Tag: cnn london

CNN hopes to return to offices August 1 for Atlanta and September 1 for New York

by Allan, posted in CNN

CNN Worldwide president Jeff Zucker announced he was planning on August and September for its news and sports teams to return to their offices. “These dates were not chosen arbitrarily,” Zucker said in a memo to staff. “We are trying to coincide with back-to-school schedules, assuming that would make the most sense for those with young families.”

In the memo, Zucker said that they were targeting August 1 for a return to Atlanta offices and studios, and September 1 for the New York, Washington, San Francisco and Los Angeles bureaus. As for the international bureaus, Zucker says the company is taking a “city-by-city approach” based on the health regulations and rules in those areas — Hong Kong and Abu Dhabi offices are already open; London will have staffers returning next month.

Zucker wrote that because of logistics, “it will likely take a couple of weeks to effectively get everyone back to their desks. But those are generally when you can expect to see the start of a return.” He said that the dates were chosen to coincide with back-to-school schedules.

He said that vaccinations will not be required for a return but they will be “strongly encouraged,” and safety protocols, like the wearing of masks, will remain in place for the foreseeable future.

David Culver joins CNN as correspondent

by Allan, posted in CNN

Former NBC Washington anchor and reporter David Culver is making his debut today as a CNN international correspondent. The new CNN correspondent left his gig in Washington, DC, in May 2019.

According to sources, he joined CNN in June, but isn’t actually appearing on-air until today, where he is filing a report from CNN International’s London bureau.

When he left NBC Washington, he teased a faraway gig, saying that while he wasn’t at liberty at the time to disclose his new gig, “Storytelling is my passion, and I will continue to do that in places much farther from here.”

Culver graduated from William and Mary college with a degree in Hispanic Studies.

After struggles, CNN anchor Hannah Vaughan Jones is pregnant

by Allan, posted in CNN

After dealing with a long fertility struggle, CNN International anchor Hannah Vaughan Jones, 38, announced she is pregnant! She has been undergoing IVF therapy for five years.

On Twitter, she said she and her husband were “feeling stunned, scared & lucky & grateful.”

On Instagram, Vaughan Jones shared the whole story:

Richard Quest is getting married to his partner

by Allan, posted in CNN

Richard Quest, CNN International’s lead business anchor, fronting Quest Means Business and The Express, announced he is getting married to his partner. Quest, 57, has been an openly gay journalist at the news network, and posted on his Instagram, “I asked, and he said ‘yes.'”

Although officially based out of CNN’s New York bureau, Quest is often found hosting his show from a variety of CNN’s offices, including London and Abu Dhabi.

In an interview last October in Kenya, he said, “I am obviously going to be advancing an agenda that says there should be at least the decriminalization of same sexual activity. It is straight forward, I am not gonna mess around with that one. That is obviously my belief.”

CNN cut London programming, encourages some staffers to re-apply for jobs

by Allan, posted in CNN

As CNN USA nears its first month broadcasting out of its new headquarters in Hudson Yards, news has come to CNN Commentary that the network’s international arm is effectively ending its TV output from London. The reduction is slated to cut at least 90 minutes of programming from London, (such as CNN Talk) with simulcasts of CNN USA to air for now.

A source with knowledge of the abrupt shift told us that in many instances, employees have been encouraged to re-apply for their positions.

CNN International has some of its flagship programs in London, including Amanpour. and Hala Gorani Tonight, both anchored by veteran anchors Christiane Amanpour and Hala Gorani.

This news comes on the heels of CNN buying out 100 employees, including CNNI’s chief Tony Maddox, who announced he was leaving after 21 years.

At the time of the reported buyouts and impending layoffs, CNN vehemently denied the report. Vice president Allison Gollust said, “There are no mass layoffs at CNN. I have no idea where that crazy rumor came from.” Since that statement, the network has laid off its Health reporting unit and has now relocated its London programming and displaced many staffers.

A request for comment from CNN was not immediately returned.

CNN London chief: Trump is good for CNN

by Allan, posted in CNN

The CNN London boss sees U.S. President Trump as good news for CNN.

Speaking to a panel, CNN vice president and London bureau chief Tommy Evans said, “CNN is a die-hard news organisation. Anyone generating this much news is good for us and [Trump] takes up a lot of oxygen in the room,” according to IBC.

Evans continued, “The US President makes a lot of news and news is good for CNN,” despite the president’s attacks on the news network.

“This is the golden age. We have more platforms and more ways of telling stories.”

Evans said the bottom line for success is “good content.”

Amanpour & Company debuts quite unlike its first rendition

by Allan, posted in CNN

CNN International’s new lineup was unveiled today, and a part of it was a rebranding of Amanpour., CNN’s iconic global affairs program.

As host Christiane Amanpour explained in an interview to the New York Times, the new program, Christiane & Company, “will be quite different from the previous show.” For one thing, it will also air on PBS.

“We’re more focused on what’s happening right now and conscious of the news. So while we will do cultural and nonpolitical work, we also very much have got our finger on the pulse of what’s going on.”

Amanpour will be joined by a team of contributors on the PBS/CNN show, Michel Martin, Hari Sreenivasan, Alicia Menendez, and Walter Isaacson. Amanpour & Company promises to offer three interview segments in its new hourlong show: two with Amanpour, and one with one of her contributors.

As pictured above, Amanpour was joined in studio by her contributors for the debut episode. Moving forward, she will continue to run the flagship PBS show from CNN’s London bureau, while the contributors will report from New York.

PBS and CNN partner for Amanpour & Company

by Allan, posted in CNN

Following the departure of PBS’ Charlie Rose, PBS reached an agreement to air Amanpour., a daily 30-minute CNN International program, in its place for the interim. Now, the two networks have reached a new agreement: Amanpour & Company will now air for an hour long on both PBS and CNN International.

Veteran correspondent Christiane Amanpour will be joined by four contributors on the new show, Walter Isaacson, Michel Martin, Alicia Menendez and Hari Sreenivasan. She will continue to broadcast from CNN’s London bureau, while the contributors will join her from PBS’ WNET studio in New York, reports CNNMoney.

“I’m delighted to expand my role at PBS from interim to permanent along with this remarkable diversity of voices and views,” Amanpour said. “Never has the time for exploring our world and America’s place in it been so urgent.”

“For decades, a national audience has turned to PBS for smart conversations about the ideas of our time from diverse voices. That trusted tradition continues with Amanpour & Company,” WNET president and CEO Neal Shapiro said in a statement on Tuesday.

The new show debuts in July.