Cable News Network, still looking to lift its ratings, unveiled a raft of changes Monday, including bringing in two broadcast executives to boost its key primetime shows and naming Miles O’Brien co-anchor of its morning newscast with Soledad O’Brien.
CNN has hired Victor Neufeld, executive producer of the CBS Early Show and former senior executive producer for ABC newsmagazines such as 20/20 and PrimeTime Thursday,as the new senior executive producer for Paula Zahn Now. The program airs from 8 p.m.-9 p.m. weekdays.
Mark Nelson, the current senior executive producer for Paula Zahn,will become senior executive producer for editorial content, reporting directly to CNN president Jon Klein.
CNN also raided broadcast’s ranks to recruit David Doss, former executive producer for ABC’s PrimeTime Thursday.Doss will take over senior-executive-producing duties for AndersonCooper 360, which runs from 7 p.m.-8 p.m. weekdays.
Neufeld and Doss join CNN in mid-June.
In addition to those Monday announcements, CNN said Miles O’Brien, co-anchor of Live from, will join American Morning,which airsfrom 7 a.m.-10 a.m., startingJune 20. O’Brien will be based in New York and will continue to serve as CNN’s space correspondent.
In the wake of that change, Bill Hemmer is leaving CNN to pursue other opportunities, the network said. Hemmer joined CNN in 1995 and American Morning in 2002. His last day is June 17.
The 24-hour news network also unveiled a title and vague debut date for the new weekday-afternoon program block being anchored by Wolf Blitzer. Given the moniker The Situation Room,the blockwill air weekdays from 3 p.m.-6 p.m., replacing Inside Politics, Crossfire and Wolf Blitzer Reports.It will premiere “midsummer,” according to CNN.
The show, originating in Washington, D.C., is modeled on the White House situation room, according to CNN. The program will mix traditional newsgathering with information from online sources on topics such as homeland security, politics and national and world affairs.
Jack Cafferty is moving from American Morning to join The Situation Room,offering commentary and insights on the day’s events.
