CNN has announced changes to its newsgathering operations with a number of key appointments to strengthen its global newsgathering team. Changes include a new managing editor in Hong Kong, the creation of two new reporting roles in Africa and a new international correspondent for Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
Jill Dougherty, CNN’s Moscow bureau chief, has been appointed managing editor for CNN’s operations in Asia Pacific, based at CNN’s newsgathering and production centre in Hong Kong. She takes up the new position in May 2005. Moscow bureau chief since 1997, she now oversees all of CNN’s programming and production facilities in Hong Kong and also coordinates coverage from all of CNN’s correspondents and bureaux across the Asia Pacific region.
In Africa, Jeff Koinange, CNNs Lagos bureau chief, has been appointed to the role of Africa Correspondent in order to significantly increase the coverage of Africa across all of CNNs services. Koinange will lead CNNs coverage of Africa in this new position, supported by Alphonso Van Marsh who will be based in Johannesburg as a CNN Video Correspondent. Alphonsos brief is to find, develop and deliver compelling stories from inside South Africa.
In addition, CNN has appointed Jennifer Eccleston as a new international correspondent for Europe, the Middle East and Africa, based in Rome. Eccleston will work across all of CNN’s services internationally and in the US.
In March 2005 CNN also appointed Max Foster from BBC Breakfast to join the London-based team of anchors and correspondents covering news and business from the international networks European headquarters.