CNN has announced a number of significant appointments within its international newsgathering operations in both the EMEA and Asia-Pacific regions.
Aneesh Raman moves to Cairo and takes up the important position of Middle East Correspondent. This new title reflects his role in reporting from across the Middle East at a time when the region is at the forefront of international newsgathering. Previously based in Baghdad, Raman has reported from numerous places in the past few months including Iran, Syria and Lebanon.
In Jerusalem, Atika Shubert joins the bureau which is led by Kevin Flower and correspondent Ben Wedeman. This is the third appointment to Jerusalem in the last month and underscores CNN’s continued commitment to the region. Shubert was previously CNN’s correspondent in Tokyo, responsible for the global news network’s coverage of Japan.
Continuing the changes in the EMEA region, Frederik Pleitgen joins CNN to take up the position as Berlin correspondent. Pleitgen comes to CNN with an impressive German news pedigree having been Political Editor for network broadcaster ZDF.
“I am particularly delighted to have been able to make such a large number of strategically important changes from within the CNN family. This is a testament to the depth and expertise of the staff we have working at CNN,” said Chris Cramer, managing director, CNN International.
CNN’s Jerusalem correspondent, John Vause will take on the challenging job of covering China; based in Bejing, he will bring his extraordinary storytelling talents to this increasingly influential country. Vause has been CNN’s Jerusalem’s correspondent since October 2003, reporting from the frontlines on Israel’s war with Hezbollah, the Israeli pullout from Gaza and extensively covering the war in Iraq, being the only international TV reporter to visit the destroyed safe house of Al Qaeda leader, Abu Musab al Zarqawi.
CNN Asia Pacific managing editor, Jill Dougherty, will now be based in Washington D.C. and will be the U.S Affairs Editor, reporting for CNN International. Dougherty brings with her a unique global perspective having also been CNN’s Bureau Chief in Moscow for many years and previously, was a CNN White House correspondent travelling widely with former U.S. presidents.
Taking Dougherty’s place is CNN International’s Executive Producer in Asia pacific, Ellana Lee. As acting managing editor for CNN Asia Pacific, Lee will oversee both the newsgathering and programming output from CNN’s Hong Kong production base as well as working closely with advertising sales and distribution.
About CNN
CNN International is the world’s leader in 24-hour global news and information. CNN’s combined branded network and services are available to more than two billion people in more than 200 countries and territories in seven different languages. CNN International can be seen in almost 200 million television households and hotel rooms.
CNN Worldwide, a division of Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., a Time Warner Company, is one of the world’s most respected and trusted sources for news and information. Its reach extends to nine cable and satellite television networks; one private place-based network; two radio networks; wireless devices around the world; four Web sites, including CNN.com, the first major news and information Web site; CNN Pipeline, an on-demand broadband video service; CNN Newsource, the world’s most extensively syndicated news service; and partnerships for four television networks and one Web site.
