, Klein said.
For example, Daybreak anchor Carol Costello will continue her work as a news reader and reporter for American Morning, alongside anchors Soledad O’Brien and Miles O’Brien,
“The move is an indication of the immense potential we recognize in American Morning,” Klein wrote in his memo. “The outstanding work during and after Katrina by Soledad, Miles, Carol and Kim Bondy’s entire production team has given the program momentum that we will build on.”
The all-news network will expand American Morning by one extra hour -- to four hours daily, from 6 a.m.-10 a.m. versus its current 7 a.m.-10 a.m. time slot -- CNN/U.S. president Jon Klein said in a memo to his staff Tuesday.
Early morning show Daybreak, which airs from 5 a.m.-7 a.m., is being canceled. The changes will take effect Nov. 28, according to Klein.
Daybreak’s staff will be reassigned to American Morning or other CNN shows, Klein said.
For example, Daybreak anchor Carol Costello will continue her work as a news reader and reporter for American Morning, alongside anchors Soledad O’Brien and Miles O’Brien,
“The move is an indication of the immense potential we recognize in American Morning,” Klein wrote in his memo. “The outstanding work during and after Katrina by Soledad, Miles, Carol and Kim Bondy’s entire production team has given the program momentum that we will build on.”
# posted by ATN @ 4:14 PM
O'brien Nearly Has Wardrobe Malfunction
American Morning anchor Soledad O'brien nearly had a wardrobe malfunction as she was being honored at the Hispanic Heritage Awards ceremony Monday night in DC. This from the DC Post:
"O'Brien's dress, a lettuce-green Carmen Marc Volvo, got stepped on about a half-dozen times, and she nearly tripped, before she made it onto the stage. "I'm a wardrobe malfunction waiting to happen," she said, laughing, "but not intentionally."
"O'Brien's dress, a lettuce-green Carmen Marc Volvo, got stepped on about a half-dozen times, and she nearly tripped, before she made it onto the stage. "I'm a wardrobe malfunction waiting to happen," she said, laughing, "but not intentionally."
# posted by ATN @ 8:31 AM
Monday, October 24, 2005
CNN Delivers Great Wilma Coverage
First off I will say I have been at work all day with no access to CNN or a TV all day BUT I have read all over the internet where some of CNN's toughest critics gives CNN's Hurricane Wilma coverage rave reviews. ALSO I have received several e-mails describing CNN's coverage and this one really summed it up best I think:
"While Fox threatened CNN's dominance with their coverage of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, CNN struck back and has been by far the best channel for Hurricane coverage during Wilma. Overnight, MSNBC was MIA and Fox demonstrated their lack of talent and resources to adequately cover the storm. CNN had superb correspondents and meteorologists in the field and an excellent meteorologist in the studio guiding the coverage. The morning coverage seemed to be even better than overnight. Props to CNN for a job very well done!"
"While Fox threatened CNN's dominance with their coverage of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, CNN struck back and has been by far the best channel for Hurricane coverage during Wilma. Overnight, MSNBC was MIA and Fox demonstrated their lack of talent and resources to adequately cover the storm. CNN had superb correspondents and meteorologists in the field and an excellent meteorologist in the studio guiding the coverage. The morning coverage seemed to be even better than overnight. Props to CNN for a job very well done!"
# posted by ATN @ 10:09 PM
AM Anchor Interviewed
Indianapolis Indystar reporter Courtenay Edelhart recently interviewed American Morning anchor Soledad O'brien. Below is a portion of the article:Q: You have a challenging career and four children under the age of 5. How do you balance work and family life?
A: I don't think balance is a good word, because you never really find a balance. You just try to make it through the chaos. Work is interesting and challenging, and sometimes it's really hard. You just sort of make it work because you want to do it. . . .
My job is done at 10:30 in the morning if I want it to be. I pick everyone up from preschool at noon. I get to eat with them and put them in a tub and tuck them in. That's a real luxury. And my husband is very involved and helps a lot. So I don't feel I really have a right to complain. It can be overwhelming, and twins are very hard, but at a certain point you have to have some perspective. Enjoy the good parts and try to make it through the bad parts and know that this stage will end.
Q: You dropped out of Harvard to take a job at WBZ-TV in Boston, but returned to finish your degree while pregnant with your first child. Why?
A: Yes. That was fun, being pregnant and being surrounded by all these Harvard freshmen. No one really cared if I went or not, but it was important to me to finish. I was working weekends, and I'd go up during the week. If you want it badly enough, you'll do it.
Q: You've covered tons of stories that must pull at your heart strings. The tsunami in Thailand, and Hurricane Katrina. How do you maintain professional objectivity reporting on things like that?
A: In a way, while you're reporting it's not so bad. I spoke at a conference the other day and played the tsunami tape and I was bawling. It was embarrassing. It's much harder to look at it afterward as a viewer. But most of the time, when you're in it, you're trying to bring out the best interview possible and you're focused on that. But again, perspective: How can I possibly complain? I'm not a hurricane refugee. I have my home, and my children are healthy, and my family is not spread over four shelters in three states. It makes you grateful.
Read the full article HERE.
# posted by ATN @ 8:30 AM
Sunday, October 23, 2005
CNN.com Gets New Anchor
TV Spy reports,"Melissa Long joins CNN as an anchor for CNN.com. Melissa previously was morning anchor for WROC in Rochester."# posted by ATN @ 8:46 PM
Lou Dobbs Tonight Gets New Producer
TV Spy reports,"Michael Kane joins CNN as Senior Producer of "Lou Dobbs Tonight." Michael previously worked at Fox News Channel and CBS."
# posted by ATN @ 8:38 PM
