ITV

Tag: D.C

  • Titans of journalism ratchet up pressure on Egypt to #FreeAJStaff

    Titans of journalism ratchet up pressure on Egypt to #FreeAJStaff

    MUMBAI: Journalists from across the world commemorate the 100th day imprisonment of Al Jazeera English journalists.

     

    At the historic Paley Center in New York City, Al Jazeera English’s Executive Producer for Newsgathering in the Americas, Owen Watson, opened the press release with strong calls for the immediate release of Al Jazeera journalists in Egypt. Colleagues from the Associated Press, ABC News and The New York Times, Committee to Protect Journalists and sister-channel, Al Jazeera Arabic, joined him in solidarity.

     

    Jon Williams, Foreign Editor of ABC News, stated, “This is not Al Jazeera’s fight.  This is our fight as journalists.”

     

    Abderrahim Foukara, Al Jazeera Arabic’s Washington, D.C. Bureau Chief, made note of fellow colleague Abdullah al-Shami who has been detained since August of last year with no charges pressed. Al-Shami is currently on this 78th day hunger strike.    

     

    The press conference concluded with an announcement of the International Documentary Association’s letter of support.

     

    At Columbia School of Journalism, a Freedom of Press Symposium was held in partnership with the Dart Center, the Columbia Global Freedom of Expression and Information Project and the Columbia Global Centers l Middle East. The event highlighted the imprisonment of Al Jazeera journalists while reflecting on the changing geo-political landscape across the Middle East as well as press freedom.

     

    In London, Heather Allan, Al Jazeera English Head of Newsgathering participated in the BBC’s Safety of Journalists Symposium, hosted by BBC Global News and CFOM, the Centre for Freedom of the Media at the University of Sheffield, in cooperation with the BBC College of Journalism.

     

    Participants endorsed a statement which called for increased safety and protection of journalists, but also called on the release of the Al Jazeera staff: “Today also marks 100 days since the arrest and detention in Egypt of three respected and highly professional Al Jazeera journalists, Peter Greste, Mohamed Fahmy and Baher Mohamed. No credible evidence has been produced to justify their imprisonment and prosecution. A number of other journalists have also been held in Egypt for extended periods without adequate access to justice. We call for the release of all those individuals and the freeing of more than 200 other journalists around the world who are now held behind bars only because they were doing their jobs. Journalism is not a crime; it is essential for a free and open society.

     

    Journalists across the BBC also took part in the social media #FreeAJStaff campaign, posting photos and messages of support for all four arrested Al Jazeera staff.

     

    Al Anstey, Managing Director of Al Jazeera English welcomed the support: “We are very grateful for the immense support of our staff to mark 100 days in prison, and from right around the world since they were detained in Egypt. The response has been amazing from the one minute silence outside New Broadcasting House organised by the BBC, to the press conference in New York. The response to their detention has been outstanding. Over 40,000 people have been actively involved in the campaign, events have been held in over 30 countries and in every continent, there have been over 900 million impressions of the FreeAJStaff hashtag, and there have been repeated calls for an end to the detention of our journalists from governments as well as media organisations from all corners of the globe. The campaign is focussed on the release of our four staff, but is fundamentally a stand in the defence of journalism itself, and a call for people everywhere to have a right to be heard and the right to know what is really going on in their world,” said Anstey.

     

    Since December 29th 2013 there have been calls for the release of all Al Jazeera staff detained in Egypt from the White House, the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the European Union. Similarly public calls of support for the #FreeAJStaff campaign have been made from prominent media personalities like Christiane Amanpour from CNN, ITN’s Mark Austin, Channel Seven Australia’s Mark Ferguson, SKY news correspondent Sam Kiley and the BBC’s Lyse Doucet. Various media freedom and human rights groups have issued statements ranging from the Committee to Protect Journalist, the International Press Institute, Amnesty International and Foreign Correspondents’ Association of East Africa.

  • CNN announces senior appointments

    MUMBAI: CNN International has made two senior level appointments, laying the foundation for future growth and development across CNN’s global network.

    Journalist and news programming executive Katherine Green has been appointed to the lead position of senior vice president of CNN International programming. Green, most recently vice president/news director of WTTG/Fox 5 News in Washington, D.C., will be based at the network’s world headquarters in Atlanta. In addition, Mike McCarthy, managing editor for CNN International, has been promoted to the new position of vice president of coverage and feature programming.

    In her new role at CNN International, Green will oversee all of the editorial production, program development, network talent and day-to-day operations of CNN International. CNN International executive VP, MD Tony Maddox says, “Katherine brings a unique and formidable track record in programming innovation, a wealth of editorial talent and really exciting ideas to this job. This is one of the key appointments for the international group, and Katherine’s exceptional management skills are what we need as we aggressively move into an era of digital development and growth for the network.”

    During a career spanning more than 20 years, Green has been instrumental in launching new and innovative news broadcasts and winning numerous awards, including more than a dozen Edward R. Murrow awards, several Emmy awards and other honors from the Associated Press and other organizations. She has a long track record for both market growth and leadership in various U.S top 10 markets including Washington, D.C, Baltimore, Tampa/St. Petersburg, Fla., and New York.

    Green said, “CNN epitomizes global news with a quality and integrity that other networks can only aspire to match. To be able to shape CNN International for the future is a rare opportunity and a challenge I relish.”

    For his new role, McCarthy will remain based in Atlanta and will oversee major breaking news and the growing strand of feature programs produced in CNN’s London, Hong Kong and Atlanta production centers. “Mike is an exceptional journalist and newsroom leader, and his promotion solidifies a management team exceptionally equipped to energize our programming and create content not just for television but rapidly growing platforms inside and outside of CNN,” Maddox adds.

    McCarthy has served as CNN International’s Atlanta-based managing editor since November 2002. Prior to this appointment, he was senior executive producer for news and business coverage from CNN’s regional production center in London, where he was instrumental in creating CNN International’s feature strand as well as relaunching the European morning wheel of programming with integrated news and business coverage.

    McCarthy said, “One of the keys to our success in the future is harnessing the incredible reach of CNN International’s resources to create new and engaging multi-platform programming for an increasingly diverse and sophisticated audience”.

    McCarthy joined CNN as a senior producer, business news in May 1999. He previously held the post of deputy programme editor at the London News Network, responsible for London Today and London Tonight.

  • Rolando Santos is CNN Intl senior VP, international relations

    Rolando Santos is CNN Intl senior VP, international relations

    MUMBAI: Rolando Santos is joining CNN International as senior VP, international relations. The announcement was made by CNN international MD Chris Cramer. In this role, Santos will play an integral part in the development of future CNN services around the world while working closely with CNN’s International affiliates and joint venture partnerships.

    Santos, currently executive vice president and general manager of Headline News, takes up his new role with CNN in mid-September. Cramer says, “Rolando has unrivaled experience in the creation of numerous CNN services, including CNN en Español in 1997, CNN + in Spain and CNN Turk in 1999,” Cramer said. “As we continue to build upon CNN’s international heritage and global influence, he is the perfect choice to work alongside our worldwide partners, affiliates and colleagues.”

    As a member of CNN International’s senior management group, Santos will work closely with Turner Broadcasting’s global business development teams identifying potential new platforms and editorial partnerships. He will also assume editorial liaison with some of CNN’s sister channels, CNN-IBN in India and CNN Turk in Turkey and will oversee CNN’s International Professional Program, which brings together journalists from around the world for hands-on editorial training in Atlanta

    He says, “I have enjoyed working in the international arena and helping launch so many successful CNN services around the world and, more recently, building Headline News into the dynamic news channel that it has become. This is the perfect opportunity to return and help shape CNN’s international growth and future.”

    Since 2002 Santos has served as executive VP and GM of Headline News, responsible for its development and overall operations. Prior to that he was president of CNN en Español, CNN’s 24-hour Spanish-language news network, where he oversaw all daily operations and editorial content of CNN en Español and CNN en Español Radio. He was also played a significant role in the development and launch of new international news networks such as CNN+ and CNN Turk.

    Additionally, he oversaw the Spanish-language newsgathering operations, including a fully bilingual staff in Atlanta, a worldwide network of Spanish-speaking correspondents and eight full-service bureaus in Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Washington, D.C., Buenos Aires, Jerusalem, London and Mexico City.