Friday, January 12, 2007
CNN Examines ‘The Dream’ for Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday
Source: CNN Press Release In honor of the 78th birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., on Monday, Jan. 15, CNN plans comprehensive programming on its multiple platforms.
On Sunday, Jan. 14, within the 9 a.m. hour, CNN anchor T.J. Holmes will interview former U.N. Ambassador Andrew Young about his personal reflections from the frontlines of the civil rights movement with King.
On the actual holiday, CNN’s American Morning will report from The King Center in Atlanta , as the first holiday observations are held following the passing of King’s widow, Coretta Scott King, on Jan. 30, 2006. In addition, American Morning will air some of anchor Soledad O’Brien’s interviews with King’s confidantes, who comment on what was happening “behind the scenes” during key moments of the movement.
CNN Pipeline continues to carry segments from the moving American Morning series about King’s working papers that originally aired from Jan. 8 to Jan. 12 and featured O’Brien’s interviews. In addition, CNN.com has created a special section, “MLK: Words that Changed a Nation,” at www.CNN.com/mlk. The online report illustrates King’s role in the Montgomery Bus Boycott; the formation of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference; the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom; his receipt of the 1964 Nobel Peace Prize; the 1965 march in Selma , Ala. , for voting rights; and his assassination in 1968.
On Sunday, Jan. 14, within the 9 a.m. hour, CNN anchor T.J. Holmes will interview former U.N. Ambassador Andrew Young about his personal reflections from the frontlines of the civil rights movement with King.
On the actual holiday, CNN’s American Morning will report from The King Center in Atlanta , as the first holiday observations are held following the passing of King’s widow, Coretta Scott King, on Jan. 30, 2006. In addition, American Morning will air some of anchor Soledad O’Brien’s interviews with King’s confidantes, who comment on what was happening “behind the scenes” during key moments of the movement.
CNN Pipeline continues to carry segments from the moving American Morning series about King’s working papers that originally aired from Jan. 8 to Jan. 12 and featured O’Brien’s interviews. In addition, CNN.com has created a special section, “MLK: Words that Changed a Nation,” at www.CNN.com/mlk. The online report illustrates King’s role in the Montgomery Bus Boycott; the formation of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference; the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom; his receipt of the 1964 Nobel Peace Prize; the 1965 march in Selma , Ala. , for voting rights; and his assassination in 1968.
# posted by ATN @ 11:12 PM 
CNN to Co-sponsor First Debates
Just announced on The Situation Room, CNN will co-sponsoring the first Republican and Democratic Presidential debates in the nation in New Hampshire on April 4 and 5.
Update: 5:30pm More info is now available about the debates from Friday afternoon's edition of the CNN Political Ticker:
"New Hampshire's two leading news organizations will partner with CNN to host two presidential debates in April, executives with the three media companies announced Friday.
CNN, WMUR and The New Hampshire Union Leader will hold the back-to-back debates on April 4 and 5, the first such events to be held of the 2008 presidential campaign. CNN's Wolf Blitzer will moderate the debates with questions coming from WMUR's Scott Spradling and Union Leader's John DiStaso. WMUR's Jennifer Vaughn will be moderating questions from the audience. The debate will be televised live nationally on CNN and throughout New Hampshire on WMUR.
"We are thrilled to provide our viewers with the information to make the most informed decision possible when they are voting in their presidential primaries or caucusing," said CNN/U.S. president Jon Klein.
New Hampshire, a crucial proving ground for 2008 candidates, will be the first state to cast votes in the Republican and Democratic presidential primaries. Republican and Democratic candidates have been visiting the Granite State since the conclusion of the 2004 presidential election in an effort to woo these influential voters in 2008.
"We think it only makes sense that the state with the first-in-the-nation primary also has the first-in-the-nation presidential debate," said Jeff Bartlett, WMUR general manager. "Many candidates and potential candidates have already made numerous trips to New Hampshire, and we felt that April would be a good time for the voters here to get their first impression about how the candidates stack up against one another."
Joseph W. McQuaid, president and publisher of the Union Leader, said, "The issues facing the next administration are as crucial as they have ever been for this country. It is not too early for the first primary state to present a forum to explore the views and the competence of serious candidates.""
Update: 5:30pm More info is now available about the debates from Friday afternoon's edition of the CNN Political Ticker:
"New Hampshire's two leading news organizations will partner with CNN to host two presidential debates in April, executives with the three media companies announced Friday.
CNN, WMUR and The New Hampshire Union Leader will hold the back-to-back debates on April 4 and 5, the first such events to be held of the 2008 presidential campaign. CNN's Wolf Blitzer will moderate the debates with questions coming from WMUR's Scott Spradling and Union Leader's John DiStaso. WMUR's Jennifer Vaughn will be moderating questions from the audience. The debate will be televised live nationally on CNN and throughout New Hampshire on WMUR.
"We are thrilled to provide our viewers with the information to make the most informed decision possible when they are voting in their presidential primaries or caucusing," said CNN/U.S. president Jon Klein.
New Hampshire, a crucial proving ground for 2008 candidates, will be the first state to cast votes in the Republican and Democratic presidential primaries. Republican and Democratic candidates have been visiting the Granite State since the conclusion of the 2004 presidential election in an effort to woo these influential voters in 2008.
"We think it only makes sense that the state with the first-in-the-nation primary also has the first-in-the-nation presidential debate," said Jeff Bartlett, WMUR general manager. "Many candidates and potential candidates have already made numerous trips to New Hampshire, and we felt that April would be a good time for the voters here to get their first impression about how the candidates stack up against one another."
Joseph W. McQuaid, president and publisher of the Union Leader, said, "The issues facing the next administration are as crucial as they have ever been for this country. It is not too early for the first primary state to present a forum to explore the views and the competence of serious candidates.""
# posted by ATN @ 4:03 PM
CNN’s David Mattingly Joins Anderson Cooper 360° as Contributor
Source: CNN Press Room David Mattingly, a national correspondent for CNN, will join Anderson Cooper 360° as a regular contributor, it was announced today by David Doss, the program’s senior executive producer. A correspondent with CNN since 1992, Mattingly will remain based in the network’s Atlanta headquarters.“We see David as an invaluable asset to the 360 team. He’s an outstanding storyteller and a fantastic journalist,” Doss said. “We look forward to seeing his contributions on AC360 on a more regularly basis in the near future.”
Mattingly has covered events across the United States and the world through some of the nation’s most trying moments, including the wrath of Hurricane Katrina in 2005, first from the beaches of south Florida and then from the streets of New Orleans’ French Quarter.
He also contributed to the network’s award-winning coverage of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks after he left a vacation near Shanksville, Penn., to become one of the first reporters to cover the crash of United Airlines Flight 93 from the scene. In February 2003, Mattingly was part of the team of CNN correspondents and anchors that covered the breaking news story of the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster. Mattingly also reported and narrated No Survivors – Why TWA 800 Could Happen Again for CNN Presents.
Before joining CNN, Mattingly was a news anchor, reporter and documentary producer at WVTM in Birmingham, Ala. He earned his bachelor of arts in journalism from the University of Alabama.
# posted by ATN @ 3:18 PM
CNN Announces New Polling Partner Opinion Research Corporation
Source: CNN Press Room CNN political director Sam Feist announced today that Opinion Research Corporation will become CNN’s new polling partner as the network moves toward the 2008 elections. Beginning in 2007, polls released by the network will be identified as CNN/Opinion Research Corporation surveys.
“Opinion Research Corporation’s reputation for independent, objective analysis and its excellent reputation in the industry make the firm the ideal polling partner for CNN,” Feist said. “As the network gears up to offer the most in-depth and expansive coverage of the 2008 election, Opinion Research Corporation will be a key part of giving viewers the accurate and relevant information they demand.”
Opinion Research Corporation, founded in 1938, is widely known and respected for its independent, non-partisan polls. The polling firm has worked with CNN since April 2006 and in that time has conducted national polls, speech reaction polls, state polls and flash/overnight polls. The first CNN/Opinion Research Corporation Poll is being released today and focuses on President George W. Bush’s plan for Iraq and Democrats in Congress.
“Opinion Research Corporation’s reputation for independent, objective analysis and its excellent reputation in the industry make the firm the ideal polling partner for CNN,” Feist said. “As the network gears up to offer the most in-depth and expansive coverage of the 2008 election, Opinion Research Corporation will be a key part of giving viewers the accurate and relevant information they demand.”
Opinion Research Corporation, founded in 1938, is widely known and respected for its independent, non-partisan polls. The polling firm has worked with CNN since April 2006 and in that time has conducted national polls, speech reaction polls, state polls and flash/overnight polls. The first CNN/Opinion Research Corporation Poll is being released today and focuses on President George W. Bush’s plan for Iraq and Democrats in Congress.
# posted by ATN @ 3:16 PM
CNN's Walton: CNN/I Won't Be Coming to US Cable Anytime Soon
TV Barn conducted an interview with CNN Chief Jim Walton Tuesday. The main topic is the possibility of bringing CNN/International to US residents. In the interview Walton says CNN has not really pushed CNN/I on the cable outlets is because CNN feels the people that want it are getting it through several satellite providers and CNN PipeLine. Download the interview HERE.
# posted by ATN @ 1:48 AM
Thursday, January 11, 2007
CNN/I Head to Retire
Source: AJC Chris Cramer, who joined CNN 11 years ago after leaving a high-level post at the BBC, plans to retire from his job in charge of CNN International.Cramer, 59, led CNN International through many high-growth years. He leaves as all units of the operation are profitable.
Chris Cramer has spent 11 years running CNN International after arriving from a high-level post at Britain's BBC.
"When I came here in 1996, the job I was asked to do was to take CNN International to the next level," Cramer said in an interview Wednesday, after he announced his plans. "My job is done here."
While CNN International is little known to many Americans, it reaches 200 million homes around the world. Operations include CNN en Espanol, CNNj in Japan and, of course, CNN International itself.
Cramer said the global market for 24-hour news has changed much since he joined CNN. There is more competition than ever, and user-generated content is fast becoming a big factor in how news is gathered. MORE
# posted by ATN @ 1:13 PM
Tuesday, January 09, 2007
King To Stay With CNN
Source: Broadcasting and Cable Larry King on Tuesday reaffirmed his desire to continue on CNN after his current deal expires in 2009.
“If they want me I will stay,” King told reporters at the Television Critics Association press tour in Pasadena, Calif.
CNN chief Jim Walton said Larry “can sit in his chair as long as he continues to perform.”
“There is no doubt we will work together for many years to come,” he said.
“If they want me I will stay,” King told reporters at the Television Critics Association press tour in Pasadena, Calif.
CNN chief Jim Walton said Larry “can sit in his chair as long as he continues to perform.”
“There is no doubt we will work together for many years to come,” he said.
# posted by ATN @ 9:49 PM
CNN to Treat LK Like a King for Golden Anniversary
Source: MultiChannel News CNN will mark talk-show host Larry King's 50 years in television in April with a week of specials ranging from a roast to an interview of King during his program, with CBS anchor Katie Couric as his interrogator.Bill Maher will host the roast, to be telecast during King-Sized Week starting April 16 at 9 p.m. each day. Executives said the network is negotiating with Angelina Jolie to participate in one of the evenings of the event.
King, talking with television critics meeting here for the next two weeks, noted that his contract is up in 2009, at which point he will have been at CNN for 24 years. Past that, "If they want me, I'll stay," he said, quoting a Milton Berle line, "Retire? To what?"
King reminisced about his career and opined on the state of the business. He said he disagreed with the business trend to target viewers younger than 55 years old, quipping that, as a 73-year-old man, technically, his show is unappealing to himself. If a guy is 65, has a steady job, owns a Cadillac and is looking to replace it with a Lexus or a Lincoln, "Why don't we want him?" he asked rhetorically.
# posted by ATN @ 9:31 PM
CNN to Provide Complete Coverage of Bush Address Wednesday
Source: CNN Press Release CNN will broadcast live President George W. Bush’s prime-time address on Wednesday, Jan. 10, unveiling his new Iraq War strategy, along with special editions of The Situation Room, Larry King Live and Anderson Cooper 360°.
Wolf Blitzer and Paula Zahn will co-anchor a special edition of The Situation Room at 7 p.m. leading up to Bush’s address at 9 p.m. Andrew Card, Bush’s former White House chief of staff, provides a preview of the speech. Following the president’s remarks, Larry King hosts a special edition of Larry King Live with commentary and analysis from U.S. Sens. John McCain (R-Ariz.), Barack Obama (D-Ill.) and John Warner (R-Va.), presidential candidate John Edwards and author and journalist Bob Woodward.
Anderson Cooper will then lead a special edition of Anderson Cooper 360° from 10 p.m. to midnight. Guests will include TIME magazine’s Joe Klein and David Gergen, a former presidential adviser now with Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government.
CNN’s special coverage will feature observations and analysis from top guests and the network’s correspondents and contributors who were instrumental in CNN’s leading Election Night coverage on Nov. 7, 2006. Providing commentary will be congressional correspondent Dana Bash, senior political correspondent Candy Crowley, chief national correspondent John King, White House correspondent Suzanne Malveaux, senior national correspondent John Roberts, senior political analyst Bill Schneider and many CNN contributors, including Paul Begala and Bay Buchanan.
CNN Pipeline, CNN.com’s premium live news video service, will offer live coverage anchored by Melissa Long through 10 p.m. On-demand video of the speech as well as reaction and analysis will be available on CNN Pipeline and through CNN.com’s Free Video.
CNN International will simulcast domestic coverage to viewers around the globe from 8 p.m. to midnight.
CNN Radio’s Lisa Goddard will anchor live coverage of the address beginning at 9 p.m. CNN Radio will provide one-minute special reports at 9:30 p.m., 10:30 p.m. and 11:30 p.m., which replace the network’s regular bottom-of-the-hour news reports. Both Goddard and Washington correspondent Dick Uliano will be available for live reports.
In addition to CNN’s live coverage, the most updated news on the ceremony and Congress can be found on CNN.com and at CNN’s Political Ticker: http://www.cnn.com/POLITICS/blogs/politicalticker/index.html
Wolf Blitzer and Paula Zahn will co-anchor a special edition of The Situation Room at 7 p.m. leading up to Bush’s address at 9 p.m. Andrew Card, Bush’s former White House chief of staff, provides a preview of the speech. Following the president’s remarks, Larry King hosts a special edition of Larry King Live with commentary and analysis from U.S. Sens. John McCain (R-Ariz.), Barack Obama (D-Ill.) and John Warner (R-Va.), presidential candidate John Edwards and author and journalist Bob Woodward.
Anderson Cooper will then lead a special edition of Anderson Cooper 360° from 10 p.m. to midnight. Guests will include TIME magazine’s Joe Klein and David Gergen, a former presidential adviser now with Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government.
CNN’s special coverage will feature observations and analysis from top guests and the network’s correspondents and contributors who were instrumental in CNN’s leading Election Night coverage on Nov. 7, 2006. Providing commentary will be congressional correspondent Dana Bash, senior political correspondent Candy Crowley, chief national correspondent John King, White House correspondent Suzanne Malveaux, senior national correspondent John Roberts, senior political analyst Bill Schneider and many CNN contributors, including Paul Begala and Bay Buchanan.
CNN Pipeline, CNN.com’s premium live news video service, will offer live coverage anchored by Melissa Long through 10 p.m. On-demand video of the speech as well as reaction and analysis will be available on CNN Pipeline and through CNN.com’s Free Video.
CNN International will simulcast domestic coverage to viewers around the globe from 8 p.m. to midnight.
CNN Radio’s Lisa Goddard will anchor live coverage of the address beginning at 9 p.m. CNN Radio will provide one-minute special reports at 9:30 p.m., 10:30 p.m. and 11:30 p.m., which replace the network’s regular bottom-of-the-hour news reports. Both Goddard and Washington correspondent Dick Uliano will be available for live reports.
In addition to CNN’s live coverage, the most updated news on the ceremony and Congress can be found on CNN.com and at CNN’s Political Ticker: http://www.cnn.com/POLITICS/blogs/politicalticker/index.html
# posted by ATN @ 8:58 PM
Glenn Beck Offers Quarterly Specials for New Year
Source: CNN Press Release Headline News’ Glenn Beck, the nightly topical talk show featuring radio personality Glenn Beck, will produce a series of quarterly specials in 2007, titled “Exposed,” addressing some of the most hotly debated issues of the day, it was announced today by Ken Jautz, executive vice president of CNN Worldwide, to the Television Critics Association.“When Glenn’s first special, which was on the Mideast , set a new ratings record for Headline News, we knew we were onto something,” Jautz said. “Glenn’s unique style works well for his everyday show format, but giving him a full hour on just one topic really gives him the chance to delve deeper, in a way that clearly resonates with his viewers. We look forward to hearing what Glenn has to say on these timely and provocative issues.”
“We often don’t have time to fully explore the nuances of the issues that most Americans want to hear more about,” Beck said. “I’m looking forward to having that opportunity with these specials. As we peel back the layers on these topics, we will likely be sparking a lot of dinner-table debates, which is exactly what we set out to do with our show every night.”
The first Glenn Beck special will premiere in late February or early March. Among the topics the program will examine for the specials over the coming year include:
· Myths of Global Warming. As scientists reach consensus about warming temperatures, Beck takes a provocative look at the causes and effects of global warming, particularly whether people or natural climate cycles are to blame. As he seeks answers to whether global warming can actually be stopped, Beck also asks if such efforts undermine America ’s financial and military prominence.
· End of Days. Many Americans believe that an apocalypse foretold in Revelations is impending, preceded by the destruction of Israel and great floods. Beck takes an hour to examine whether current events really points to such signs.
· Islam in America . In this one-hour special, Beck attempts to put a face on the practitioners of Islam within the United States , including a Muslim cadet at West Point and an imam in Boston who told followers they should conquer America .
# posted by ATN @ 3:47 PM
CNN Launches New Weekly Investigative Series
Source: CNN Press Release Expanding the network's commitment to investigative reporting, CNN this month launches a new long-form investigative series titled CNN: Special Investigations Unit. The new program, airing Saturdays and Sundays at 8 p.m. (ET), will feature CNN’s top correspondents delivering in-depth hours on pressing issues currently in the news. The programs’ topical subject matter will complement CNN Presents, the acclaimed documentary series that will hone its focus on longer-lead-time, multi-hour “event” programming such as last summer’s blockbuster “In the Footsteps of bin Laden.”
CNN: Special Investigations Unit taps into the network’s worldwide resources and deep bench of top-notch journalists including chief international correspondent Christiane Amanpour, anchors Anderson Cooper and Soledad O’Brien, chief medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta, correspondents John Roberts, John King, Candy Crowley, Drew Griffin and others to offer a strong new brand of enterprise investigative reports.
“Special Investigations Unit pulls together our unparalleled stable of reporters and our unmatched journalistic reach,” said Jon Klein, president of CNN/U.S. “There is no better team in television news to step up and fill the gaping void in in-depth reporting on the truly important stories of the moment.”
The first CNN: Special Investigations Unit documentary will be a one-hour examination of the troubling home-grown Muslim extremism in the United Kingdom . Reported by Amanpour, The War Within examines the cultural conflicts within Britain ’s Muslim communities and the alienation felt by many young Muslims living inside Western societies. The War Within premieres on Saturday, Jan. 20, at 8 p.m. (ET).
The new investigative series is produced by CNN Productions, the same unit that will continue to produce CNN Presents – the most honored documentary series in cable news. Four major CNN Presents documentaries are in the works for the coming year. Mark Nelson is the head of CNN Productions. A veteran producer, Nelson joined the unit six months ago as its vice president and senior executive producer.
CNN: Special Investigations Unit taps into the network’s worldwide resources and deep bench of top-notch journalists including chief international correspondent Christiane Amanpour, anchors Anderson Cooper and Soledad O’Brien, chief medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta, correspondents John Roberts, John King, Candy Crowley, Drew Griffin and others to offer a strong new brand of enterprise investigative reports.
“Special Investigations Unit pulls together our unparalleled stable of reporters and our unmatched journalistic reach,” said Jon Klein, president of CNN/U.S. “There is no better team in television news to step up and fill the gaping void in in-depth reporting on the truly important stories of the moment.”
The first CNN: Special Investigations Unit documentary will be a one-hour examination of the troubling home-grown Muslim extremism in the United Kingdom . Reported by Amanpour, The War Within examines the cultural conflicts within Britain ’s Muslim communities and the alienation felt by many young Muslims living inside Western societies. The War Within premieres on Saturday, Jan. 20, at 8 p.m. (ET).
The new investigative series is produced by CNN Productions, the same unit that will continue to produce CNN Presents – the most honored documentary series in cable news. Four major CNN Presents documentaries are in the works for the coming year. Mark Nelson is the head of CNN Productions. A veteran producer, Nelson joined the unit six months ago as its vice president and senior executive producer.
# posted by ATN @ 3:45 PM
