Exec. Producer Announced for Jake Tapper's 4PM Program

Federico Quadrani to Executive Produce Jake Tapper’s New CNN Program

The 4 p.m. program anchored by Tapper to launch in March

                Federico Quadrani will join CNN as the executive producer of the network’s new Washington program anchored by Jake Tapper, it was announced today by Sam Feist, CNN Washington bureau chief and senior vice president. Quadrani, who joins CNN from MSNBC later this month, will work on the development of the new 4 p.m. program set to debut this March.

“Federico’s talent for story development and live production will be a perfect fit for Jake’s new program,” said Feist. “Federico’s track record with both network news programs and Washington-based cable news programs make him a terrific addition to CNN as we enter into an exciting time for the network.”

“I’m thrilled to have Federico join me in leading our new team,” said Jake Tapper, CNN anchor and chief Washington correspondent. “In recent years he’s produced incisive political coverage, but his diverse news background is equally important. From his Peabody award-winning live coverage of 9/11 in the ABC News control room through his days producing textured taped pieces and remarkable live shots at NBC’s Today, Federico has built a reputation for finding great American stories and creating compelling content. His voice will help us build the informative, engaging and provocative program we want this to be.”

In 2009, Quadrani joined MSNBC, where he served as executive producer of weekend programming—responsible for breaking news and weekend content. Later he served as executive producer of The Daily Rundown with Chuck Todd. Currently, Quadrani is the executive producer of Jansing & Company.

Prior to MSNBC, Quadrani worked as an Emmy-winning producer for NBC’s Today show from 2003 to 2009, in various roles from senior graphics producer to supervising producer. He created and supervised all aspects of various news segments such as: Today at the Vatican and Where in the World is Matt Lauer?  Prior to NBC, Quadrani worked as a writer at ABC’s Good Morning America from 1998 to 2003. His work contributed to the program’s Peabody Award-winning coverage of the September 11, 2001 attacks. In addition, during his ABC tenure, he worked on Early Morning News and World News Now. Quadrani started his career in 1997 as a writer for WNBC-TV in New York.

He earned a bachelor of arts degree in English from Wesleyan University and was a directing fellow at the American Film Institute. Quadrani was raised in New York City and Rome, Italy, and is fluent in Italian.  

Tapper recently joined CNN in January; his one-hour weekday program will debut in the network’s 4 p.m. hour in March. The program title and format details will follow in the coming days.

 

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This Weekend's Programming 2/9 - 2/10/13

SATURDAY, February 9, 2013

SANJAY GUPTA, MD – Airs Saturday 4:30PM – 5:00PM and Sunday 7:30AM – 8:00AM

This week on Sanjay Gupta MD, Sanjay is in London examining a British approach to treating pain, which is much different from how pain is treated in the United States. Sanjay also gives an update on Malala, the 15-year-old human rights campaigner from Pakistan, who just underwent a crucial operation after surviving being shot in the head by Taliban militants. Finally, Sanjay talks with actors Alfred Molina and Ving Rhames, as they co-star in TNT’s new drama, “Monday Mornings.”

THE SITUATION ROOM WITH WOLF BLITZER– Airs Saturday 6:00PM – 7:00PM

Topic:   State of the Union Address Preview

Guest:  David Frum, CNN political contributor; former speechwriter for Pres. George W. Bush

Guest:  Paul Begala, CNN political contributor; former adviser for Pres. Bill Clinton

Topic:   Pakistan

Guest:  Pervez Musharraf, former Pakistani President

PLUS:   Live updates on the winter storm hitting the northeast and the manhunt for Christopher Dorner.

Anchor:  Wolf Blitzer

THE COMING STORMS – Airs Saturday 9:00PM – 10:00PM and 12:00AM

CNN’s intrepid correspondents report for a comprehensive investigation on the lessons learned by the October Superstorm Sandy – and what Americans need to do to prepare for the next inevitable weather test.  CNN’s Jason Carroll, focuses on the impact of the storm surge and flooding, particularly to lower Manhattan, Staten Island, and New Jersey, in the wake October’s devastating Tropical Storm Sandy.  CNN’s Ed Lavandera investigates what New Orleans has done in the deadly wake of Hurricane Katrina to make sure that city won’t go underwater again – and what we can learn from them.  CNN’s John Zarrella reports on threats to our eyes in the sky, satellites which are crucial to warning people that a storm is coming.  CNN’s David Mattingly reports from Breezy Point in Queens, New York, on potential engineering solutions to address the powerful storm surges associated with superstorms, and investigate the vulnerability of the nation’s power grids, communications and transport systems – and what municipalities are and are not doing to safeguard our infrastructure from storm damage.  CNN’s Frederik Pleitgen reports from Greenland about science being gathered there about the condition of the ice sheets and their potential affect on global climate.  And throughout, chief meteorologist Chad Myers, offers his scientific insights on the factors that make these powerful “superstorms” so destructive, and discusses what Americans can expect from future weather systems.

SUNDAY, February 10, 2013

STATE OF THE UNION WITH CANDY CROWLEY – Airs LIVE Sunday 9:00AM – 10:00AM and NOON

Topics:    Foreign Policy; Prebuttal to the State of the Union Address

Guest:     Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY)

Topics:    Drones and National Security; State of the Union Address

Guest:     Sen. Angus King (I-ME)

Topics:    Emerging Threats; Chuck Hagel Nomination; Defense Cuts

Guest:     Robert Gates, former Defense Secretary

Topics:    Politics

Guest:     Jim Acosta: national political correspondent, CNN

Guest:     Former Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX)

Guest:     Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-IL)

Guest:     Amy Walter, national editor, Cook Political Report

Anchor:   Candy Crowley

RELIABLE SOURCES – Airs LIVE Sunday 11:00AM – NOON

Topic:    GOP Rebranding and Fox News; Coverage of Sen. Menendez and Gov. Christie; Dorner Manifesto

Guest:   Ryan Lizza, CNN contributor; Washington correspondent, The New Yorker

Guest:   Lauren Ashburn, editor-in-chief, DailyDownload.com

Guest:   Steve Roberts, Professor of Media and Public Affairs at The George Washington University

Topic:    Pew Study Results on Facebook; First Netflix-only TV Series Released

Guest:   Mario Armstrong, digital lifestyle expert, HLN

Guest:   Sarah Lacy, founder, PandoDaily.com

Topic:    CBS Announces Grammy Wardrobe Guidelines

Guest:   Maureen O’Connor, features editor, NY Magazine’s “The Cut”

Guest:   Lola Ogunnaike, culture commentator

Host:     Howard Kurtz
 

FAREED ZAKARIA GPS – Airs 10:00AM – 11:00AM and 1:00PM – 2:00PM     

Topic:      Who has the power in Washington post-election?  Which parts of his agenda can President Obama realistically push through?  What can President Obama do about jobs?

Guest:     Edward Conard, former managing director of Bain & Co.  

Guest:     Arianna Huffington, president and editor-in-chief, AOL Huffington Post Media Group

Guest:     Paul Krugman, columnist, The New York Times and Professor of Economics & International Affairs, Princeton University; Nobel laureate in economics; author: End This Depression Now! (2012)

Guest:     Mort Zuckerman, editor-in-chief of  New York’s Daily News and U.S. News & World Report

Topic:      Why Ambani is “optimistic” about America; America’s energy revolution; what would a strike on Iran do to the world energy market?; India’s great inequality problem

Guest:     Mukesh Ambani, chairman & CEO of Reliance Industries Limited

Topics:    The Syrian civil war, the Arab Spring, and women’s rights in the Arab world

Guest:     Abdelilah Benkirane, Chief of Government of Morocco

Guest:     Najib Mikati, Prime Minister of Lebanon

Guest:     Salam Fayyad, Prime Minister of the Palestinian Authority

Guest:     Hesham Qandil, Prime Minister of Egypt

Guest:     Ali M.Z. Ben Zedan, Prime Minister of Libya

Anchor:   Fareed Zakaria

THE NEXT LIST –  Airs Sunday 2:30PM – 3:00PM

This week 'The Next List' profiles Jay Keasling, a pioneer engineering microbes – single cell organisms like yeast and E. coli – to produce biofuels, medicines, and even cosmetic compounds from simple ingredients like sugar cane and grass.

ENCORE PRESENTATION:

JAKE TAPPER REPORTS: An American Hero: The Uncommon Valor of Clint Romesha - Airs Sunday 8:00 PM – 9:00 PM, 11:00PM

In a Jake Tapper Reports special, the anchor and chief Washington correspondent will look back at one of the deadliest days of the Afghan war through a compelling interview with former U.S. Army Staff Sergeant Clinton Romesha, who led the courageous battle when Combat Outpost Keating was attacked on Oct. 3, 2009. President Obama will award Romesha the Medal of Honor for his actions that deadly day on Monday, February 11.

All content, unless otherwise cited, is © All Things CNN and may not be used without consent of the blog administrator.

CNN's Severe Storm Coverage

CNN will broadcast live Friday night into Saturday. Chad Myers (@ChadMyersCNN) and Jen Delgado (@JenDelgadoCNN) will monitor the storm’s movement from the CNN Weather Center (@CNNWeather). 

CNN has a team of anchors and reporters dispatched throughout the region: 

Jason Carroll (@JasonCarrollCNN), Susan Candiotti (@SusanCandiotti), Poppy Harlow (@PoppyHarlowCNN), Ali Velshi (@AliVelshi), Ashleigh Banfield (@CNNAshleigh), Zain Asher, Alison Kosik (@AlisonKosik), Mary Snow (@MarySnowCNN), Gary Tuchman (@GaryTuchmanCNN) and Brian Todd (@BrianToddCNN). 

Erin Burnett (@ErinBurnett) and Anderson Cooper (@AndersonCooper) will anchor primetime coverage, while Chris Cuomo (@ChrisCuomo) guest anchors Piers Morgan Tonight. Brooke Baldwin (@BrookeBCNN) anchors overnight coverage. CNN.com will also have the latest news on the at This Just In, CNN’s breaking news blog.

All content, unless otherwise cited, is © All Things CNN and may not be used without consent of the blog administrator.

The Wrap: Is CNN's Cheapness the Problem?

image courtesy of Hollywood Reporter

A fascinating read about the behind the scenes budgeting issues at CNN from The Wrap:

At the first all-hands staff meeting called by CNN’s new CEO Jeff Zucker last month, a newsroom staffer asked if CNN would continue the same budgeting practices that discourage editors from assigning reported stories.
Zucker said he’d look into it. But the next questioner circled back to the same issue, and then a third one did, too.
What’s the issue?
At CNN, when editors assign stories to reporters and producers, the budgeting process requires them to count the employees' salaries against their newsroom budgets. The result is that editors often choose to save money by passing on the story pitch -- or by taking the same idea but using guest talking heads instead.
The reporters and producers are paid anyway. But the result is fewer reported stories and hoarded budgets.
The budgeting issue is symptomatic of what insiders say is a cheapskate culture at CNN that Zucker will have to change if he is to succeed at turning the news network around.
Current and former employees bemoan a deep-seated aversion to spending. “The biggest sin at CNN is spending money,” said one former executive to TheWrap.
“Ted Turner always used to say the news is the star. That was a way not to spend any money. Now they’ve got cheapness baked into their bones. They began to value it above all else.”


A CNN spokesman had no comment.
The executive recalled a discussion among editors when the South Asian tsunami hit in 2005. The first instinct was not to send Christiane Amanpour, the network’s star foreign correspondent (who they now share with ABC), to the region but instead to use the folks already based in Malaysia who would be “good enough.”
The nickel-pinching culture is, this executive said, one reason why Anderson Cooper is on twice a night, at 8 and 10 p.m. Why pay another anchor when Anderson can do it?
Or take Soledad O’Brien (above right). The former morning anchor had been moved to documentaries where she was finding success. But she was moved back to an anchor position, taking on “Morning Joe,” in part because the top brass couldn’t stand paying her an anchor salary for less intensive work.

“Ken Jautz was always offended that we didn’t cut Soledad’s salary when we took her off the anchor job,” said this executive. The attitude was, ’We’re paying her all this money, let’s get something out of her.’ But given the rating, it will end up losing money.”
So what about the popular Jautz (left), who replaced Jon Klein as president of U.S. operations?
Several say that former HLN chief represents this thrift-first mentality. In addition to the budgeting practice, which was instituted about five years ago, was the dividing of executive responsibilities for news-gathering, editorial functions and programming after Klein departed.

To read the rest of the article please follow the link.

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Rumor Has It That John King Will Stay At CNN

Fishbowl DC is reporting:

CNN’s John King, long thought to be on the outs with the network after “John King USA” went belly up and personal issues marred internal relations, has had his contract renewed. In the game of CNN Survivor, under the new regime of President Jeff Zucker, King is safe.
Others may not be as fortunate.
There are murmurings that Candy Crowley may be contemplating a change. She was originally scheduled for Inauguration coverage and then HLN’s Robin Meade was brought in from Atlanta along with Brooke Baldwin. Suddenly things weren’t so sweet for Candy and she was noticeably absent for much of the coverage. Sources tell us Crowley has been entertaining the idea of picking up her blocks and making a change, even before Zucker arrived. It was, however, announced in the Washington town hall held by Zucker that political programming would diminish but that overall programming would increase from the Washington bureau come one year from now.
Executives are buzzing that Kate Bolduan was “born to anchor.” So expect to see more of her. Also in the “like” category is Brianna Keilar, who is perceived as a fresh, younger face.
In the process of making changes, however, come certain tensions. For example, network insiders tell us Amy Entelis, senior VP for talent and content development, has Zucker meeting with talent from other networks who are under contract, in turn, “pissing off” lawyers at competing networks. In a mad dash, they are shooting a lot of pilots. Talent from other networks may break contracts only if the company lets them out of it. It’s difficult to do and seen as shameful. Some may recall David Shuster, whose relationship soured with MSNBC after they learned he’d shot a pilot for CNN. They parted ways.

All content, unless otherwise cited, is © All Things CNN and may not be used without consent of the blog administrator.

CNN Debuts Jake Tapper Reports Documentary

CNN Debuts Jake Tapper Reports Documentary

An American Hero: The Uncommon Valor of Clint Romesha to air Thursday at 10 p.m. 

In a Jake Tapper Reports documentary, the anchor and chief Washington correspondent will look back at one of the deadliest days of the Afghan war through a compelling interview with former U.S. Army Staff Sergeant Clinton Romesha, who led the courageous battle when Combat Outpost Keating was attacked on Oct. 3, 2009. The one-hour special will air Thursday, Feb. 7 at 10 p.m. ET, just days before President Obama will award Romesha the Medal of Honor for his actions that deadly day. 

Tapper, who has the first sit-down television interview with Romesha, traveled to Minot, N.D., less than two weeks ago to speak with the him about his uncommon valor and remarkable service to his country. The special also will feature interviews with Sergeant Thomas Rasmussen and former Private First Class Chris Jones who fought alongside Romesha.

Romesha was a central figure in Tapper’s recently published book about Combat Outpost Keating, “The Outpost: An Untold Story of American Valor,” which also chronicled eight American service members killed in the attack. The service members who made the ultimate sacrifice were Sergeant Justin T. Gallegos, Specialist Christopher T. Griffin, Sergeant Joshua Hardt, Sergeant Joshua J. Kirk, Specialist Stephan L. Mace, Staff Sergeant Vernon W. Martin, Sergeant Michael P. Scusa and Private First Class Kevin C. Thomson. 

CNN anchor and chief Washington correspondent Jake Tapper joined the network in January of 2013. His one-hour weekday program will premiere in March. Tapper’s book “The Outpost: An Untold Story of American Valor” debuted on the New York Times best-seller list.  Tapper has been a widely respected reporter in the nation’s capital for more than 14 years. In his more than nine years at ABC News, Tapper covered a wide range of stories, visiting remote corners of Afghanistan and covering the war in Iraq. 

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CNN Welcomes Zain Asher

CNN welcomes Zain Asher

  

Zain Asher joins CNN as business correspondent, where she will appear across platforms covering the latest news on personal finance, money and the economy.

Asher comes from MONEY magazine where she covered careers and investing, primarily focusing on stocks, mutual funds, consumer tech stories and workplace advice. Prior to joining MONEY, Asher spent two years as a reporter for News 12 covering the local economy, as well as political and cultural issues in Brooklyn, The Bronx and Connecticut. She served as a contributing reporter for Forbes.com, covering business trend and consumer stories. Her articles have appeared on CNNMoney.com, The Guardian and The Oxford Reporter. Born and raised in London, Asher graduated from Oxford University in 2005. In 2006, she earned an MS from Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism.

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