CNN en Espanol Hires Elizabeth Perez…

CNN en Espanol annouced that Elizabeth Perez is joining the networks sports team…

Elizabeth Pérez joins CNN en Español’s sports team

CNN en Español continues to expand its team of journalists, and as part of this process announces the hiring of Elizabeth Pérez as part of the network’s Sports team. Perez will be covering the latest and most relevant news in the world of sports throughout the daytime programming. This, in addition to the daily sports appointment Deportes CNN, hosted by Diego Bustos, airing Monday to Friday at 10:00 pm and 12:00 am (ET) and Saturdays and Sundays at 11:00 pm (ET)

“With the expansion of the network’s sports journalist team, now sports fans will not have to wait to receive the latest news about their favorite team or player,” said Cynthia Hudson, senior vice president and general manager of CNN en Español and Hispanic strategy for CNN/U.S. “Our viewers are assiduous sports fans, and we are pleased to bring, throughout the day, everything they want to know about this fascinating world with the hiring of a dynamic journalist such as Elizabeth.”

Pérez joined CNN en Español after working as TV presenter for the sports segments on Telemundo News, based in Miami, where she was also invited as a guest reporter on the extreme sport show, Ritmo Deportivo.

Free for All: 04/05/11

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Jim Walton Interview…

The Atlanta Journal Constitution’s Henry Unger interviews CNN Worldwide’s Jim Walton…

Over the past few years, as many media outlets cut international staffs and closed bureaus, CNN has beefed up overseas. Walton said “significant investments” were made to expand coverage in places like Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates, Nigeria, Kenya, Chile and India.

Here’s his strategy in a nutshell: Build the CNN brand around the world by providing original news content that attracts viewers — and advertisers. Go after the key demographic advertisers want to reach on TV news networks — the 25-to-54-year-olds with above-average education and money.

On the website, Walton said, CNN advertisers are seeking “lots of viewers who come frequently and spend time.” With original content, he said, they spend more time. That’s one of the reasons CNN.com no longer uses the Associated Press stories that are common on many websites.

More original content has helped the bottom line, he said. Despite the recession, CNN’s operating profit worldwide grew an average of 14 percent a year from 2006 to 2010, Walton said.

Thomas Roberts to Make 30 Rock Appearance…

Two Sundays ago, Thomas Roberts made the Hot list because his profile is sky high right now. Well, he’ll probably make it on the Hot list again this week for the same reason. Now Roberts is going to make an appearance on NBC’s 30 Rock. To say that Roberts is getting a “push” is putting it mildly. Nobody from MSNBC’s dayside anchor rotation has ever gotten this level of exposure after being with NBC News for such a relatively short amount of time. Nobody. We’re in uncharted territory here. Feel free to extrapolate on the reasons why this is happening in the comments. I could use the help because I’m at a loss to understand it.