MSNBC and Starbucks…

Here’s the release…

STARBUCKS AND MSNBC JOIN FORCES

Partnership Will Introduce “Morning Joe” Brewed by Starbucks

Sponsorship Agreement Will Highlight Starbucks Coffee Products on Morning News Program

SEATTLE/NEW YORK: June 1, 2009 – Starbucks Coffee Company (NASDAQ: SBUX) and MSNBC have formed a marketing relationship to highlight Starbucks coffee products on “Morning Joe,” the cable network’s morning program hosted by former Congressman Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski. The program features interviews with top newsmakers and politicians and in-depth analysis of the day’s biggest stories.

Press Releases: 05/26/09

CNBC (1)

CNBC PRESENTS “THE OPRAH EFFECT” PREMIERING THURSDAY, MAY 28TH AT 9PM ET & 10PM PT

One-Hour CNBC Special Hosted by CNBC’s Carl Quintanilla

ENGLEWOOD CLIFFS, N.J., May 26, 2009 — She’s the queen of talk, a cultural and financial icon and her impact on business is worth billions. Oprah Winfrey is the most influential woman in America — maybe the world. Experts have a term for her unmatched and incredible ability to take companies from no names to brand names: The Oprah Effect.

On Thursday, May 28th at 9PM ET & 10PM PT, CNBC presents “The Oprah Effect,” an original CNBC special hosted by CNBC’s Carl Quintanilla that goes inside businesses to explain Oprah’s unparalleled impact on their bottom line, their secrets to getting on her show and how the Oprah Effect continues to translate her brand and others into big business and big dollars.

Quintanilla was recently interviewed by “Today” co-anchor Meredith Vieira about “The Oprah Effect” exclusively. You can watch the video here…

Press Releases: 05/21/09

CNN (2)

CNN’s iReport.com, the network’s unfiltered, user-generated community Web site, has again joined with Digg.com, the leading destination for people to discover and share the best content from anywhere on the Web, to pose questions from their respective communities to newsmakers at both conventions.

The interview series, called “Digg Dialogg,” invites key political and national leaders to tackle diverse topics including politics, technology, the environment, music and film. As part of the series, leaders directly address questions the users of iReport.com and Digg.com want answered most.

CNN.com Live’s Anchor Nicole Lapin will be conducting the interview and it will be streamed on CNN.com Live, Wednesday, May 27 at 2:00pm PT / 5:00pm ET. iReport.com questions can be submitted for Governor Schwarzenegger at iReport.com here or on Digg.com here.

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Network Taps CNN Veteran Kate Lunger to Lead Special Events Unit

Kate Lunger, a veteran producer of the network, has been named senior executive producer of CNN’s special events unit, it was announced today by David Bohrman, senior vice president and Washington bureau chief. In this role, Lunger will lead the team’s planning and coordination of CNN’s coverage of events, such as debates, major primaries and caucuses, party conventions, election night, summits and U.S. presidential overseas trips.

Press Releases: 05/15/09

MSNBC (1)

THE RACHEL MADDOW SHOW LAUNCHES NEW iPHONE AND iPOD TOUCH APPLICATION

Free App Delivers Video, Photos and Top News Stories for Fast Growing Cable Show

NEW YORK – May 15, 2009 – Msnbc.com and Zumobi today announced the launch of The Rachel Maddow Show application for the iPhone and iPod touch, offering consumers a new way to enjoy Maddow’s smart look at politics, pop culture and current events. The free application — available now on the Apple App Store — delivers videos and photos, and allows consumers to easily access and respond to Rachel’s Twitter updates. Rachel Maddow hosts MSNBC’s “The Rachel Maddow Show,” featuring Maddow’s take on the biggest stories of the day, political and otherwise, including lively debate with guests from all sides of the issues, in-depth analysis and stories no other shows in cable news will cover.

Press Releases: 04/15/09

CNBC (1)

BUT WAIT, THERE’S MORE!

THE CNBC ORIGINAL “AS SEEN ON TV,” PREMIERING WEDNESDAY, APRIL 22ND TAKES YOU INSIDE THE $150 BILLION WORLD OF INFOMERCIALS

CNBC’S DARREN ROVELL REPORTS

ENGLEWOOD CLIFFS, N.J., April 15, 2009 – Whether it’s a blanket with sleeves or a super-absorbent towel, the 25-year old, $150 billion infomercial industry continues to convince millions of us to hand over our hard earned money for stuff we had no idea we ever needed. The CNBC Original, “As Seen on TV,” reported by Darren Rovell, and premiering Wednesday, April 22, at 9PM and 1AM ET, takes a behind-the-scenes look at the industry’s tricks of the trade and how, even in today’s troubled economy, it just keeps on growing.

Press Releases: 04/13/09

CNN (1), MSNBC (1)

CNN

CNN’s Dr. Sanjay Gupta Investigates Addiction — is Medicine or Counseling Best?

Hazelden, Promises, the Betty Ford Center – the names of some substance abuse treatment centers are almost as famous as some of their alumni. There are more than 20 million substance abuse addicts in America; about 2 million each year turn to residential rehab. A typical month-long stay costs about $26,000, yet the approaches and success rates are wildly uneven. CNN’s chief medical correspondent and neurosurgeon Dr. Sanjay Gupta talks to addicts from all walks of life and levels of recovery, their families, medical researchers, counselors and even visits a “recovery high school” to investigate the latest science and treatments aimed at getting – and keeping – addicts clean and sober.

CNN Presents: Addiction: Life on the Edge, reported will premiere on Saturday, Apr. 18 at 8 p.m. and 11 p.m. ET and PT.

Medical researchers and counseling therapists still disagree whether addiction is a disease of the brain, or a crisis of willpower – and that creates major issues in identifying the most effective treatments. Gupta leverages his knowledge of the brain to help explain why the physical attributes of addicts’ brains are different, and how the receptors of addicts’ brains react differently to stress and pleasure stimuli that affect decision making, cravings and other behaviors.

Press Releases: 04/09/09

CNN (1)

CNN.com Live to stream Funeral Mass for Earthquake Victims in Italy

CNN.com Live, the site’s live, multi-stream video news service, will stream the State Funeral Mass being held in Italy tomorrow for Monday’s Earthquake victims. The service is scheduled to begin at 5 a.m. ET and is taking place at the school campus of the Italian police force, Guardia di Finanza. Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi is scheduled to attend as well as other prominent Italian political leaders in an exceptional Good Friday funeral mass with full state honors. To access CNN.com Live, go to http://www.CNN.com/Live and click on the thumbnail images under the “Happening Now” column.

Press Releases: 03/31/09

CNN (1)

Kathy O’Hearn Returns to CNN to Helm New Christiane Amanpour Show

Award-winning producer Kathy O’Hearn has been tapped by CNN to executive produce chief international correspondent Christiane Amanpour’s forthcoming program on CNN International, it was announced today by Tony Maddox, executive vice president and managing director of CNN International.

O’Hearn, who has more than 30 years of experience producing for both broadcast and cable networks, returns to CNN in preparation for the September launch of the New York-based, half-hour weekday program set to air during European prime-time on CNN International and on Sunday afternoons on CNN/U.S.

“Kathy and Christiane will make a formidable team,” said Maddox. “By combining Kathy’s track record of news-making interviews and award-winning show production with Christiane’s journalistic tenacity and global recognition, we have created a signature show that will be the heart of the schedule.”

Press Releases: 03/19/09

MSNBC (1)

MSNBC PREMIERES “MY MOTHER’S GARDEN,” “WITCH HUNT” AND “ROBERT BLECKER WANTS ME DEAD” SUNDAY NIGHTS AT 10 P.M. ET IN APRIL

NEW YORK – March 19, 2009 – This April, MSNBC is the place to watch all-new compelling documentaries by independent filmmakers, every Sunday night at 10 p.m. ET. The MSNBC Films premieres begin April 5th with “My Mother’s Garden” – a daughter’s eyewitness account of her mother’s slide into madness. On Sunday, April 12th, Sean Penn’s “Witch Hunt” brings light to an injustice that took 20 years to correct. And on Sunday, April 19th, tune in for the most interesting death row interview you’ll ever see in “Robert Blecker Wants Me Dead.”

Sunday, April 5th: MY MOTHER’S GARDEN

Press Releases: 03/18/09

MSNBC (1)

MSNBC PREMIERES “LOCKED AND LOADED: KIDS AND GUNS IN AMERICA” MARCH 22nd AT 10 P.M. ET

NEW YORK – March 18, 2009- From Alabama to Germany, mass shootings have been the alarming subject of the latest news headlines. The United States is the most heavily armed country in the world, and now our nation’s gun culture is attracting a new and younger generation. MSNBC explores that young gun culture in the world premiere of Firecracker Film’s “Locked and Loaded: Kids and Guns in America,” Sunday at 10 p.m. ET.

“Locked and Loaded: Kids and Guns in America” profiles two American families, one from Massachusetts, the other near Washington, D.C., who believe that guns are as much a part of growing up as family dinners and apple pie. One of the parents in the film proudly states of his young son: “He’s the first 5-year old in Burgess Elementary School System that’s ever shot an M16.” The documentary also features an interview with gun show operator and former Pelham, Massachusetts Chief of Police, Ed Fleury, who was recently indicted after an 8-year-old at one of his gun shows tried to shoot a machine gun, lost control of it and fatally shot himself in the head.

Press Releases: 03/11/09

CNN (1)

Exclusive: Former VP Cheney to Appear on State of the Union with John King

In his first television interview since leaving office, former Vice President Dick Cheney will appear Sunday, March 15 exclusively on State of the Union with John King. The live, in-studio interview will air in the 9 a.m. hour.

Chief national correspondent and anchor John King will conduct a wide-ranging interview covering the anniversary of the Iraq war, the threat of a nuclear Iran, the ailing economy and more. King will also get Cheney’s impressions of the Obama administration and his thoughts on former President George W. Bush.

Press Releases: 03/04/09

CNBC (1)

LEGENDARY INVESTOR WARREN BUFFETT TO JOIN CNBC’S BECKY QUICK FOR A SPECIAL EDITION OF “SQUAWK BOX” ON MONDAY, MARCH 9TH 6AM-9AM ET

CNBC BRINGS VIEWERS THE ANSWERS THEY NEED DIRECTLY FROM THE ORACLE OF OMAHA

CNBC to Also Broadcast One-Hour Original Special “The Billionaire Next Door: Restoring Trust” Anchored By Becky Quick On Monday, March 9th at 8PM ET

ENGLEWOOD CLIFFS, N.J., March, 4, 2009-With the markets at new decade lows, CNBC, First in Business Worldwide, is the only network bringing you direct access to the world’s greatest investor.

On Monday, March 9th, Billionaire investor Warren Buffett will join CNBC’s Becky Quick live from Omaha for a special edition of CNBC’s signature morning show, “Squawk Box” (6AM-9AM ET). For three hours, the Oracle of Omaha will answer viewer’s questions about Berkshire Hathaway’s performance, the markets and the economy.

Press Releases: 02/27/09

CNN (1)

CNN Digital Network No. 1 on Day of President’s Address to Congress; Draws Nearly Seven Million Visitors

On Tuesday, Feb. 24, CNN Digital Network’s special coverage of President Obama’s speech to Congress and the analysis leading up to it made the site the No. 1 news and information site for the entire day with nearly 7 million unique users, while MSNBC had 6.2 million unique users (10% behind CNN). CNN Digital was also No. 1 in total usage minutes, with 47 million minutes while MSNBC registered 37 million (29% behind CNN). Finally CNN Digital was No. 1 in time spent per person, averaging 6.88 minutes.

Throughout the day, Internet users turned to CNN.com for in-depth information and analysis of the economy. Through expert commentaries, multimedia reporting, first-person accounts, live online-exclusive video programming and social networking, the site provided users with perspective and context to America’s financial crisis. On Feb. 24, CNN.com Live, the Internet’s only multi-stream live video news service, provided continuous, live coverage featuring numerous CNN anchors and analysts including John King, Christiane Amanpour, Ali Velshi and Christine Romans. Additionally, after setting the record for the largest live video event in Internet history on the day of Pres. Obama’s inauguration, CNN.com and Facebook again partnered on Feb. 24 enabling users to connect and engage with each other while watching CNN.com Live.

Press Releases: 02/26/09

MSNBC (1)

MSNBC AND MSNBC.COM UNVEIL NEW ONLINE EXPERIENCE FOR “HARDBALL WITH CHRIS MATTHEWS”

Newly designed site is home for top-rated political cable show

NEW YORK & REDMOND, Wash. – February 26, 2009 – MSNBC and msnbc.com today unveiled the new website for “Hardball with Chris Matthews,” available at http://www.hardball.msnbc.com. The new site gives MSNBC’s “Hardball” audience an enhanced extension of the brand online. Each weekday night, from the MSNBC studios in Washington, D.C., veteran journalist Chris Matthews – a former Washington bureau chief, presidential speechwriter, congressional staffer and also a best-selling author – hosts a nightly hour of in-depth political analysis and fiery debate. “Hardball with Chris Matthews” features interviews and debates with prominent politicians, newsmakers, and leaders from Washington, D.C. “Hardball” airs at 5 and 7 p.m. (EST) weeknights on MSNBC.

Press Releases: 02/25/09

CNN (1)

CNN Announces 2009 Black in America Sequel

Anderson Cooper and Soledad O’Brien Anchor Live Special Following Replay of Original Series on Feb. 26

With an historic presidential administration already initiating a nationwide dialogue on race, CNN continues its enterprising look at the state of Black America. Building upon its acclaimed 2008documentary Black in America, CNN announced today plans to continue the probing series with a three-part television event in 2009 that will focus on successful innovators who are working to make improvements within African American communities and around the country. As production begins on the 2009 initiative, CNN will rebroadcast two nights of the extremely successful 2008 series reported by anchor and special correspondentSoledad O’Brien.
Black in America: The Black Woman & Family will air on Wednesday, Feb. 25 at 8 p.m. Black in America: The Black Man will air on Thursday, Feb. 26 at 8 p.m. All times Eastern. Both documentaries have a running time of two hours. Nearly 13 million cumulative viewers saw the original series, which included a co-production with Essence magazine and Eyewitness to Murder: The King Assassination.

Press Releases: 02/24/09

MSNBC (2), CNBC (1)

CNBC:

RESTORING CONFIDENCE IN AMERICA’S FINANCIAL SYSTEMS AND ECONOMY

CNBC’S “WHO’S PROTECTING OUR MONEY? A TOWN HALL MEETING WITH FDIC CHAIRMAN SHEILA BAIR,” AIRS WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25th, AT 10PM ET

CNBC’s Jim Cramer & Erin Burnett Host

ENGLEWOOD CLIFFS, N.J., February 23, 2009— The dire news of rising home foreclosures and plummeting home values, growing corporate layoffs, falling 401(k) balances, bank failings and trillion dollar rescue plans has led to a increasing lack of confidence in the American economy and financial systems by its citizens. Everyone is asking… Will President Obama’s housing plan help keep Americans in their homes? Will it stabilize home prices? And what needs to be done to prevent more U.S. banks from going under?

Press Releases: 02/23/09

CNBC (1)

RESTORING CONFIDENCE IN AMERICA’S FINANCIAL SYSTEMS AND ECONOMY

CNBC’S “WHO’S PROTECTING OUR MONEY? A TOWN HALL MEETING WITH FDIC CHAIRMAN SHEILA BAIR,” AIRS WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25th, AT 10PM ET

CNBC’s Jim Cramer & Erin Burnett Host

ENGLEWOOD CLIFFS, N.J., February 23, 2009- The dire news of rising home foreclosures and plummeting home values, growing corporate layoffs, falling 401(k) balances, bank failings and trillion dollar rescue plans has led to a increasing lack of confidence in the American economy and financial systems by its citizens. Everyone is asking… Will President Obama’s housing plan help keep Americans in their homes? Will it stabilize home prices? And what needs to be done to prevent more U.S. banks from going under?

To offer a forum for these concerns and help provide some answers, CNBC, First in Business Worldwide, presents “Who’s Protecting Our Money? A Town Hall Meeting With FDIC Chairman Sheila Bair,” hosted by CNBC’s Jim Cramer and Erin Burnett on WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25TH AT 10 PM ET.

CNBC’s Jim Cramer and Erin Burnett moderate the discussion before a studio audience in a Q & A format with special guest FDIC Chariman Sheila Bair–the chairman of the organization charged with protecting America’s money. They’ll be taking questions from the audience and viewers are invited to submit question via CNBC.com and Facebook. For more information about this special CNBC Town Hall Event log onto protectyourmoney.cnbc.com.

Press Releases: 02/20/09

CNBC (1)

CNBC’s “NEWBOs: The Rise of the New Black Overclass” Will Premiere Thursday, February 26th at 9PM & 1AM ET on CNBC

CNBC’s “NEWBOs: The Rise of America’s New Black Overclass,” is an original one-hour primetime documentary about the growing wave of young black multimillionaires coming out of the sports, media and entertainment industries. This project examines the rise of “Newbos,” — young black athletes, entertainers, and creative entrepreneurs – who, with the right amount of financial literacy, collaboration, intergenerational mentorship and social awareness, could have a profound, positive impact on black America. The special, hosted by Wall Street Journal reporter and CNBC correspondent Lee Hawkins, who coined the term “Newbo,” is based on Hawkins’ forthcoming book of the same title.

Newbos captures the pressures and prominence of the fascinating Newbo class and includes data about the wealth and financial impact of black athletes and entrepreneurial black music moguls in America.Contradicting old-guard leaders who assert that Newbos offer little to the black community as a whole, Hawkins puts the spotlight on the entrepreneurial, social and charitable efforts of several Newbos and their contagious financial power. The documentary offers behind-the-marquee stories on several high-profile Newbos, including NBA superstar LeBron James, Major League All-Star Torii Hunter, The Williams brothers of Cash Money Records, Dallas Cowboy star Terrell Owens, billionaire entrepreneur and Newbo pioneer Bob Johnson and musician, Multiplatinum gospel star Kirk Franklin, and television network owner Wyclef Jean.

Press Releases: 02/19/09

MSNBC (1)

MSNBC’S “AL ROKER REPORTING” EXPLORES AMERICA’S DRUG PROBLEMS IN 3 BRAND-NEW MARCH PREMIERES

MSNBC INVESTIGATES AMERICA’S STRUGGLE WITH PRESCRIPTION PILLS, HEROIN AND MARIJUANA

NEW YORK – February 19, 2009 – This March, tune in to MSNBC on Sundays at 10 pm ET to watch “Today” anchor, Al Roker examine America’s drug problems head on. In three revealing documentaries, MSNBC delves into America’s struggle with prescription pills, heroin and marijuana.

“Al Roker Reporting: Generation Rx” premiers on March 1st. Across the country, prescription drugs are for sale in all kinds of ways you wouldn’t expect – from pushers on the street, from the Internet, from rogue doctors and pharmacies. This growing trend has become a priority for the Government’s Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA). MSNBC investigates how and why prescription drug abuse has become a new American epidemic that is reaching an alarmingly young generation.

Press Releases: 02/13/09

CNN (1)

Anderson Cooper 360°’s Second ‘Money Summit’ will Examine Economic Stimulus Package

CNN chief business correspondent Ali Velshi leads a fast-paced panel discussion for CNN’s second “Money Summit,” which looks at the economic stimulus package and the timeline for how quickly it might reverse the effects of a wealth destroying recession. This Anderson Cooper 360° special, “CNN Money Summit,” airs on Tuesday, February 17, at 11 p.m. (ET) and will re-air Friday, Feb 20 at 11p.m. (ET)

For the second Money Summit, CNN will again work closely with Fortune and Money magazines as well as CNNMoney.com to examine the latest issues facing our economy. Velshi and the panel of experts will explore the big questions and possible solutions using the latest on-air technologies and questions submitted via iReport and Facebook. The panel includes: Katie Benner, writer/reporter, Fortune; Telis Demos, writer/reporter, Fortune; David Gergen, CNN senior political analyst, Donna Rosanto, senior writer, MONEY magazine, Andy Serwer, editor, Fortune; and Walter Updegrave, senior editor, MONEY magazine.

Press Releases: 02/12/09

CNBC (1)

DATE CHANGE: CNBC’s “NEWBOs: The Rise of the New Black Overclass” Will Now Premiere Thursday, February 26th at 9PM & 1AM ET on CNBC

CNBC’s “NEWBOs: The Rise of America’s New Black Overclass,” is an original one-hour primetime documentary about the growing wave of young black multimillionaires coming out of the sports, media and entertainment industries. This project examines the rise of “Newbos,” — young black athletes, entertainers, and creative entrepreneurs – who, with the right amount of financial literacy, collaboration, intergenerational mentorship and social awareness, could have a profound, positive impact on black America. The special, hosted by Wall Street Journal reporter and CNBC correspondent Lee Hawkins, who coined the term “Newbo,” is based on Hawkins’ forthcoming book of the same title.

Newbos captures the pressures and prominence of the fascinating Newbo class and includes data about the wealth and financial impact of black athletes and entrepreneurial black music moguls in America.Contradicting old-guard leaders who assert that Newbos offer little to the black community as a whole, Hawkins puts the spotlight on the entrepreneurial, social and charitable efforts of several Newbos and their contagious financial power. The documentary offers behind-the-marquee stories on several high-profile Newbos, including NBA superstar LeBron James, Major League All-Star Torii Hunter, The Williams brothers of Cash Money Records, Dallas Cowboy star Terrell Owens, billionaire entrepreneur and Newbo pioneer Bob Johnson and musician, Multiplatinum gospel star Kirk Franklin, and television network owner Wyclef Jean.

Press Releases: 02/11/09

CNN (1)

Jaconi Joins State of the Union with John King as Executive Producer

Michelle Jaconi, a 12-year veteran of NBC’s Meet the Press, will join CNN Worldwide as executive producer of State of the Union with John King, the network’s bold new Sunday block of programming that blends newsmaker interviews, political analysis, national and world affairs, cultural segments, media analysis and commentary.

“From the moment we conceived of State of the Union, we knew we had to find an executive producer who appreciated the special role of Sunday talk shows,” said Sam Feist, CNN’s political director and vice president of Washington-based programming. “Michelle, with her experience in landing and producing brilliant interviews, will help us leverage the resources of CNN’s political team and newsgathering operation to create a program unlike any other.”

“Michelle is a perfect fit for our team and our mission,” John King said. “Her deep experience in smart and aggressive Sunday morning television speaks for itself. And her passion for making things relevant to the people who matter most – the families and communities outside Washington – is what we’re looking for in this key leadership role.”

Press Releases: 02/10/09

CNN (1)

Soledad O’Brien Leads CNN’s Network-Wide From Lincoln to Obama

Special Coverage Examines Bridge Between 16th and 44th Presidents on Feb. 12, Beginning at 9 a.m. (ET)

Anchor and special correspondent Soledad O’Brien leads a CNN special live event, From Lincoln to Obama, on Thursday, Feb. 12, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. (ET). Along with Newsroom anchors Don Lemon and Kyra Phillips, O’Brien and CNN will take a network-wide look at the bridge between the times of Presidents

Abraham Lincoln and Barack Obama on the bicentennial celebration of Lincoln’s birth.

CNN will broadcast live from Lincoln bicentennial events in Washington, D.C., and Springfield, Ill., as the network builds upon the original and innovative coverage of the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday and the Obama inauguration. With live reports on the new administration, the economy and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, CNN explores the state of affairs – both now and in the 1860s – that tie these two presidents together.

The day’s coverage includes live reports about Obama’s visit to Lincoln’s home in Springfield. Campbell Brown: No Bias. No Bull will air the president’s speech from that location at about 8:45 p.m. (ET). Anderson Cooper 360° will include analysis and reporting about Obama’s day in Springfield at 10 p.m. (ET)

Press Releases: 02/09/09

CNBC (1)

BEYOND THE HUXTABLES: MEET THE NEWBOS

A CNBC ORIGINAL, “NEWBOS: THE RISE OF AMERICA’S NEW BLACK OVERCLASS,” ANCHORED BY LEE HAWKINS, EXAMINES A GENERATION OF SELF-MADE YOUNG BLACK MULTI-MILLIONAIRES PREMIERING TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 24

Lebron James, Torii Hunter, Terrell “T.O.” Owens, Sean “Diddy” Combs, Wyclef Jean, Lil’ Wayne and the Williams Brothers of Cash Money Records, Kirk Franklin, And Bob Johnson Are Featured

ENGLEWOOD CLIFFS, N.J., February 9, 2009 – In the 1980s, the fictional Huxtable family offered a window into the lives of upper middle class professional African American families. But today, there’s a new class of young blacks who are now at the highest tier of the financial strata, and their first generation wealth sparks unprecedented challenges and opportunities in their lives. Their profiles are featured in CNBC’s “NEWBOS: The Rise of America’s New Black Overclass,” anchored by Wall Street Journal reporter/CNBC correspondent Lee Hawkins, premiering Tuesday, February 24 at 9 PM/1 AM ET.

In this original one-hour documentary, CNBC, First in Business Worldwide, provides a close-up look at the experiences of these self-made black multimillionaires, many of whom grew up poor, are mostly under age 40, and have primarily made their vast fortunes in the sports, entertainment and media industries, usually by taking more ownership and control over their brands. Collectively, black athletes in the NFL, NBA, and in Major League Baseball earned more than $4 billion last year and the nation’s 20 highest-paid hip-hop entrepreneurs brought in more than $500 million. Their newfound wealth has profound implications on their lives and their families. NEWBOs exposes and chronicles their experiences and insights as they move from relative poverty to fantastic wealth at a very young age.

Based on Hawkins’ forthcoming book of the same title, the program features personal stories and interviews with some of the biggest names in sports and entertainment, including: NBA star LeBron James, NFL star Terrell Owens, Major League All-Star Torii Hunter, The Williams Brothers of Cash Money Records and their artist Lil’ Wayne, and Multi-platinum gospel artist Kirk Franklin.

Among the many insights, the Williams brothers discuss the entrepreneurial skill that helped them land a $30 million distribution deal with Universal Records while still in their 20s.Hunter discusses his efforts to use his celebrity as a way to expose more black youth to baseball in an era in which the number of blacks in the league has declined to 7.6%. LeBron James discusses his decision to fire his agent and form his own African-American controlled marketing company, which now oversees his $90 million endorsement contract with Nike and numerous other projects. Black Entertainment Television founder Bob Johnson discusses the need for more intergenerational mentorship and economic collaboration between NEWBOs and the economic empowerment that could result if they begin to pool their financial resources and launch joint ventures.

Press Releases: 02/06/09

CNN (1):

CNN Plans Special Coverage of President’s First Prime-time News Conference

CNN anchors Wolf Blitzer, Campbell Brown, Anderson Cooper and John King, joined by members of the Best Political Team on Television, will provide viewers with live, expansive coverage and analysis of President Barack Obama’s first prime-time news conference on Monday, Feb. 9, at 8 p.m. The team will broadcast live from the state-of-the-art Election Center in New York, the center of CNN’s record-breaking coverage of the 2008 presidential election.

Monday’s programming begins with a special edition of The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer dedicated to discussing the upcoming event from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Lou Dobbs Tonight will follow at 7 p.m., with Blitzer returning shortly before Obama takes the podium. Special programming will continue through the 9 p.m. hour with Blitzer, Brown, Cooper and King providing follow-up analysis with commentary from the Best Political Team on Television. A special edition of Anderson Cooper 360° begins at 10 p.m. and continues live through midnight. Obama’s news conference will air again at midnight. All times Eastern.

Press Releases: 01/30/09

CNBC (1), CNN (1)

CNBC

CNBC will present a one-hour primetime special tonight, “No Way Back: CNBC Special Debate From the World Economic Forum in Davos,” with Maria Bartiromo at 8 PM ET. Here is a list of the speakers and guests…

Duncan Niederauer, CEO, NYSE Euronext, on regulation; Stephen Schwarzman, Chairman and CEO, The Blackstone Group, on business;, Hon. Trevor Manuel, Minister of Finance, South Africa on Multilateral Institutions and Dr. Montek Singh Ahluwalia, Planning Commission, India on government.

Also: Howard Lutnick, Chairman and CEO, Cantor Fitzgerald; Sir Martin Sorrell, CEO, WPP; Jim Turley, Chairman and CEO, Ernst & Young; Professor Laura Tyson, Haas School of Business, Berkeley; Angel Gurria, Secretary-General, OECD; Yasser el Mallawany, CEO and board member, EFG-Hermes; Vineet Nayar, CEO, HCL Technologies; Dr. Okonjo-Iweala, Managing Director, World Bank; Dr. Nouriel Roubini, Stern School of Business, New York University.

_____________________________

CNN

Press Releases: 01/29/08

CNN (1)

Velshi Chairs ‘Money Summit’ to Examine Economic Challenges Facing President Obama

CNN chief business correspondent Ali Velshi leads a fast-paced panel discussion for CNN’s first “Money Summit,” which looks at a potential deep recession, a collapsing housing market, rising unemployment and exploding budget deficits at all levels of government. This Anderson Cooper 360° special, “CNN Money Summit,” airs on Friday, Jan. 30, at 11 p.m. (ET) and Saturday, Jan. 31 at 8 p.m. (ET)

Velshi and a panel of experts will explore the big questions facing President Barack Obama about the economic crisis using the latest on-air technologies and iReports to advance the conversation. The panel includes: Katie Benner, writer/reporter, Fortune; Telis Demos, writer/reporter, Fortune; David Gergen, CNN senior political analyst, Stephanie Mehta, assistant managing editor, Fortune; Amanda Gengler, writer, MONEY magazine; Jeanne Sahadi, senior writer, CNNMoney.com, Andy Serwer, editor, Fortune; and Walter Updegrave, senior editor, MONEY magazine.

The panel will discuss job creation, the housing mess and scandals and regulation in today’s economy. Additionally, they will consider the mythologies of the American Dream, particularly in terms of how the average consumer carries thousands of dollars in credit card debt and the national debt has soared to more than $10 trillion.

Press Releases: 01/28/09

CNN (1)

CNN Appoints Correspondents in Afghanistan, China, United Arab Emirates

CNN Worldwide will add three new international correspondents in Afghanistan, China and the United Arab Emirates, it was announced today by Parisa Khosravi, senior vice president of international newsgathering.

Over the past 12 months, CNN has appointed more than a dozen correspondents in seven new locations as part of an aggressive content ownership strategy. These latest hires boost CNN’s international newsgathering locations to 33.

“The resources available to CNN’s international newsgathering team have never been more robust,” Khosravi said. “By adding correspondents in these three strategic areas, CNN underscores its international newsgathering heritage.”

In Kabul, Afghanistan, Atia Abawi will serve as correspondent responsible for covering the country and the on-going war there. Abawi, a former assignment editor and producer for CNN’s international desk in Atlanta, joined CNN in 2004 and has worked on a number of stories including the assassination of former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, the Afghanistan-Korean hostage situation and Youssif, the young Iraqi boy burned by insurgents in Iraq.

Press Releases: 01/27/09

CNBC (1)

CNBC ORIGINAL DOCUMENTARY “HOUSE OF CARDS” UNCOVERS THE REASONS BEHIND THE GREATEST FINANCIAL COLLAPSE SINCE THE GREAT DEPRESSION

HOW DID IT HAPPEN AND WHY DID THIS HOUSE OF CARDS COME TUMBLING DOWN?

Two-hour Documentary Reported by CNBC’s David Faber Premieres on CNBC on Thursday, February 12th at 8PM & 12AM ET

ENGLEWOOD CLIFFS, N.J., January 27, 2009 – It’s the defining story of our time….how the American dream became a nightmare.

On Thursday, February 12th at 8PM & 12AM ET, CNBC presents “House of Cards,” an original CNBC documentary reported by award-winning correspondent David Faber. In this two-hour special, CNBC investigates the origins of the global economic collapse. Faber gathers the personal stories of key participants: home buyers, mortgage brokers, investment bankers and investors – all of whom let greed blind them to marketplace realities. It is their words and experiences – not those of pundits or commentators – that bring to life the painful story of the greatest financial crisis since the Great Depression.

Press Releases: 01/26/09

MSNBC (1), CNN (1)

CNN

NPR’s Ivan Watson Returns to CNN as Correspondent Based in Istanbul

CNN continues to grow its reporting strength with the appointment of Ivan Watson as an international correspondent based in Istanbul, Turkey. Watson returns to CNN from NPR where he has reported from many of the world’s trouble spots in recent years.

Prior to joining NPR, Watson was a producer for CNN based in Moscow. In this new position, he will continue to cover major international stories around the world as well as from Turkey. CNN’s Istanbul bureau complements CNN’s other operations in Turkey, which includes CNN Turk, a Turkish-language news service, jointly operated by Turner Broadcasting International and Turkey’s Dogan Media Group.

“Having Ivan back in the CNN family is a great coup for us,” said Parisa Khosravi, senior vice president for international newsgathering. “As we continue to invest in and grow our newsgathering strength, Ivan will be an important part of our international reporting team.”

Over the past year, CNN has announced the opening of new newsgathering operations in Abu Dhabi, which will include a new production center; Chennai, India; Lagos, Nigeria; Mumbai, India; Nairobi, Kenya; and Santiago, Chile, where CNN Chile launched last month. In addition, CNN has placed new and additional correspondents in Islamabad, Pakistan; Johannesburg, South Africa; London and Tokyo.

Watson has reported extensively from many countries in Africa, the Middle East and Eastern Europe. He worked for CBS News, before joining CNN and then NPR.

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MSNBC