Friday, February 17, 2006
TW's Turner South May be Sold to Fox
Looks as though Rupert Murdoch just might be in the process of buying the Atlanta Braves and Turner South. The AJC has the news. Check out how the article ends:"If Fox buys Turner South, there is little chance that the Turner moniker will survive. Namesake Ted Turner has, in the past, famously feuded with Rupert Murdoch, chairman and chief executive officer of Fox's parent company, News Corp. That Murdoch would keep the Turner name seems unlikely."
# posted by ATN @ 9:58 PM 
ITN Reporter Moves to CNN
Source: Sky Digi Online ITN reporter Dan Rivers has been appointed CNN's Bangkok Correspondent.Based in Thailand he will report from the region for all of the news organisation's services including CNN International and CNN/US.
# posted by ATN @ 5:57 PM
Amanpour Decries the Absence of Foreign News and Serious Journalism on American TV
Source: Whittier Daily News CNN's chief international correspondent this week decried the lack of foreign news and the erosion of serious journalism on American television.Christiane Amanpour said the scarcity of foreign news couldn't come at a worse time.
"It doesn't prepare American citizens," she said. "They're not getting the vital information they need to make important decisions."
Amanpour spoke Wednesday at the Distinguished Speaker Series at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium.
Since the fall of the Soviet Union and the first Gulf War, she has reported for CNN from most of the world's trouble spots, including Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, Darfur, Pakistan, the Balkans, Rwanda, Israel and Somalia.
The award-winning journalist said she's appealed to television industry leaders to support their news departments.
"We should not be held to the same standards as a commercial product," she said. "News is a public service, not a commercial enterprise.
"Many news outlets are owned by corporations whose chief loyalty is to shareholders. But our job is to report on the world, not enrich shareholders. We live in a society, not just a marketplace."
Amanpour, 47, said real journalists pursue truth.
"You're either for that or you're in the propaganda business," she said. "Our objective is the truth, as close to it as we can get. We don't want to be assailed by ideology, partisan politics or the monopoly of one party. We certainly don't like being accused of being unpatriotic for reporting the truth."
# posted by ATN @ 5:52 PM
Thursday, February 16, 2006
CNN Originates Mardi Gras Newscasts, Online Coverage Six Months After Katrina
Source: Press Room With New Orleans and the Gulf Coast celebrating Mardi Gras for the first time since Hurricane Katrina, CNN will provide extended live coverage on its broadcast networks and online services as a community honors a 150-year tradition in the face of overwhelming tragedy and destruction.
Continuing the network’s commitment since the aftermath of Katrina, CNN will air investigative and in-depth reports on the rebuilding and recovery effort throughout the Gulf Coast with ongoing segments such as Anderson Cooper 360°’s “Keeping Them Honest.” In addition, CNN will offer its global audiences and users a rare look at Mardi Gras parade celebrations with live reports from floats during the biggest and most famous parades as they make their way down historic St. Charles Avenue.
“This year’s Mardi Gras has taken on new meaning as the people who were most affected by Katrina demonstrate their resilience and celebrate rituals that are steeped in the culture of New Orleans and Gulf Coast communities,” said Jon Klein, president of CNN/U.S. “We have been busy unearthing stories of government ineptitude on a scale every bit as grand as Mardi Gras itself.”
CNN’s Anderson Cooper will anchor his newscast live from New Orleans beginning Monday, Feb. 27, at 10 p.m. On CNN.com, users will also find the “360° Blog,” featuring postings from Cooper, contributors and producers from areas such as New Orleans and Waveland, Miss.
For American Morning, Soledad O’Brien will anchor from the New Orleans Convention Center, a site of destruction and despair for thousands in the days following Katrina and a site for many Mardi Gras balls this month, while Miles O’Brien will anchor from Slidell, La. on Monday, Feb. 27, beginning at 6 a.m. In addition, CNN.com will offer an American Morning video blog with perspectives from its hosts and show correspondents who have been deployed to the region. Live From anchor Kyra Phillips will anchor her program from New Orleans.
CNN.com will offer a breadth of coverage surrounding Mardi Gras, including photo galleries and video highlights of CNN's daily coverage from the region. CNN.com has also produced a special report available at www.CNN.com/SPECIALS/2005/katrina/ on how the Gulf Coast region is recovering six months since Katrina made landfall. This special report features stories, photo galleries and graphs to illustrate the progress of New Orleans' vital signs such as population, transportation, health services, schools and housing.
The network's premium online video news service, CNN Pipeline, will air live reports from CNN correspondents in the region throughout Mardi Gras. In addition, CNN Pipeline will stream a live feed from one of New Orleans' most famous streets -- Bourbon Street in the French Quarter -- to give users a bird's eye view of the festivities.
Continuing the network’s commitment since the aftermath of Katrina, CNN will air investigative and in-depth reports on the rebuilding and recovery effort throughout the Gulf Coast with ongoing segments such as Anderson Cooper 360°’s “Keeping Them Honest.” In addition, CNN will offer its global audiences and users a rare look at Mardi Gras parade celebrations with live reports from floats during the biggest and most famous parades as they make their way down historic St. Charles Avenue.
“This year’s Mardi Gras has taken on new meaning as the people who were most affected by Katrina demonstrate their resilience and celebrate rituals that are steeped in the culture of New Orleans and Gulf Coast communities,” said Jon Klein, president of CNN/U.S. “We have been busy unearthing stories of government ineptitude on a scale every bit as grand as Mardi Gras itself.”
CNN’s Anderson Cooper will anchor his newscast live from New Orleans beginning Monday, Feb. 27, at 10 p.m. On CNN.com, users will also find the “360° Blog,” featuring postings from Cooper, contributors and producers from areas such as New Orleans and Waveland, Miss.
For American Morning, Soledad O’Brien will anchor from the New Orleans Convention Center, a site of destruction and despair for thousands in the days following Katrina and a site for many Mardi Gras balls this month, while Miles O’Brien will anchor from Slidell, La. on Monday, Feb. 27, beginning at 6 a.m. In addition, CNN.com will offer an American Morning video blog with perspectives from its hosts and show correspondents who have been deployed to the region. Live From anchor Kyra Phillips will anchor her program from New Orleans.
CNN.com will offer a breadth of coverage surrounding Mardi Gras, including photo galleries and video highlights of CNN's daily coverage from the region. CNN.com has also produced a special report available at www.CNN.com/SPECIALS/2005/katrina/ on how the Gulf Coast region is recovering six months since Katrina made landfall. This special report features stories, photo galleries and graphs to illustrate the progress of New Orleans' vital signs such as population, transportation, health services, schools and housing.
The network's premium online video news service, CNN Pipeline, will air live reports from CNN correspondents in the region throughout Mardi Gras. In addition, CNN Pipeline will stream a live feed from one of New Orleans' most famous streets -- Bourbon Street in the French Quarter -- to give users a bird's eye view of the festivities.
# posted by ATN @ 10:03 PM
Bruce Morton Retires
Today was CNN National Correspondent Bruce Morton’s final day at the network. Below is the transcript of Morton’s final package and CNN anchor Wolf Blitzer’s farewell to the veteran journalist. From CNN’s “The Situation Room”:
WOLF BLITZER: Bruce, thanks very much. And I'm very, very sad to say that was Bruce Morton's last report for us here in THE SITUATION ROOM. He's retiring from CNN after 13 years at this network and almost 30 years at CBS News before that.
Bruce is a modest man. He certainly did not want us to make a fuss at all. But we couldn't let this moment pass by without celebrating this truly talented journalist and his remarkable career. One of our colleagues likes to say that if there were a journalist hall of fame, Bruce Morton certainly would be in it.
Beyond his years of solid, hard news reporting, Bruce brings something very special to television journalism, a truly unique voice, smart and wry, with a perspective you could only get by covering politics for five decades. When we need a certain kind of piece we immediately know is Bruce material, Morton-esque, as many of us like to say right here.
That voice will be missed at CNN, here in THE SITUATION ROOM. It will be missed throughout the country. Bruce, we wish you well as you head into a new chapter of your life. But we hope though you're moving on, you'll come visit from time to time here in THE SITUATION ROOM. Bruce, good luck to you.
MORTON: Thank you, Wolf. Love to see you.
BLITZER: We will see you often
# posted by ATN @ 9:54 PM
Tuesday, February 14, 2006
CNN Names Anne Woodward Vice President, Technical Operations
Source: CNN Press Release Anne Woodward has been appointed vice president of technical operations at CNN Worldwide, it has been announced by Cindy Patrick, executive vice president of News Division Operations. In this newly created position, Woodward will assume responsibility for all technical operations in Atlanta including the domestic and international divisions of CNN Worldwide.
“Anne’s embracement of new technologies in our rapidly changing industry makes her an integral leader for our CNN operations team,” Patrick said. “She has been instrumental in the redesigns of our control rooms at CNN International and at CNN Pipeline, which features the network’s first completely high definition control room. She also played a significant role in the re-branding efforts at CNNI.”
In addition to her new responsibilities, Woodward will continue to manage the technical operations at the network’s overseas production centers in London and Hong Kong.
Woodward joined CNN in 1991 as a video journalist, the network’s entry level position. She has held various control room positions within the technical operations department during that time and was promoted to the CNNI operations management team in 1997. Prior to this appointment, Woodward was senior director of technical operations for CNNI. Woodward joins the executive operations leadership team that includes Patrick and John Courtney, vice president of media group for CNN Worldwide.
“Anne’s embracement of new technologies in our rapidly changing industry makes her an integral leader for our CNN operations team,” Patrick said. “She has been instrumental in the redesigns of our control rooms at CNN International and at CNN Pipeline, which features the network’s first completely high definition control room. She also played a significant role in the re-branding efforts at CNNI.”
In addition to her new responsibilities, Woodward will continue to manage the technical operations at the network’s overseas production centers in London and Hong Kong.
Woodward joined CNN in 1991 as a video journalist, the network’s entry level position. She has held various control room positions within the technical operations department during that time and was promoted to the CNNI operations management team in 1997. Prior to this appointment, Woodward was senior director of technical operations for CNNI. Woodward joins the executive operations leadership team that includes Patrick and John Courtney, vice president of media group for CNN Worldwide.
# posted by ATN @ 4:56 PM
Pipeline Offering Valentine's Day Greetings From US Troops In Iraq to Family Members
CNN Pipeline is featuring Valentine's Day greetings from U.S. troops stationed in Iraq to their loved ones back home. The footage is courtesy of the Department of Defense.
"In addition to the short 1 to 2 minutes segments CNN Pipeline is running throughout the day within our live programming in Pipe 1, we also have a long version (50 minutes) of many of the soldiers strung together for play in the "alternate" pipes throughout the day. "
# posted by ATN @ 4:52 PM
Monday, February 13, 2006
CNN, Miami Herald Sue Florida Over Boot Camp Video
Source: Miami Herald The Miami Herald and CNN sued Florida's statewide police agency today for refusing to release the video of Panama City bootcamp guards allegedly beating a 14-year-old boy who later died.
The plaintiffs seek the immediate release of the 20-to-30-minute video, plus attorneys fees, in their public-records lawsuit filed in Leon County court against the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.
The FDLE has not explained why it hasn't released the video of Martin Lee Anderson's last recorded moments on Jan. 6 at the Bay County Boot Camp.
Two Miami Beach legislators who saw the video last week described it as brutal and distressing, especially when one of the seven guards under investigation in the incident appears to choke Martin. He was in the bootcamp after violating a probation sentence he received for taking his grandmother's car on a joyride. MORE
The plaintiffs seek the immediate release of the 20-to-30-minute video, plus attorneys fees, in their public-records lawsuit filed in Leon County court against the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.
The FDLE has not explained why it hasn't released the video of Martin Lee Anderson's last recorded moments on Jan. 6 at the Bay County Boot Camp.
Two Miami Beach legislators who saw the video last week described it as brutal and distressing, especially when one of the seven guards under investigation in the incident appears to choke Martin. He was in the bootcamp after violating a probation sentence he received for taking his grandmother's car on a joyride. MORE
# posted by ATN @ 11:28 PM
CNN Reporter Returns to the Devastation of Her Hometown
Source: CNN PR Six months after Hurricane Katrina hit the U.S. Gulf Coast, CNN correspondent Kathleen Koch returns to the town where she grew up, Bay Saint Louis, Miss., and finds a stalled recovery. Families are still waiting for trailers, insurance companies are denying claims and frustration is growing. Koch looks at the challenges and progress of the town of 8,000, through the compelling and inspiring stories of a town doctor, the mayor, a school teacher and other residents.In an in-depth and personal examination of post-Katrina recovery efforts, Koch anchors and narrates CNN Presents: “Saving My Town – The Fight for Bay Saint Louis.” The documentary, produced by Brian Rokus with field producing by Emily Probst and Ted Rubenstein, premieres on Saturday, Feb. 18, at 8 p.m. and 11 p.m. and re-airs on Sunday, Feb. 19, at 8 p.m. and 11 p.m. All times Eastern.
# posted by ATN @ 11:24 PM
CNN Goes Interactive
Source: TV Week CNN is slated to launch today its first major one-screen interactive TV application that runs along with its regular CNN linear cable channel to 11 million EchoStar customers outfitted with ITV-capable set-top boxes.
That's a big distribution boost for one-screen ITV, the emerging direction in which interactive enhancements to TV programming are headed.
One-screen ITV, in which viewers can interact with TV content using the remote control rather than a computer, can help keep a viewer tuned to a linear network. The growth has been limited to date since few service providers have installed the advanced set-top boxes necessary for ITV, but that's starting to change. EchoStar, for one, has deployed OpenTV's middleware widely, making any ITV enhancements available to more than 90 percent of EchoStar's 12 million customers.
CNN Enhanced TV, the ITV application, is a combination of CNN's linear network with content and stories from CNN.com, modified for TV. Viewers can access the new service from the Dish Home channel on EchoStar's service, the satellite provider's home page for ITV applications. Once there, users click a button for CNN Enhanced TV, which takes them to a melded channel with CNN's linear feed scaled down to 25 percent of the screen and content from CNN.com occupying the remaining L-shaped portion of the screen.
Viewers can then choose stories from six categories, with five stories in each category, said Kevin Cohen, senior VP of strategic planning for Turner Broadcasting Systems. The stories are refreshed in regular time as CNN.com is updated. Viewers can call up additional information on the story they are watching or look up stories on other topics while still staying tuned to the linear channel. MORE
Below are screen grabs of how it works:
That's a big distribution boost for one-screen ITV, the emerging direction in which interactive enhancements to TV programming are headed.
One-screen ITV, in which viewers can interact with TV content using the remote control rather than a computer, can help keep a viewer tuned to a linear network. The growth has been limited to date since few service providers have installed the advanced set-top boxes necessary for ITV, but that's starting to change. EchoStar, for one, has deployed OpenTV's middleware widely, making any ITV enhancements available to more than 90 percent of EchoStar's 12 million customers.
CNN Enhanced TV, the ITV application, is a combination of CNN's linear network with content and stories from CNN.com, modified for TV. Viewers can access the new service from the Dish Home channel on EchoStar's service, the satellite provider's home page for ITV applications. Once there, users click a button for CNN Enhanced TV, which takes them to a melded channel with CNN's linear feed scaled down to 25 percent of the screen and content from CNN.com occupying the remaining L-shaped portion of the screen.
Viewers can then choose stories from six categories, with five stories in each category, said Kevin Cohen, senior VP of strategic planning for Turner Broadcasting Systems. The stories are refreshed in regular time as CNN.com is updated. Viewers can call up additional information on the story they are watching or look up stories on other topics while still staying tuned to the linear channel. MORE
Below are screen grabs of how it works:
# posted by ATN @ 10:48 PM
