Tamron Hall Interview…

iVillage’s Kelly Wallace interviews Tamron Hall…

I didn’t know Tamron personally but I admired her work from afar – just like so many other people. She has that relatable quality of making you feel like you do know her or that you’d like to know her. So of course, when she opened up in a story on TheGrio.com last year, I read every word, and then when MSNBC asked if I would be interested in interviewing her for iVillage to talk about domestic violence, I jumped at the chance.

Watch as Tamron opens up to iVillage about her sister’s murder:

Sandra Smith Interview…

The Next Woman’s Simone Brummelhuis interviews FBN’s Sandra Smith…

As female business reporter, do you attract a similar/different audience than your older male counterparts?

Our audience is filled with smart, curious people who care about their money. I specifically target an audience that wants to put their money to work with my branded segment called “The Trade”. It is a segment about actionable ideas to make money in the stock and commodity markets.

Sometimes I hear women say they think investing their money responsibly is a man’s world. I like to show all viewers, male and female, the options that are out there to make their money make money.

Free for All: 10/31/11

What’s on your mind?

Luke Russert Profile…

The Buffalo News’ Jerry Zremsky profiles Luke Russert…

To hear Luke Russert’s friends and colleagues tell it, that watershed Weiner interview was public proof of something they had watched happen over the course of nearly three years.

At 26, Russert, the son of legendary NBC newsman and Buffalo native Tim Russert, has become a fine reporter in his own right.

It wasn’t quick, and it wasn’t easy.

Hired by NBC in 2008, only months after his college graduation and not long after his father collapsed and died of a heart attack, Russert endured a scathing Internet hazing.

But in the wake of his father’s death, and through the public flogging and an off-air apprenticeship, Russert did something totally unlike his dad:

He stayed calm.

CNNI Launches “Global Exchange”

News on News writes about the new CNNI business show airing out of Abu Dhabi called “Global Exchange”…

Launching November 7th new prime time business show airs Sunday – Thursdays live from Abu Dhabi as network continues to expand its business programming portfolio 11am ET, 5pm GMT, 6pm CET.

CNN International is expanding its business programming portfolio this autumn with the launch of ‘Global Exchange’, an hour-long weekday focus on the emerging markets looking at how emerging market news is framing the new world order.

Alert to the huge impact that the BRICS and other emerging markets are having on the world’s economy, ‘Global Exchange’ will report, analyse and interpret the events, players, trends and indices that are impacting and influencing the global financial community, at a time when business has never been a more significant part of the news agenda.

What’s Hot/What’s Not: 10/30/11

What’s Hot:

Christiane Amanpour back to CNN? – There’s probably nothing to it but it’s not the kind of story ABC or CNN needs to deal with.

Alan Chernoff exits CNNI – Chernoff heads to a PR firm…

CNBC signs with Arbitron – This is pretty big news as it signals a strategic change by the network to get past the “Nielsen barrier” and measure out of home viewing which the network has for years said constitutes a large percentage of its viewership. The question I have is how long before FBN follows suit?

Jim Clancy loses his CNNI show – The network’s Abu Dhabi bureau will get a new show.

Hala Gorani – And Gorani gets back a half hour of her I-Desk show.

American Morning’s imminent demise – All signs point to a change being announced next week.

Ali Velshi – And one of the changes according to The New York Times’ Brian Stelter is Velshi will get a CNNI business show.

What’s Not:

Donald Trump – Trump gins up a fake spat with Lawrence O’Donnell.

The media coverage of Trump’s Spat – And the Media falls for it again…

CNBC Portfolio Challenge Trouble; 2011 Edition – CNBC’s Portfolio Challenge is in the news again and like four years ago it’s because of contestants gaming the system.

American Morning Fallout…

The New York Times’ Brian Stelter picks up where Page Six and Robert Feder left off and writes about American Morning’s apparent imminent demise. Stelter breaks new ground here…

The latest round of overhauls started last December, when the co-anchor John Roberts left the program and joined Fox News, and continued in July, when Kiran Chetry left. It is unclear whether the interim anchors of “American Morning,” Ali Velshi, Christine Romans and Carol Costello, will retain any role on the new morning programs.

Mr. Velshi, a business reporter, is expected to anchor a business program on CNN International.

What? More CNNI changes? A business show for Velshi? Isn’t that Richard Quest’s beat? How is Quest going to feel about that?

Update: TVNewser’s Chris Ariens writes that the new shows probably won’t launch until the first of the year which is what I would have figured. A December launch isn’t enough time and with the silly season in full swing a bad time to be launching a show.

CNN AM Replacement Announcement Next Week?

Page Six again…

Ashleigh Banfield may have let the cat out of the bag on CNN’s latest shake-up. The former MSNBC host e-mailed her ex-colleagues Thursday to hint at a big announcement next week. Banfield is slated to host an early-morning show on the network from 5 to 7 a.m. As we reported last month, the network plans to reformat its “American Morning” show, with special correspondent Soledad O’Brien returning as host from 7 to 9 a.m. A CNN rep didn’t get back to us.

CNNI Drops Jim Clancy’s The Brief…

CNN International’s Jim Clancy made an announcement on Twitter last night…

The Brief makes way for a new program based in Abu Dhabi and an expansion of the i-Desk…

The Television media is all about change — like most other endeavors. But we’re working on how to get you your ‘Brief’ fix !

Jim Clancy will still be seen daily (or almost) in many roles! Remember, I was a correspondent for YEARS before I ever anchored.

I just LOVE The Brief team and the concept — and most of all, the audience that makes it worth doing: YOU!

This news comes almost two years to the day CNN originally took the wraps off its Abu Dhabi studios and began broadcasting Prism; the first show from the region. One wonders if this increased emphasis on the Middle East region is a response to a perceived threat from the Arab Spring induced rise in prominence of Al Jazeera. I’m going to assume that it’s Michael Holmes’ I-Desk slot that’s getting expanded. But what happens to World Sport which follows that half hour? Is it staying or going?

Update: It’s not Holmes’ I-Desk but Hala Gorani’s that’s getting expanded which makes absolutely no sense based on Clancy’s tweets because Gorani’s I-Desk airs a full hour and a half after The Brief. So something else is going to be happening to the schedule. World Sport at 15:30 GMT being dropped/moved? Or maybe the rotating group of taped half hours at 17:30 GMT? We shall see…

What’s Hot/What’s Not: Submissions…

Post your nominations for this week’s What’s Hot/What’s Not. I’ll post the finalists on Sunday night…

Alan Chernoff Departs CNN for PR Firm…

AdAge’s Alexandra Bruell writes about Alan Chernoff leaving CNN…

Fleishman-Hillard has hired senior CNN correspondent Allan Chernoff to serve as a full-time senior business media consultant.

The jump to a large PR shop will be a big change for Mr. Chernoff, who has been with CNN for over a decade, often serving as the network’s economic and personal finance analyst. In his time there, he has regularly appeared on CNN, CNN International, HLN and CNN Radio. He also wrote for Money.com and CNN.com.

Ad Age was not able to reach Mr. Chernoff, and CNN did not immediately respond to a call for comment. Omnicom Group-owned Fleishman declined to comment for this story, but people familiar with the matter say he will begin on Nov. 1.

Free for All: 10/27/11

What’s on your mind?

CNBC Signs With Arbitron…

MediaPost’s David Goetzl writes about CNBC signing with Arbitron to measure out of home ratings…

CNBC, which has long sought to quantify its significant viewing in offices and on trading floors, has signed a deal with Arbitron to use its out-of-home TV measurement service. The financial news outlet joins a host of Turner networks receiving the data, which is drawn from an Arbitron panel of about 70,000 people using portable people meters.

The service gives CNBC a chance to “quantify a previously unmeasured audience of young and affluent viewers who watch CNBC at work,” said Arbitron COO Sean Creamer on an investor call Tuesday.

Chris Jansing on Interviews Past and Future…

Part 3 of TVNewser’s interview.

Free for All: 10/26/11

What’s on your mind?

Christiane Amanpour Back to CNN?

Page Six makes trouble…

“This Week” anchor Christiane Amanpour isn’t getting along with the bosses at ABC News, and has reached out to the honchos at CNN to return to the network where she started her career. Sources tell us award-winning Amanpour has been “miserable” anchoring the weekly political talk show and contacted Turner CEO Phil Kent about getting back to reporting on her passion — international affairs. “The courtship began over the summer when Phil first got wind that all was not well with her over there,” a source said. “Both sides regretted her leaving.” Sources say Amanpour has butted heads with executive producer Rick Kaplan and ABC News president Ben Sherwood. “It’s a problem,” a source said. “Rick is trying to guide the show, but she doesn’t want to hear it.” An ABC rep said, “I just got off the phone with Christiane, she says that’s total nonsense. She’s very happy at ABC News. She’s not going anywhere. She’s had the most extraordinary year. She’s a critical, essential voice.” A CNN rep declined to comment on “speculation.”

Imus vs. O’Reilly?

The Cutline’s Dylan Stableford writes about Don Imus cancelling a Bill O’Reilly appearance on his FBN show…

Bill O’Reilly was supposed to be a guest on Don Imus’ radio show–simulcast weekdays on the Fox Business channel–on Tuesday morning to plug “Killing Lincoln,” O’Reilly’s new book about the 16th president’s assassination. But Imus canceled O’Reilly’s appearance the program. Why? The shock jock was apparently incensed that O’Reilly, the top-rated Fox News host, plugged an his appearance on Tuesday’s “Today” show during Monday night’s “O’Reilly Factor” without mentioning Imus.

“[O'Reilly's representatives] asked to be on to promote his dopey book,” Imus told listeners Tuesday, adding that he watched O’Reilly’s show Monday night looking for a mention. “He says, ‘I am going to be on the ‘Today’ show tomorrow morning.’ I said, ‘That’s nice.’ I am waiting for ‘and I am going to be on with my friend Imus.’ I didn’t hear that.”

Trump vs. O’Donnell….yawn…

Oh look, it’s Donald Trump getting the media to write about him for no good reason again. Suckers…

Donald Trump and Lawrence O’Donnell are engaged in a Twitter feud.

Trump was a frequent target of O’Donnell’s earlier in the year. O’Donnell drew widespread attention for the ferocity of his attacks on Trump back when Trump was saying he was going to run for president (and when he was making his descent into birtherism.)

On Tuesday, Trump somewhat randomly launched into a Twitter attack on O’Donnell.

While both sides scored technical points against each other the bigger question is why does the Media react like Pavlovian dogs any time Trump gins up a controversy to get himself some press? And, yes, launching an out of the blue attack on O’Donnell regardless of the validity of Trump’s original point that O’Donnell got Pawlenty’s nomination totally wrong most definitely qualifies as ginning up a controversy to get himself press. If Trump was truly interested in nailing O’Donnell’s hide to the wall he would have done so the moment Pawlenty took himself out of the running…not now. Now it’s all about getting himself some press. And the media fell for it. Again. Grow up media!

Chris Jansing on MSNBC’s Leftward Turn…

Part 2 of TVNewser’s interview with Jansing. Somewhere Jay Rosen is rolling his eyes at Jansing’s “view from Nowhere” stance when she talks about MSNBC and giving boths sides.

Free for All: 10/25/11

What’s on your mind?

CNBC’s Portfolio Challenge Gets Gamed Again…

TVBR.com writes about the latest edition of CNBC’s Portfolio Challenge getting ensnared in controversy…

CNBC’s fantasy stock market game, the “Million-Dollar Portfolio Challenge,” was suspended 10/21 because some players managed exploit the system. “There was a technical glitch in the current equity trading system, which a handful of players found and exploited to jump to the top of the leaderboard,” the company said in a statement Friday.

For those keeping score, this isn’t the first time Portfolio Challenge has had issues with players trying to game the system. Four years ago a different tactic was tried to game it.

Chris Jansing Interview

TVNewser’s Chris Ariens interviews Chris Jansing in part one of a three part Media Beat series. What makes this odd is that I posted this video before TVNewser did!

Free for All: 10/24/11

What’s on your mind?

Andrew Morse Interview…

AdWeek interviews Bloomberg TV topper Andrew Morse…

Let’s talk about neighborhooding. Are you targeting the New York market specifically? Are you looking to buy your way in?

The goal is to get Bloomberg TV in front of as many eyeballs as possible—not just as a linear cable network, but as a multi-platform network. We want to be aggressive in mobile, we want to be aggressive on the Web, we want to be aggressive on TV, we want to be aggressive on cable. That’s what you saw at the debate. People showed up to watch us across a variety of platforms and that to me is as exciting as anything else.

Are you developing new shows?

We have a program broadcast from the studio in San Francisco, with anchors devoted to covering innovation, technology, and the future. Our morning program, Inside Track, is featuring a new anchor team. When people wake up, especially people in the financial world, they don’t have time to waste. They want to know what’s going on, they want access to information, they want context—what really happened throughout the day. By the same token, the closing bell is a pivotal moment, especially in these times of great volatility. We have a new anchor team on Street Smart. The goal on that program is the notion that every closing is an opening. Every buy has a sell and every action has an equal and opposite reaction.

The Hazards of Live TV: #25,130

Where’s the bleep? (via J$)

Zoraida Sambolin to American Morning?

A couple of days ago Time Out Chicago’s Robert Feder reported that Zoraida Sambolin was jumping from NBC afilliate WMAQ to CNN. Now today Feder is reporting that Sambolin may be headed to American Morning…

Following former WMAQ-Channel 5 news anchors Robin Meade and Don Lemon, Zoraida Sambolin is on the path to stardom on CNN. As first reported here Thursday, the anchor of NBC 5 News Today is leaving the NBC-owned station after nine years to join CNN in New York. Sources at the network said she’s been hired as one of the anchor replacements for American Morning, the three-hour morning news show that’s been struggling in the ratings.

What’s Hot/What’s Not: 10/23/11

What’s Hot:

FBN Course Correction – Kevin Magee’s internal FBN memo regarding the network not doing too much politics coverage signals a move towards more business news.

MSNBC Primetime Flip Flop – MSNBC, apparently feeling a little CNN heat, is going to flip The Last Word and The Ed Show. It’s probably the right call but it also is going to add fuel to the storyline CNN is pushing; that it’s primetime programming changes are having an impact.

Zoraida Sambolin – Sambolin has apparently been hired away from WMAQ by CNN. More importantly, tonight Robert Feder reports that Sambolin may be headed to American Morning. Which leads to the obvious question…who is she going to replace?

Gaddaffi Killed – It dominated the news the last half of the week.

What’s Not:

MSNBC’s 12 noon programming change – Putting on more political coverage instead of live news is not a welcome development.

What’s Hot/What’s Not: Submsissions…

Post your nominations for this week’s What’s Hot/What’s Not. I’ll post the finalists on Sunday night…

Press Releases: 10/21/11

CNN (1)

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad Speaks Exclusively to CNN’s Fareed Zakaria

CNN’s Fareed Zakaria will interview Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad this week in Tehran. Zakaria and President Ahmadinejad will discuss the death of Libya’s Moammar Gadhafi, recent U.S. accusations of an alleged Iranian assassination plot against the Saudi Ambassador to the United States, the release of the American hikers from detention in Tehran, internal Iranian democracy movements, and other subjects.

The Iranian president will be interviewed in Tehran at the presidential palace.

This exclusive interview will air live in a special broadcast on CNN International on Friday, Oct. 21 at 10:30pm ET on CNN International. The full interview will air inside FAREED ZAKARIA GPS on Sunday, October 23, 2011 at 10:00am ET on CNN/U.S.

Free for All: 10/21/11

What’s on your mind?