Soledad O'Brien on The Wendy William's Show

Yesterday, Nov. 8th, Soledad O'Brien was a guest on The Wendy William's Show.  Enjoy!

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Soledad O’Brien Examines the Chase for Latino Votes

Soledad O’Brien Examines the Chase for Latino Votes in Nevada and Beyond

Latino in America: Courting Their Vote debuts Sunday, Oct. 7 at 8:00p.m. ET & PT

Nearly 60,000 Latinos turn 18 each month in the United States and many pollsters predict the collective impact of Latino votes will be a deciding factor in several of the most contested “battleground states” for the 2012 presidential election.  CNN anchor and special correspondent Soledad O’Brien reports on how Democrats and Republicans are reaching out to the swing voter demographic of Latinos, with a lens on the pivotal state of Nevada, a state with both the fastest-growing Latino community in the nation, and a state that has voted for the last 24 of the last 25 U.S. presidents.

Latino in America: Courting Their Vote debuts on CNN/U.S. on Sunday, Oct. 7 at 8:00p.m. and 11:00p.m. ET and PT.

According to the Pew Hispanic Center, there are 24 million Latinos eligible to vote in the 2012 election.  O’Brien interviews political heavy-hitters of both parties who are courting these voters, including Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa (D), a surrogate for President Obama’s campaign and chairman of the Democratic National Convention, and Hector Barreto (R), one of the chairmen of “Juntos Con Romney” – the Latino outreach organization for Governor Romney’s campaign.  Barreto is the former Administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration (2001 to 2006).

O’Brien also debriefs the challenging statistics motivating Nevada’s Latinos to the polls: high unemployment, foreclosures, improved public schools, and asks – “is either party really listening?”   

In Nevada, O’Brien speaks to Democratic state senator Ruben Kihuen, who had hoped to be Nevada’s first-ever Latino U.S. Congressman.  He feels his biography represents the aspirations of many Latinos.  Born in Guadalajara, Mexico, Kihuen came to the U.S. with little more than a backpack, quickly focused on his education, graduated from the University of Nevada, became a community activist, and eventually was elected to the Nevada State Assembly.   But, O’Brien asks Kihuen if deferred hopes for comprehensive immigration reform indicate that Democrats are not truly committed to Latinos – beyond seeking their votes.    

Republican Cecilia Aldana left Peru 30 years ago for America, working her way up from housekeeper to bank teller, to managing a lucrative chain of medical clinics which cater to Latinos.  Aldana wants to help her party do more to focus on jobs, business-friendly immigration policies, and education to support the aspirations of Latinos like her – and, Aldana tells O’Brien, that the GOP does not engage her community with issues important to her community. 

Latino in America: Courting Their Vote will replay on the network on Saturday, Oct. 13 at 8:00pm and 11:00pm ET and PT on CNN/U.S. 

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CNN's Hurricane Isaac Coverage

Soledad O'Brien & Brian Todd in Jackson Square:

Anderson Cooper and Rob Marciano at the Port of New Orleans


David Mattingly in Gulfport, Mississippi:


Martin Savidge in Jackson Square:


Ed Lavandera on Grand Isle:


Gary Tuchman in Haiti:



John Zarrella in Gulfport, Mississippi:



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CNN Storm & Convention Coverage Update

Anderson Cooper and Soledad O'Brien are headed to New Orleans, Louisiana, where they will join CNN’s news and weather anchor Rob Marciano later today.

At the same time, CNN has the following team on the ground in Tampa reporting on the Republican National Convention:
Wolf Blitzer, Erin Burnett, Candy Crowley, John King, Piers Morgan, Gloria Borger, David Gergen, John Berman, Brooke Baldwin, Jim Acosta, Dana Bash, Jessica Yellin, Joe Johns, Tom Foreman, Hala Gorani, Juan Carlos Lopez, Fernando del Rincon, Carlos Montero and Gustavo Valdes

Anderson will anchor portions of our prime time coverage tonight from New Orleans and Soledad will anchor Starting Point Tuesday and Wednesday mornings from New Orleans. John Berman will handle the Tampa portions of Starting Point.

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Starting Point Off to a Slow Start

TV By The Numbers has the breakdown on CNN's Starting Point. They write:
CNN's new morning show Starting Point, which launched on January 2, 2012, notched the lowest monthly average total viewership (P2+) in February* for any CNN morning show in the past decade. Well below the time period numbers for February, 2011. More coffee!

A small consolation? It only had the third worst viewership in the advertiser targeted adults 25-54 demo.


To view all the historical numbers from Nielsen for CNN's 7-9am morning shows just follow the above link.

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Soledad O’Brien Returns to Mornings with New Show, New Direction

Soledad O’Brien Returns to Mornings with New Show, New Direction

Ashleigh Banfield and Zoraida Sambolin Co-Anchor 5-7am; Soledad O’Brien Anchors 7-9am

CNN will launch a new format of news and conversation in the morning, including a 7-9am ET show anchored by award-winning journalist Soledad O’Brien in 2012.
O’Brien will anchor a new conversational ensemble program that explores top issues of the day while opening the conversation to people from all walks of life. O’Brien will continue to be a special correspondent for long-form documentaries at CNN.
“I couldn’t be more eager to return to daily news, to bring conversation and context to CNN viewers in the morning. I welcome the opportunity to give voice to people who aren’t often heard, and stories that are sometimes overlooked,” says O’Brien. “I love telling people’s stories, and I’m looking forward to bringing the perspective, heart and storytelling that have worked well in our documentaries to a morning audience”
“CNN has the opportunity in the morning to cover a wider range of stories from broader perspectives,” says Executive Vice President of CNN Ken Jautz. “We are planning to offer something original in the four-hour morning block to complement our direction in primetime.”
"This is an exciting time to be relaunching our morning show, with the morning television audience more up for grabs than it has been in years," says Executive Vice President and Managing Editor of CNN Mark Whitaker, who will oversee development of the new program. "With CNN's global reach and this unique cast of superb journalists as anchors, we have the opportunity to do something truly fresh and different."
Ashleigh Banfield and Zoraida Sambolin will anchor from 5-7am ET, kicking off the new CNN morning block with a new program covering a broad spectrum of the day’s news from two highly personable and passionate journalists.

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Soledad O'Brien Speical on Female Boxing

CNN Takes on Female Boxing - the Last Frontier of the Olympics – in New Latino in America Documentary

In Her Corner reported by Soledad O’Brien debuts Sunday, Sept. 25 at 8:00pm ET & PT

CNN anchor and special correspondent Soledad O’Brien traces the U.S. Olympic dreams of female flyweight fighter Marlen Esparza. The International Olympic Committee has finally allowed women’s boxing for the 2012 games, the last female sport excluded from the world’s most prestigious sporting competition. The one-hour documentary reflects the lives of girls who typically box in this country – generally young women from ‘blue collar’ backgrounds, often women of color who must focus and train against a backdrop of challenging family struggles. Frequently, they must also fight for acceptance in their communities for their competition in traditionally a man’s sport, as a pathway to success for themselves and their families, and positive recognition for their communities.

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American Morning Reinvented?

TVNewser is reporting 'the current iteration of CNN’s “American Morning” may be in its final months of production and will likely be replaced by two new shows, one airing from 5am-7amET and another from 7am-9amET.

We’re hearing Ashleigh Banfield, who has been working freelance for ABC News for nearly two years, may be tapped to anchor the earlier hours, while former “American Morning” co-anchor Soledad O’Brien, is being mentioned as anchor of the second two hours.

Banfield, the former MSNBC and Court TV anchor, is under contract to ABC News until the end of the year. O’Brien has been spending the last several years working on documentaries for the “In America” unit. No comment from CNN.'

The New York Post has a similar report online today too.

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CNN's Four Original Documentaries Marking 9/11

CNN to Debut Four Original Documentaries Marking 9/11 Anniversary

Dr. Sanjay Gupta, Soledad O’Brien, Drew Griffin and TIME/HBO Presentation Report:
9/11 Ten Years Later

During the week leading up to the tenth anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks on the United States, CNN will premiere four one-hour productions on its domestic network. In investigations led by chief medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta, investigative correspondent Drew Griffin, and anchor and special correspondent Soledad O’Brien, CNN is reporting new insights into the health consequences experienced by the first responders working at New York’s Ground Zero, examining the events of that day through the eyes of people who were on the front lines of one of America’s most tragic days, and profiling several unsung heroines who saved lives on that day. A fourth presentation from TIME in association with HBO features a collection of TIME magazine oral histories from people who experienced the events of that day as they unfolded, and their reflections as the nation reacted in the days, months, and years afterwards.

“It was a day that changed us all and CNN is leveraging its unmatched resources to cover remembrances from around the nation and the world as we look back on 9/11 and what it means a decade later,” says Bart Feder, senior vice president of programming for CNN. “In addition, these documentaries tell stories we feel will evoke pride in the heroism and bravery of the Americans who risked their lives, and some who sacrificed themselves on that day to save others. And, they present an opportunity to remember the difficult work of first responders – and our servicemen and women on the front lines overseas – who continue to try to keep this nation safe each day.”

On Tuesday, Sept. 6 at 11:00pm (replay on Sunday, Sept. 11 at 8:00pm), CNN will debut FOOTNOTES OF 9/11, featuring interviews with people who went to work on Sept. 11, 2001 – and unexpectedly became part of history. Each of the eight people profiled by investigative correspondent Drew Griffin for this documentary is mentioned in The 9/11 Commission Report – their unique experiences are drawn from the 1,742 footnotes of that report and offer critical detail to the tragic events of that day – are literal and figurative footnotes to one of America’s darkest days. They include ticket agents who checked in some of the terrorists, a maintenance technician who answered a call from one of the planes under attack, and the Lt. Col. in the Massachusetts Air National Guard – also a United Airlines pilot – who scrambled to provide defense to New York, and faced possibly having to shoot down a passenger plane.

On Wednesday, Sept. 7 at 11:00pm (replay on Saturday, Sept. 10 at 9:00pm), DR. SANJAY GUPTA REPORTS: TERROR IN THE DUST, will examine how responders who breathed in the toxic dust and noxious fumes at New York City’s Ground Zero are coping with the health effects of the attacks. The environmental hazards at the World Trade Center disaster site – mercury from fluorescent light bulbs, dioxin and benzene emitted as the jets burned, asbestos from the building materials, and more – have caused severe respiratory ailments, immune problems and, some suspect, a greatly increased cancer risk. Among those who speak to Dr. Gupta are two brothers – firefighters who searched for survivors in the pile of the collapsed towers – one whose lungs are now failing and the other who appears to have had no permanent physical effects. Ten years after the attacks chief medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta speaks to first responders who continue to experience emotional trauma. Dr. Gupta’s investigation includes never before broadcast footage of the collapse of the Twin Towers, the medical consequences of the killer dust, and safety recommendations for future crisis responses.

BEYOND BRAVERY: THE WOMEN OF 9/11 will air on Thursday, Sept. 8 at 11:00pm (replay on Sunday, Sept. 11 at 9:00pm), and profiles the sometimes overlooked female rescue workers who raced to the Twin Towers in the wake of the attack. Anchor and special correspondent Soledad O’Brien looks at the work of these rescue workers over the decade following their life-altering experiences. Among the stories of these heroic women of New York’s Ground Zero is an African-American firefighter whose company lost seven of the 342 firefighters who died that day. She is pushing to recruit more women to this dangerous job, even as the number of female firefighters has dropped to less than one percent of the NYFD. O’Brien also speaks with the family of a decorated police officer and mother who was photographed rescuing survivors just moments before the collapse of the towers. O’Brien reports the present-day health and emotional struggles of these unsung heroines and hears about their determination to be prepared for the next attack – and to restore hope.

On Friday, Sept. 9 at 11:00pm (with replays on Saturday, Sept. 10 at 8:00pm and 11:00pm), CNN will premiere a special presentation from TIME in association with HBO, BEYOND 9/11: PORTRAITS OF RESILIENCE. Captured in words and moving images, this documentary features untold stories drawn from 40 women and men who led and sacrificed for America in the hours, days, and months that followed the attacks. Working with the editors of TIME, award-winning photographer Marco Grob produced an astonishing set of portraits which are coupled with dramatic recollections from government leaders, survivors of the towers, and first responders.
Kathleen Johnston, Brian Rokus, and Bud Bultman produced FOOTNOTES of 9/11, Stephanie Smith and Roni Selig produced TERROR IN THE DUST, and Rose Arce and Geraldine Moriba produced BEYOND BRAVERY.



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Coverage of the MLK Monument Dedication

CNN’s Special Coverage of the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Monument Dedication

CNN’s chief political correspondent and anchor Candy Crowley, anchor T.J. Holmes and anchor and special correspondent Soledad O’Brien will anchor live coverage of the Martin Luther King Jr. National Memorial dedication in Washington, D.C., on Sunday, August 28th. Also reporting from the memorial will be D.C.-based correspondent Athena Jones.
Beginning at 6a.m. (ET), Holmes will anchor CNN Newsroom from Washington, D.C. From 9a.m. to 1p.m. (ET), Crowley anchors a special edition of State of the Union. CNN’s coverage of the dedication ceremony will begin at 11 a.m. (ET).
CNN will broadcast Freedom’s Foot Soldiers: A Conversation with T.J. Holmes Saturday, August 27 at 7:30 p.m. (ET). Holmes exclusively interviews Dr. King’s friends together in the basement of Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta to reflect on the life of Dr. King and the Civil Rights Movement then and now. In the very revealing, sometimes emotional interview with Juanita Abernathy, Xernona Clayton, Rev. Jesse Jackson, U.S. Representative John Lewis (D-GA), Rev. Joseph Lowery and former U.N. Ambassador Dr. Andrew Young, these “living legends” spoke of Dr. King’s desire to quit the movement and concentrate on writing and preaching, and the message the monument sends.
On Sunday, August 28 at 8 p.m. and 11 p.m. (ET), CNN will air the documentary MLK: Words That Changed A Nation, reported by O’Brien. For this documentary, O’Brien interviewed Dr. King’s closest confidants, including Dr. Young, Rep. Lewis, and activist Dorothy Cotton, for their behind-the-scenes insights into many of the historic events of the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 1960s. They discuss the arrest of Rosa Parks, Dr. King’s win of the 1964 Nobel Peace Prize and Dr. King’s time in a Birmingham jail for his participation in a nonviolent protest for civil rights. MLK: Words That Changed A Nation includes an examination of Dr. King’s private library of papers, letters, and speeches that reveal his personal philosophy and theology, as well as his doubts and fears – as he and those around him created a peaceful revolution that forever changed America.
Leading up to this historic memorial dedication, CNN will broadcast coverage through the day, entitled Building the Dream beginning Thursday, August 25, with interviews from the witnesses of the assassination of Dr. King; a conversation with the survivors of the 16th Street Baptist Church bombing (an attack that killed four girls in Birmingham, Alabama); a sneak peek of the collection being compiled for The National Museum of African American History and Culture; a look at the women behind the Civil Rights Movement; and the personal side of Dr. King from the eyes of his driver and personal assistant Tom Houck.


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Battle for Blair Mountain with Soledad O'Brien

Coal vs. Environment – Soledad O’Brien Explores Both Sides of Mountaintop Removal
Battle for Blair Mountain: Working in America airs Sunday, August 14 at 8:00pm ET & PT on CNN/U.S.

Sharples, West Virginia – population: around 100 people – is ground zero in the fight over an issue of importance to every American who has ever plugged in a computer, watched a television or taken a hot shower. Around 50 percent of electrical power in the United States is produced by coal. Across the nation, a schism that separates pro-coal and pro-environment movements over mountaintop removal, a destructive yet highly effective form of strip mining, is deepening.
CNN documents the intense struggle over mountaintop removal in Battle for Blair Mountain: Working in America, debuting on Sunday, August 14 at 8:00pm ET and PT, with a replay on Saturday, August 20. Anchor and Special Correspondent Soledad O’Brien examines the fight over Spruce One, the largest ever proposed mountaintop removal site in the U.S. When O’Brien’s team first arrived in Sharples, W.V., nearly everyone in Appalachia was waiting to see if the Environmental Protection Agency was going to allow Spruce One’s permit to proceed, citing Clean Water Act violations.

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CNN at Essence in NOLA this Weekend

Photo Credit: David Holloway/CNN


At the 2011 Essence Music Festival, CNN's Suzanne Malveaux moderated the panel discussions for CNN's "What Matters in our Community: A Conversation with Political Officials. Participating in the discussion was Valerie Jarrett, Senior Advisor to President Obama, Mitchell Landrieu, Mayor of the city of New Orleans, Kasim Reed, Mayor of the city of Atlanta, Russlynn Ali, Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, Michael Blake, Director of Office of Intergovernmental Affairs, Dr. Garth Graham, Director, U.S. Office of Minority Health and Marie Johns, Dpeuty Administrator, Small Business Administration.


HLN's A.J. Hammer moderated the panel "Reel Talk: Breaking Down Images of Reality Television. Cynthia Bailey and NeNe Leakes of the Housewives of Atlanta, Shunie O'Neal, Evenlyn Lozada and Tami Roman of Basketball Wives. Hammer talks to the Reality Stars about the criticism logged at them and their respective shows.

Also at the event was CNN's Soledad O'Brien.

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A Few Odds & Ends 5/4/11

A few CNN related videos to share with you today. First Soledad O'Brien popped up on TMZ last night. Here's the clip:

Jon Stewart apparently was as taken aback by Piers Morgan's candidness during the Royal Wedding coverage as Anderson Cooper and the rest of us were. Here's that clip:


And this next clip is a radio interview that John King did with Ryan Seacrest the morning after the POTUS announced Bin Ladin's death.


Broadcast&Cable has a most interesting with Sam Feist, CNN VP, about the behind the scenes scramble to get anchors and reporters in place for the President's big announcement.

I called Wolf Blitzer, who was at home in Maryland watching the Washington Capitals game. And I said, "Get in. Now." He said, "What is it?" I said, "I don't know, but it's important." So he grabbed a jacket and a tie and he raced downtown to CNN Washington bureau. At the same time, our chief national correspondent John King was at the hockey game with his daughter, and he raced to the Washington bureau.


Here are some new numbers on CNN’s coverage of the death of Bin Laden.


Fast National data: Monday, May 2 – day two death of bin Laden:

Anderson Cooper 360 tops both FNC and MSNBC in both total viewers and the demo at 10 pm
Piers Morgan and American Morning top MSNBC in total viewers and demo.
In the Arena tops MSNBC in the P25-54 demo.

10:00 pm:
• CNN’s Anderson Cooper tops FNC’s Greta Van Susteren and MSNBC’s Ed Show in both total viewers and demo 25-54
• CNN has 54 % advantage over FNC and a 149% lead over MSNBC in key demo:

CNN: 2.921 million total viewers/1.282 million P25-54 demo
FNC: 2.707 million total viewers/ 830k P25-54 demo
MSNBC: 1.404 million total viewers/ 514k P25-54 demo


9:00 pm:
• CNN’s Piers Morgan Tonight tops MSNBC’s The Rachel Maddow show in the demo 25-54
• Has second highest demo 25-54 performance since launch (after Japan earthquake) and third highest total viewer number (also after Japan and premiere)
• Morgan has a +21% advantage in total viewers and +27% lead in demo 25-54 over Maddow

CNN: 2.009m total viewers/816k P25-54 demo
MSNBC: 1.665m total viewers/ 643k P25-54 demo
FNC: 3.001 m total viewers/946k P25-54 demo


8:00 pm:
• CNN’s In the Arena topped MSNBC’s Last Word w/ Lawrence O’Donnell show in the demo 25-54
• This represents a +29% advantage in demo 25-54 over O’Donnell

CNN: 1.554m total viewers/ 638k P25-54 demo
MSNBC: 1.593m total viewers/ 494k P25-54 demo
FNC: 4.476m total viewers/ 1.317m P25-54 demo

7:00 pm:
• CNN’s John King, USA topped MSNBC’s Hardball in both total viewers and in the demo
• This represents an +87% advantage in total viewers and a +136% lead in the demo over Hardball

CNN: 2.191m total viewers/877k P25-54
MSNBC: 1.174m total viewers/372k P25-54
FNC: 3.131m total viewers/1.021 P 25-54

6:00 – 9:00 am:
• CNN’s American Morning topped MSNBC’s Morning Joe in both total viewers and the demo 25-54
• Has a +48% advantage in total viewers and +75% lead in demo 25-54 over Morning Joe

CNN: 1.523m total viewers/704k demo 25-54
MSNBC: 1.028m total viewers/402k demo
FNC: 2.244m total viewers/914k demo




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CNN PRESENTS: THE WOMEN WHO WOULD BE QUEEN

CNN PRESENTS: THE WOMEN WHO WOULD BE QUEEN

REPORTED BY SOLEDAD O’BRIEN

CNN anchor and special correspondent Soledad O’Brien examines the lives of Catherine Middleton and Prince William in a documentary that explores how the future King and Queen have been influenced by the legacy of his mother, Princess Diana, and are forging a very modern royal marriage. O’Brien chronicles their friendship-turned-romance, and how they are preparing for an “ordinary” married life in North Wales following their nuptials.



AIRTIMES (All times Eastern)

Sunday, April 24, 2011
8:00pm – 9:00pm
11:00pm – 12:00am

Monday, April 25, 2011
2:00am – 3:00am

Saturday, April 30, 2011
8:00pm – 9:00pm
11:00pm – 12:00am

Sunday, May 01, 2011
2:00am – 3:00am

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Royal Wedding Details

CNN To Provide Global, Multi-Platform Coverage of the
Royal Wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton

Piers Morgan, Anderson Cooper, Richard Quest, Kiran Chetry, joined by Cat Deeley, Will Host CNN Coverage

Live from London, CNN will globally televise the biggest royal wedding event since Charles married Diana – from the ceremonial to the personal, from what is happening at Westminster Abbey to the reactions of those around the world.

On the day of the wedding, Friday, April 29, beginning at 4 a.m. ET, CNN’s special live program will be anchored by Piers Morgan, Richard Quest, Anderson Cooper, Kiran Chetry and special contributor Cat Deeley, noted British broadcaster and fashion expert, across CNN/U.S. and CNN International. CNN will live stream various angles of the day’s events on CNN.com, including views from inside the Abbey as well as the parade, via the CNN Apps for iPhone and iPod touch, iPad and Android tablet.

Leading up to the big day, Piers Morgan and Anderson Cooper will anchor their nightly programs from London. CNN will also broadcast a documentary on Catherine Middleton anchored by Soledad O’Brien, as well as weekly special reports from Richard Quest, among others.

Highlights of CNN’s Royal Wedding coverage include:
• Premiering Saturday, April 2 at 2 p.m. and 10 p.m. ET: Richard Quest will anchor four half hour specials throughout the month of April. A Royal Wedding will air Saturdays at 2 p.m. and 10 p.m. ET on CNN/U.S. and CNN International.
• Sunday, April 24 at 8 p.m., 11 p.m. and 2 a.m. ET: CNN/U.S. will premiere The Women Who Would be Queen, a look at the life of Catherine Middleton, the woman who will someday become Queen of the United Kingdom. Featured in the documentary are Jules Knight, close friend of the couple from the origins of their fairytale romance during their university days at St. Andrews, and Arthur Edwards, longtime royal photographer, who has chronicled the princes' entire lives during his 30-year career at England’s The Sun newspaper. Edwards has captured the princes’ childhoods, how they’ve coped with the tragic loss of their mother, and their transition into manhood. The documentary also explores the ways in which the future King and Queen have honored the life and legacy of Diana, Princess of Wales. CNN Presents: The Women Who Would be Queen is reported by anchor and special correspondent Soledad O’Brien. The documentary will debut on CNN International on Saturday, April 23 at 8 p.m. ET and replay on CNN/U.S. on Saturday, April 30 at 8 p.m., 11 p.m., and 2 a.m. ET.
• Monday, April 25 – Friday, April 29: Piers Morgan will broadcast his nightly show Piers Morgan Tonight at 9 p.m. ET from London with a mix of topical guests and newsmakers on both CNN/U.S. and CNN International.
• Monday, April 25 – Friday, April 29: Kiran Chetry will co-anchor American Morning 6-9 a.m. ET live from London for CNN/U.S.
• Wednesday, April 27 – Friday, April 29: Anderson Cooper will anchor Anderson Cooper 360, also live from London, at 10 p.m. ET on CNN/U.S. and CNN International.

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Unwelcome: The Muslims Next Door

CNN In America presents…
Unwelcome: The Muslims Next Door
Reported by Soledad O’Brien
Sunday, March 27 at 8p ET

It’s been said if Tennessee is part of America’s Bible belt, Middle Tennessee is the belt buckle. Murfreesboro, Tennessee (pop. 100,000) is home to 140+ churches… and one mosque. Just off Middle Tennessee Boulevard, hidden behind a dingy auto repair shop is where you’ll find the Islamic Center of Murfreesboro. A small sign outside a non-descript office building is the only thing identifying the 2,200 sq. ft mosque. Five times a day members of the Muslim community gather in Islamic Center of Murfreesboro to pray. Muslims have lived in Murfreesboro for decades, yet when plans to build a new mosque were approved this past summer, questions were raised and the resulting backlash and acts of vandalism revealed a community divided by deep-rooted suspicions about Muslims and Islam. Ten years after 9/11, this is the story of Muslims and non-Muslims, struggling to find common ground in America.








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'A Royal Wedding' CNN Style

Preliminary details for CNN’s coverage of the royal wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton at Westminster Abbey have been released. Anderson Cooper, Richard Quest and Piers Morgan will provide extensive coverage throughout April of the biggest royal wedding event since Charles married Diana - from the ceremonial to the personal, from the events at Westminster Abbey to the reactions of those around the world.

This will culminate in CNN’s special live seven-hour broadcast ‘A Royal Wedding’ on April 29, the day of the wedding. Richard Quest sets the scene ahead of the big day with a weekly series throughout April of observations and insights, guests and reports. Beginning on Monday April 26th, Piers Morgan’s coverage kicks off as he broadcasts his nightly show from London with a mix of topical guests and newsmakers. Anderson Cooper will anchor AC360 live from London from Wednesday April 27 through Friday April 29.

“As the tension and excitement builds in the days before the Royal Wedding, CNN intends to be a visual real-time diary of the many and varied ways that people around the world choose to mark and experience the marriage of Prince William and Catherine Middleton," said Katherine Green, Senior Vice President and General Manager for CNN International. "The wedding day itself will capture the imagination of millions of viewers and CNN guarantees its global audience a front row seat for every minute of the pomp and ceremony of the big day."

To round off coverage of what some would describe as perhaps the biggest Royal event of the past two decades a special CNN documentary hosted by Soledad O’Brien titled “The Women who would be Queen”, will air soon after the event.


Richard Quest Royal Wedding Specials are scheduled on CNNi April 3rd, 10th, 17th & 24th

Piers Morgan Tonight: Live From London April 26th, 27th & 28th

Anderson Cooper 360: Live From London April 27th & 28th

A Royal Wedding: Friday April 29th


Keep checking back for more details to be posted.

Source: Throng.com.nz

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Soledad O'Brien writes The Next Big Story

From Parade.com:
The O'Briens in 1967. Back: Edward, Orestes, Soledad, and Estela. Front: Cecelia, Maria, Tony and Estela

The racial slurs she heard as a child fueled journalist Soledad O'Brien's drive to succeed. Here's an excerpt adapted from her new book,The Next Big Story.

I'm 11. My sister Estela is 14. We're at a photo studio in Smithtown, N.Y., not that far from where we live. The photographer says, "Forgive me if I'm offending you, but are you black?" I turn the comment over in my head. I'm trying to figure out why these nice-sounding words make me feel small and embarrassed. Estela, light years ahead of me, starts to shred the guy. "Offend us? Offend us? By asking if we are black?" He's white, and we're two mixed-race girls trying to get our picture taken as an anniversary present for our parents. It's 1977. I'm this cheery, optimistic kid who suddenly feels quite sunk.

Forgive me if I'm offending you… What is that supposed to mean? I am black; I am also Latina, and half white through my Australian father. That isn't typical in Smithtown, but there is nothing wrong with me. I just don't understand how it could possibly be offensive to be black. This is the first time I remember feeling like I might be disliked for who I am. But Estela is totally on it. She gives me the universal body language for "We're taking a walk" and off we go.

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Black in America: Almighty Debt

ALMIGHTY DEBT: A BLACK IN AMERICA SPECIAL with Soledad O'Brien premiers on Thursday, October 21 at 9 PM ET.

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Soledad O'Brien Injured in Horse Riding Accident

From BVBuzz.com...

 

Award-winning journalist Soledad O'Brien is on the mend after a fall from a horse that caused serious injury to her knee.

On Sunday, the 44-year-old CNN anchor was horseback riding in Brewster, N.Y., with her daughters, Sofia and Cecilia, when she was thrown from her horse.

"She got spooked by another horse and ditched me," she told BV Buzz. "I tore absolutely everything in my knee. My surgeon said 'impressive!' I am on crutches now and doing physical therapy. I'll have surgery in two weeks when the swelling goes down."

Timing couldn't be worse for the Emmy-winning media talent, who is gearing up for a whirlwind promotional tour. O'Brien has a new documentary called 'Almighty Dept' that premieres on Oct. 21, and her book, 'The Next Big Story: My Journey Through the Land of Possibilities,' comes out on Nov. 2.

"It's super hard to clunk around on crutches! You know what's annoying is now I'm slow and I usually get 10 things done at one time! So cutting back is really hard for me," she shared, before adding: "Plus, the kids keep baking me get-well-soon cakes, which I'm eating!"

The married mother of four, who was born María de la Soledad Teresa O'Brien, said her doctor has cleared her to swim and get on her bike to maintain her fitness regimen.

As of now, she doesn't intend to cancel any travel plans and will be in Atlanta this week presenting Morehouse College's Soledad O'Brien Freedom's Voice Award to actor Hill Harper and music mogul Kevin Liles.

"I'm trying to figure out how to walk in crutches in a gown," she laughed.

Though best known for her compelling reporting on documentaries, such as 'Black in America,' 'Black in America 2,' 'Latino In America' and 'Rescued,' O'Brien was also part of the coverage teams that earned CNN a George Foster Peabody Award for its Hurricane Katrina coverage and an Alfred I. duPont Award for coverage of the Asian tsunami.

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