A Gumbo of Clips

All eyes were on Denver this week, but by the weekend attention had turned to New Orleans and the threat of another hurricane. On Wednesday, Sean Callebs was already in NOLA and did a story on the early preparations:

Meanwhile, Morgan Neill is back in Havana and did some updates from there as Gustav approached:

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Monday, Harris Whitbeck had a piece about Mexican jail inmates learning yoga:

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Dara Torres, who just won 3 silver medals in Beijing, had surgery Wednesday to repair damage to her right shoulder. Dr. Sanjay Gupta was in the operating room, and filed three reports. The first one is pre-op, but if you're squeamish you may want to skip the second and third, which do include some footage of the surgery itself:

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Two new promos aired late in the week -- the first focuses on the convention/political coverage:

The second seems to be a re-make of one that is running on International that focuses on CNN's foreign correspondents, but adds the Domestic anchors. The theme is "the search for truth":

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Finally, Anderson Cooper did a cameo on The Daily Show this week. I just pulled the bits he was in (don't want to annoy the fun folk at Viacom!):

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Where in the World...?

Denver was the place to be this week. And while I normally try to keep track of which anchors are on/off... this week they were juggling shows and anchors and I finally quit trying to keep them all straight! Issue #1 was replaced by America Votes 2008, hosted by John Roberts (in Denver) and Soledad O'Brien (in NYC), but with news breaks still handled by the Newsroom anchors.

SATURDAY: John King, Wolf Blitzer, Anderson Cooper, Suzanne Malveaux, and Joe Johns all reported from Denver (through Thursday); Candy Crowley was in Springfield, Illinois for the Obama/Biden speech.

SUNDAY: Dana Bash and Candy Crowley were in Denver (through Thursday).

MONDAY: John Roberts was in Denver (through Thursday), Soledad O'Brien was in New York, Michael Ware was in New York (clips in Monday's post).

WEDNESDAY: Sean Callebs was in New Orleans, Nic Robertson was in Atlanta and appeared on Newsroom to talk about Darfur (clips in Monday's post); Matthew Chance (above) was in Sochi, Russia, where he reported on US aid to Georgia but also was interviewing Russian President Medvedev and Prime Minister Putin (clips in Monday's post); Sanjay Gupta was in Boynton Beach, Florida.

THURSDAY: Morgan Neill reported from Havana.

FRIDAY: Anderson Cooper, Tom Foreman and Chris Lawrence were in New Orleans; Dana Bash was in Dayton, Ohio for the McCain rally and in Cambridge, Ohio as the tour bus rolled along; and Wolf Blitzer, John King, and Campbell Brown were in St. Paul, Minnesota for the upcoming Republican convention at the XCEL Energy Center.

(By the way, for those of you wondering where Ali Velshi is, he reported from Grand Isle, Louisiana this morning.)

We'll all be keeping a close on Gustav this weekend and praying for those in its path.

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

This Week in Warzones.

Jamie McIntyre had a piece on Lou Dobbs Tonight Tuesday contrasting the war efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan:

Here is the full report from Nic Robertson that Jamie referenced:

Meanwhile, two somewhat positive reports from Iraq -- first Jill Dougherty, about a new movement for Iraqi women to receive training in order to work at checkpoints in order to search local women for bombs:

And Morgan Neill has a report about the Explosive Ordinance Detail (the bomb squad, for us non-military types) and the fact that they are getting more down-time these days:

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Christiane Amanpour was invited to North Korea for some implosion fun:

...and here is her report on arrival:

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Where in the World...?

SATURDAY: Nic Robertson reported from Kabul, Afghanistan; John Vause from Beijing; Matthew Chance from Moscow; and Cal Perry from Beirut.

SUNDAY: Peter Bergen appeared on Late Edition.

MONDAY: Ed Lavendera was in Cedar Rapids, Iowa as flood clean-up began; Morgan Neill reported from Baghdad (video above); Chris Lawrence from Honolulu, Hawaii about the high cost of food there (above); Candy Crowley and Dana Bash were both in The Situation Room; Wolf Blitzer hosted Election Center.

TUESDAY: Nic Robertson phoned in from Kandahar about the airport fire (video above); Jill Dougherty reported from Baghdad about the Daughters of Iraq (video above).

WEDNESDAY: Ted Rowlands reported from Los Angeles about drilling for oil in the city; Ali Velshi reported from Fort McMurry, Alberta about bitumen oil; Christiane was in Beijing en route to North Korea; John Roberts hosted Issue #1.

THURSDAY: Christiane arrived in Pyongyang, North Korea (video above); Suzanne Malveaux was in Honolulu to do reports about Barack Obama's childhood there; Harris Whitbeck reported about the drug wars in Mexico City.

FRIDAY: Candy was in Unity, New Hampshire for the "Kumbaya rally," but back in DC in time for Election Center and AC360.

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That's it for me today, and I'm late for work (...again!!)

Monday I'm planning a Very Special Post ... and I am really looking forward to writing it!!

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

Wring out the old, ring in the new

Yes, it's that time of year... when all the media outlets give us their "Top 10" lists and "______ of the Year" choices. CNN has already started running a 2007 summary commercial: 

Airing Monday night is the documentary "Rescuing Youssif," with Sanjay Gupta and Arwa Damon taking us on the incredible journey to repair damage caused when masked men doused a 5-year-old Iraqi boy with gasoline and set him on fire. In this clip, we learn how CNN got involved when the boy's father brought his story to the Baghdad bureau:

Wednesday will see a year-end-review show focusing on the impact that iReporters had this year:

Year-End Special Explores Impact of User-Generated Content on News

CNN’s ‘iReport: Caught on Camera’ Premieres Wednesday, Dec. 26, at 8 p.m. (ET)

As 2007 comes to a close, CNN reviews the year’s most talked-about stories including the Virginia Tech tragedy, the Minneapolis bridge collapse and California’s wildfire through the eyes of its citizen journalists. “iReport: Caught on Camera” will highlight the most memorable news events of 2007 by showcasing material from iReporters – viewers and users who submit their own pictures and video of the news of the day via cell phones, cameras and other devices.

Hosted by Out in the Open’s Rick Sanchez, “iReport: Caught on Camera” will premiere on CNN/U.S. and CNN HD on Wednesday, Dec. 26, at 8 p.m., and replays on Tuesday, Jan. 1, at 8 p.m. All times Eastern. The special will also air on CNN International at various times depending on location.

“It’s hard to turn away when watching a news story unfold in the raw – unfiltered and user-generated,” Sanchez said. “iReport is cutting edge and has become a meeting place where news, television and today’s technology intersect and keep us in awe.”

The one-hour special is packed with the best iReports of 2007, featuring interviews with iReporters and CNN/U.S. President Jon Klein about the year’s biggest stories including the Virginia Tech tragedy, the riots in Myanmar, the Minneapolis bridge collapse and California’s wildfires. CNN anchors and correspondents Jim Acosta, Wolf Blitzer, Matthew Chance, Heidi Collins, Anderson Cooper, Don Lemon, David Mattingly, Chad Myers, Nic Robertson and Ted Rowlands also add dimension to the top stories from their own reporting during the year.

With more than 73,000 submissions in 2007, CNN’s iReport exposed the world to some of the most compelling images in the news over the last year and helped establish user-generated content as a powerful and viable means of newsgathering. The special replays compelling iReports of an earthquake in Peru, an eyewitness to a suicide bombing in Afghanistan, the top political iReports with Tom Foreman, a Taser incident during a John Kerry speech, severe weather around the world and contributions from U.S. troops and their families.

On the morning of April 16, iReport created a remarkable impression when chilling cell phone video from the campus of Virginia Tech provided viewers with a first-hand look at the tragedy that claimed the lives of 32 victims. Within 24 hours of the Virginia Tech tragedy, CNN received more than 420 submissions, ranging from eyewitness accounts of the events on campus to reflective and emotional tributes to those that lost their lives. The latest submission record was set during the recent California wildfires, when iReporters shared 11,680 videos and photos.

Viewers submit iReport material through a “Send Your iReport” link at CNN.com or by e-mail at ireport@cnn.com. Submitted material undergoes the same extensive vetting process CNN employs for all content that goes on air or online.

“iReport: Caught on Camera” will be broadcast in high definition. The executive producer is Michael Kane.

It's also award season, and one of the top ones for journalism, the duPont Awards (considered the broadcast equivalent of the Pulitzer Prize) were announced this week. Although no CNN reporters were named this year, they will have a representative: 

CNN's Christiane Amanpour, a former duPont awardee, will interview several of the duPont winners in the PBS special program Telling the Truth: The Best in Broadcast Journalism, premiering Jan. 28. This program, an annual feature on public television stations, will include excerpts of the winning programs and explore how journalists outsmart the blizzard of spin, the limitations of newsroom budgets, and the logistics of travel to dangerous locations. 

Where In The World...?
It was another big week in Iowa, of course: on Sunday TJ Holmes was in Des Moines and Suzanne Malveaux was in Cedar Falls. Monday, Suzanne was in Des Moines, along with Candy Crowley, who had been in DC on Sunday. Tuesday Suzanne was still in Des Moines (with the Clinton campaign) while Dana Bash was on the road with Fred Thompson. Wednesday John King was in Des Moines; Thursday he was in Indianola, Iowa. (I know; get a map!) Friday, John King and Dana Bash were both in Des Moines. Thankfully, Iowa took Saturday off...

Meanwhile, Wolf Blitzer took the whole week off, with the exception of going to Columbia, Missouri in the Election Express on Wednesday, in order to get an exclusive interview with Rudy Giuliani. Monday and Tuesday, John King hosted "The Situation Room," while Suzanne Malveaux did the honors Thursday and Friday.

Arwa Damon had a pre-recorded piece air Wednesday that was shot in New York and Philadelphia, but she added live commentary from London. Harris Whitbeck (pictured above) is currently in Baghdad.

By the way, if you have a chance, check out the political roundtable that airs during the third hour of TSR. The panel changes every day, but is usually excellent. A frequent combination (and my personal favorite) is Jeffrey Toobin, Jack Cafferty, and Gloria Borger.

That's it for me this week... have a wonderful Christmas!

CNN Explores Hispanic Heritage in Prime Time, Online This Week

Below are excerpts from a CNN Press Release announcing programming for Hispanic Heritage Month:

CNN’s Uncovering America programming initiative continues this week across the network’s multiple broadcast platforms and digital services with dynamic, original reporting on the challenges faced by Hispanic communities in the United States and the growing influence of Hispanic culture upon politics, daily life and business in America. This latest installment – The Hispanic Experience Today – coincides with events across the nation for Hispanic Heritage Month.

Online, CNN.com offers in-depth coverage and users’ reflections on being Hispanic in America. Through i-Reports, users can submit videos, still photos and text of their experiences. Many viewers’ personal reflections are posted at www.CNN.com/UncoveringAmerica.

On television, CNN’s American Morning on Wednesday, Oct. 3, will feature Cuban-American actor Oscar Nuñez from NBC’s The Office, who will talk about the changing images of Hispanics in media. American Morning is anchored by Kiran Chetry and John Roberts and airs Mondays through Fridays from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. (ET).

On Out in the Open, the network’s nightly issues broadcast, anchor Rick Sanchez will interview guests and moderate debates on the hot topics of English as the official national language in America, jobs and immigration. Tonight, Sanchez reveals his undercover investigation about life as a day laborer. Reporting on the informal economy surrounding day laborers, Sanchez shows first-hand how they negotiate for wages, the kind of work they perform and their hopes for the future.

For Wednesday, Oct. 3, Out in the Open broadcast will focus on enforcement at the U.S.-Mexican border. Sanchez will moderate a spirited debate on proposed recommendations on the subject of whether a border fence is a sensible means of addressing illegal border crossings and other immigration issues. Out in the Open airs each weekday from 8 p.m. to 9 p.m. (ET).

On Anderson Cooper 360°, special correspondent Soledad O’Brien files, “Return to Hidalgo,” a report on one of the nearly empty Mexican villages on the road from Mexico City that are being rebuilt with U.S. dollars sent home from undocumented workers. But with increased border enforcement, the population of Hidalgo has begun to swell with returning workers from America. O’Brien reports on both sides of the border for a look at the changes that means for the American cities that they left and the Mexican ones to which they’ve returned.

Also on Anderson Cooper 360°, correspondent Ed Lavandera will report about children of Mexican workers attending the Yuma Union School District in San Luis, Ariz. Each weekday, children who were born in America but still live in Mexico return for a better education in violation school district boundary rules. Lavandera talks to people on both sides of the issue, including an “attendance monitor” who tracks down the kids who are attending public schools for free in Arizona.

For Anderson Cooper 360° on Thursday, Oct. 4, correspondent Harris Whitbeck reports on the issue of cross-border adoption in which the owner of a Guatemalan adoption agency stands accused of coercing Guatemalan parents to allow their babies to go to wealthy American adoptive parents. Recently, Guatemalan officials claimed the man paid women to become impregnated with Anglo sperm to make babies even more desirable to prospective American parents.

For the Uncovering America initiative, CNN Newsource has produced minibiographies on notable Americans of Hispanic ethnicity that are currently airing on television affiliates across the country. The profiles will also be available to users as streaming video at www.CNN.com/UncoveringAmerica. The profiles include:

• César Chávez, a Mexican American farm labor leader and Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient who worked to secure civil rights for farm workers;
• Ellen Ochoa, NASA’s director of flight crew operations and America’s first female Hispanic astronaut;
• Dr. Antonia Coella Novello, MD, a Puerto Rican pediatricn and nephrologist who served as the first Hispanic U.S. Surgeon General during the Clinton administration;
• Legendary Afro-Cuban American salsa singer Celia Cruz; and
• Mexican American middle weight boxing legend and Olympic gold medalist, Oscar De La Hoya.

CNN en Español, CNN’s 24-hour Spanish-language news network, will also air profiles of Hispanics who have “made a difference.”

• Anchor Claudia Palacios interviewed Atlanta-based Dr. Jorge Simons, who treats and counsels drug and alcohol addicts;
• correspondent Cristina Puig interviewed Peruvian-American soccer star and trainer Teofilo Cubillas;
• correspondent Karina Coronel interviewed American theater legend Mauricio Marcel, an Argentinian-American now based in Washington, D.C.;
• Patricia Pedraza profiles entrepreneur Salomon Paniagua, who began his career as a busboy and now owns a chain of diners in Queens, N.Y.;
• and Nazeli Nazar interviews Laura Trejo, the first female Hispanic politician to be appointed to senior levels of city government in Los Angeles and now serves as the general manager of the city’s Department of Aging.

On Monday, Oct. 15, CNN en Español will begin streaming its news and public affairs program, Encuentro con Daniel Viotto, on CNN.com Live which each night at 8 p.m. (ET). Guests will be newsmakers, business leaders and politicians from the Latino Diaspora.