MUMBAI: CNN’s chief international correspondent Christiane Amanpour will launch a new global interview programme on 21 September that will air live on weekdays on CNN International from New York.
Says Amanpour, “I want this show to stir the global conscience. I have witnessed so much that it is time to start making real sense of it all. I learned to seek facts and to tell the truth no matter how difficult or unpopular and to not accept a false moral equivalence when none exists. I want to provide a forum for others to do the same.”
After spending nearly 26 years of reporting around the globe for the CNN, Amanpour will take on a new role as host of this half-hour weekday programme. The new programme will set the agenda for a new global conversation about the dramatic issues gripping the world.
Each show will primarily focus on one topic – newsworthy and often provocative – and will feature guests who challenge and deconstruct conventional wisdom. Amanpour will mobilise conversation, encourage debate and facilitate change through these interviews and analysis.
CNN International executive VP, MD Tony Maddox says, “Now, in this fragmented media world, Christiane’s powerful brand will serve as the hub for a global community of inquiring minds – people who are hungry for a more daring perspective and a fresh, thoughtful take on international stories.”
Kathy O’Hearn, who has more than 30 years of experience producing for both broadcast and cable networks, will be at the helm as the show’s executive producer.
The repositioning of CNN International includes an ambitious programming schedule that is being bolstered by the launch of six new prime-time programmes this year including the Amanpour launch in September and culminating with the opening of the network’s new production center in Abu Dhabi in November.