Friday, May 18, 2007
CNN to Raise Awareness for Fisher House for Memorial Day Weekend
Source: CNN Press Release CNN Worldwide puts the spotlight on the on-going needs of the Fisher House Foundation this Memorial Day weekend, airing news reports on its networks and services as well as promotions to encourage its audiences to donate their frequent flyer airline miles to the Fisher House’s “Hero Miles” program.
Airlines participating in the foundation’s “Hero Miles” program have agreed to match donations made from 6 a.m. (ET) on Friday, May 25, through 11:59 p.m. (ET) on Monday, May 28. Those who wish to donate miles should visit the Fisher House Web site at www.fisherhouse.org.
The Fisher House provides temporary residence for families of patients receiving major medical care at military and Veterans Affairs medical centers. The foundation’s “Hero Miles” program is comprised of airlines whose passengers donate frequent flyer miles to assist service members and their families. Ten major airlines participate in this program: AirTran Airways, Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Continental Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Frontier Airlines, Midwest Airlines, Northwest Airlines, United Airlines and US Airways.
“As part of our ongoing relationship with the Fisher House Foundation, CNN is pleased to support once again Fisher House’s honorable mission aiding military service personnel and their families as they receive medical care and rehabilitative treatment,” said Jim Walton, president of CNN Worldwide. “The donation of airline miles – and the generosity of the airlines to match them over the Memorial Day weekend – goes a long way to help those who sacrifice so much.”
“Fisher House Foundation is honored to have the major U. S. airlines as its partners in the ‘Hero Miles’ program,” said Ken Fisher, chairman of the Fisher House Foundation. “The program is now 3-1/2 years old, and through the generosity of the airlines and their passengers who donate their frequent flyer miles, we have been able to provide more than 9,500 free airline tickets to wounded service members and their families, saving them $12 million over the cost of comparable air travel. The “Hero Miles” program will benefit from the increased visibility and support from CNN and their viewers."
Earlier this year, CNN auctioned off a refurbished Hummer raising $1.25 million for the Fisher House Foundation. Nicknamed “Warrior One,” the Hummer was the subject of an episode of Overhaulin’, a highly rated program on TLC last fall. It toured military bases and Fisher Houses and appeared at military events across the country until it arrived in Scottsdale , Ariz. , for the Barrett Jackson Classic Car Auction, one of the premier car auctions in the world.
Since its founding in 1990, the Fisher House has offered more than 2 million days of lodging to more than 100,000 families. Presently, the organization operates 37 homes and will open a new home in Tampa , Fla. in the weeks ahead. It has also announced plans for homes in Dallas ; Richmond ; Seattle ; West Roxbury, Mass. ; and second homes in San Diego and Minneapolis .
Airlines participating in the foundation’s “Hero Miles” program have agreed to match donations made from 6 a.m. (ET) on Friday, May 25, through 11:59 p.m. (ET) on Monday, May 28. Those who wish to donate miles should visit the Fisher House Web site at www.fisherhouse.org.
The Fisher House provides temporary residence for families of patients receiving major medical care at military and Veterans Affairs medical centers. The foundation’s “Hero Miles” program is comprised of airlines whose passengers donate frequent flyer miles to assist service members and their families. Ten major airlines participate in this program: AirTran Airways, Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Continental Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Frontier Airlines, Midwest Airlines, Northwest Airlines, United Airlines and US Airways.
“As part of our ongoing relationship with the Fisher House Foundation, CNN is pleased to support once again Fisher House’s honorable mission aiding military service personnel and their families as they receive medical care and rehabilitative treatment,” said Jim Walton, president of CNN Worldwide. “The donation of airline miles – and the generosity of the airlines to match them over the Memorial Day weekend – goes a long way to help those who sacrifice so much.”
“Fisher House Foundation is honored to have the major U. S. airlines as its partners in the ‘Hero Miles’ program,” said Ken Fisher, chairman of the Fisher House Foundation. “The program is now 3-1/2 years old, and through the generosity of the airlines and their passengers who donate their frequent flyer miles, we have been able to provide more than 9,500 free airline tickets to wounded service members and their families, saving them $12 million over the cost of comparable air travel. The “Hero Miles” program will benefit from the increased visibility and support from CNN and their viewers."
Earlier this year, CNN auctioned off a refurbished Hummer raising $1.25 million for the Fisher House Foundation. Nicknamed “Warrior One,” the Hummer was the subject of an episode of Overhaulin’, a highly rated program on TLC last fall. It toured military bases and Fisher Houses and appeared at military events across the country until it arrived in Scottsdale , Ariz. , for the Barrett Jackson Classic Car Auction, one of the premier car auctions in the world.
Since its founding in 1990, the Fisher House has offered more than 2 million days of lodging to more than 100,000 families. Presently, the organization operates 37 homes and will open a new home in Tampa , Fla. in the weeks ahead. It has also announced plans for homes in Dallas ; Richmond ; Seattle ; West Roxbury, Mass. ; and second homes in San Diego and Minneapolis .
# posted by ATN @ 11:09 PM 
Tuesday, May 15, 2007
CNN to Broadcast Live Sojourners’ Presidential Forum on Faith, Politics
Source: CNN Press Release CNN will serve as the exclusive broadcaster of a presidential candidate forum on faith, values and politics during the Sojourners “Pentecost 2007” conference in Washington , D.C. The event will be held Monday, June 4, on the campus of The George Washington University, and CNN will broadcast the forum live during the 7 p.m. (ET) hour of The Situation Room.
The Rev. Jim Wallis of Sojourners and author of the best selling book God’s Politics: Why the Right Gets It Wrong and the Left Doesn’t Get It, has invited Democratic presidential candidates Sen. Hillary Clinton, former Sen. John Edwards and Sen. Barack Obama to share their ideas and proposals about pressing social issues with a special emphasis on poverty. Wallis also invited CNN anchor and special correspondent Soledad O'Brien to moderate the forum.
Sojourners, which is the largest network of progressive Chistians in the nation, was founded in inner-city Washington , D.C. , in 1971. It publishes Sojourners magazine and is the sponsor of “Pentecost 2007: Taking the Vision to the Streets,” the 10th annual conference designed to mobilize faith-based community leaders and clergy.
This special broadcast will air the night between the CNN-WMUR-New Hampshire Union Leader Democratic and Republican presidential candidate debates on Sunday, June 3, and Tuesday, June 5, respectively.
The Rev. Jim Wallis of Sojourners and author of the best selling book God’s Politics: Why the Right Gets It Wrong and the Left Doesn’t Get It, has invited Democratic presidential candidates Sen. Hillary Clinton, former Sen. John Edwards and Sen. Barack Obama to share their ideas and proposals about pressing social issues with a special emphasis on poverty. Wallis also invited CNN anchor and special correspondent Soledad O'Brien to moderate the forum.
Sojourners, which is the largest network of progressive Chistians in the nation, was founded in inner-city Washington , D.C. , in 1971. It publishes Sojourners magazine and is the sponsor of “Pentecost 2007: Taking the Vision to the Streets,” the 10th annual conference designed to mobilize faith-based community leaders and clergy.
This special broadcast will air the night between the CNN-WMUR-New Hampshire Union Leader Democratic and Republican presidential candidate debates on Sunday, June 3, and Tuesday, June 5, respectively.
# posted by ATN @ 3:00 PM
CNN Business Correspondent Veers Off Course at NCTA
Source: Broadcasting and CablePerhaps Ali Velshi should stick to TV.
That was the consensus among several audience members polled after watching CNN's senior business correspondent moderate an all-star executive panel at the closing session of last week's National Cable & Telecommunications Association conference in Las Vegas (see p. 16).
During a discussion that included Time Warner President/COO Jeff Bewkes, ESPN President George Bodenheimer and Cox Communications President Pat Esser, Velshi left many—including the panelists—wishing he would slow down and stick to the topic at hand: the future of cable.
Velshi—who also hosts The Ali V Podcast, among other CNN podcasts—opened the session with a long disquisition on what he called “the biggest deal in media”: his new customized iPod ear buds.
“Forget Murdoch and Dow Jones and YouTube,” he said, as he described making a cast of his ear (while struggling to don the ear buds on stage).
When he finally got around to asking questions, Velshi jumped around so much that Esser asked him at one point to ease up, saying, “You're throwing so much at us.”
After listening to the buildup to one query, Bodenheimer finally asked Velshi, “What's the question?” to scattered applause.
Even Bewkes, Velshi's corporate boss, had to put on the brakes, asking, “Can we just get back … I just want to wrap up the other question.”
Said one attendee afterward, “That fast banter may work on TV but not on a panel like this. It's too much.”
# posted by ATN @ 2:41 PM
Just a Week Before Jerry Falwell's death, CNN Correspondent Interviews Evangelist for Special Doc
CNN has been showing snippets from an upcoming documentary in which CNN correspondent Christiane Amanpour interviews the late Jerry Falwell. The interview took place just last week on the campus of Liberty University in which Falwell founded. The special is scheduled to air in its entirety later this fall.
# posted by ATN @ 2:31 PM
C-span Wants Access to Cable News Presidential Debates; MSNBC-YES; FNC-NO; CNN- Maybe
From CBS Public Eye If you're interested in catching Fox News Channel's GOP Presidential Debate tonight, you better make a point of tuning in or TiVo'ing it. Unlike the two earlier debates hosted by MSNBC, you won't be able to find the debate anyplace else on the TV or radio dial.
Public Eye has learned that Fox News Channel refused C-SPAN's request to simulcast the debate on C-SPAN radio, as well as the opportunity to rebroadcast replays on any of the C-SPAN television channels. In the two MSNBC debates thus far, the cable network agreed to give the debates the added exposure through C-SPAN.
(In a follow-up to the CNN issue, Scully added that he expects a simulcast/rebroadcast agreement will be worked out.)
Public Eye has learned that Fox News Channel refused C-SPAN's request to simulcast the debate on C-SPAN radio, as well as the opportunity to rebroadcast replays on any of the C-SPAN television channels. In the two MSNBC debates thus far, the cable network agreed to give the debates the added exposure through C-SPAN.
(In a follow-up to the CNN issue, Scully added that he expects a simulcast/rebroadcast agreement will be worked out.)
# posted by ATN @ 10:44 AM
Monday, May 14, 2007
Roberts on Iraq and CBS
Broadcasting and Cable has posted an interview with American Morning's John Roberts. Below are some highlights from the article:> “If we showed people the full extent of what we see every day in Iraq, we would either have no one watching us because they couldn’t stand to see the pictures, or we would get so many letters of complaint that some organization would come down on us to stop.”
> “Obviously, if you had a Katie job, you would be able to make an awful lot of money and only have to do it for a few years and then you could retire to Montana or wherever it is that Tom Brokaw went,” he told B&C. “But I would rather be where I am now, particularly given the problems that CBS has got. I don’t want to talk too much about that, but CNN is going along terrifically.”
Read the full article HERE
# posted by ATN @ 10:43 AM
Soledad Talks About Life Away From AM
The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel has an article in which they spoke with CNN's Soledad O'brien about life away from American Morning:CNN's Soledad O'Brien is keeping more normal hours these days, a month after leaving the anchor desk she shared with Miles O'Brien on "American Morning."
Slightly more normal.
"I was in the office today at 5 in the morning," O'Brien said during a phone conversation last week, as she talked about some of the seven documentaries she's working on in her new assignment at the news channel.
For those questioning her status at CNN, she said she's not going anywhere.
"They re-upped me and gave me a promotion," she said.
Was the change a surprise?
"The timing was, a little bit," she admitted. "But I knew it was coming.
"I'm a silver-lining kind of person, which means that I always think of change as opportunity. And this was a great change, it was a promotion for me."
Among the projects she's in the middle of is "Children of the Storm," a documentary on the group of young survivors of Hurricane Katrina who were given video cameras to record what is unfolding around them. MORE
# posted by ATN @ 10:34 AM
