Eric Solomon
solomone@gwu.edu
I am a Media Relations Specialist at The George Washington University. I am
very involved with CROSSFIRE now that it lives on our campus. I have 2
kids, Isaac who is 4 and Jared who is 1. My wife Rachel and I reside in
Columbia, MD. My office number is 202-994-3087.
Scott Miller
Millerscot01@email.msn.com
Susan (Buikema) and I were married in May of 2000 and live in Los Angeles
now. Susan freelanced for CNN out here for a while and then took a full time
position with Hill and Knowlton, a Public Relations firm. The accounts she
works on include Hitachi and the California Five a Day program, which encourages
you to eat five servings of fruits and vegetables everyday.
I left CNN to become an FBI Agent and am currently assigned to the Los Angeles
field division. I work on a squad that, prior to September 11, investigated
large groups involved in financial institution fraud (FIF). With the Bureau's
reorganization post September 11, we have been refocused on the white collar
funding of terrorist organizations. Same crimes...different people committing
them. It has, of course, been a busy several months but I love the work.
We purchased a home last October and have been spending as much time as possible
exploring the California landscape and enjoying the 300+ days of sunshine
a year.
If anyone finds themselves in LA, feel free to call us.
Susan and Scott Miller
310-645-4047
Jeff Levine
jblevine@his.com
I'm happy to report that full-time employment has arrived after wandering
in the wilderness of free-lance for the last nine months. Sen. Byron Dorgan
of North Dakota has hired me as a speech- writer and policy analyst. Among
my duties will be to work with the Democratic Policy Committee--the primary
Democratic think tank in the U.S. Senate. This will be something of a departure
since I've never worked on the Hill. But, as with journalism, I think this
is a way to advance an agenda for change. There is much to be done and many
ways to an end.
I plan to report to you periodically from the political front to let you know how it looks from the other side. Meanwhile, I'm interested in doing some part-time teaching if anyone knows of a college that's looking for an adjunct journalism prof.
Bob Carden
bob@cardencom.com
Freelance CNN Business News Reporter 1991—1996-- I’ve run a video
production company, Carden Communications, for 10 years, produced three PBS
documentaries but most work comes from corporations, associations, government.
Just finishing a two-hour video on the Russian Legal System for DOJ. Last
year launched www.streamonsite.com, we do webcasts, webconferences, create
Internet TV channels. It’s cool stuff. Susan Nester works with me when
I can get her.
In my spare time am producing a satire on how I lost a fortune in the stock market. That’s been fun. Sort of. Course not too much fun for my kids who may now be looking at bar tending school instead of college. Also I have an ownership interest in the sports bar. “The Rock” next to the MCI Center. So next time you go to a Wizards or Caps game, be sure to spend your money at The Rock.
Deborah Potter
potter@newslab.org
When I left CNN in 1994, I really thought I'd be back in a TV newsroom somewhere
within a year. I just wanted to try my hand at teaching, and American University
had an opening for a "temporary" faculty member. Well...one thing
led to another, and I wound up joining the Poynter Institute in St. Petersburg,
FL, in 1995, where I spent the next three years teaching, learning and doing
research. Then came the offer to launch NewsLab, a non-profit based in Washington
that focuses on television news. We're still going strong after four years.
Visit the Web site at www.newslab.org
to see what we're up to!
On the personal front, my husband, Bob Witten, is happily working at MSNBC in the Washington bureau. Our boys are both teenagers--the oldest will be a junior in high school next year. Life is never dull. I'll miss the next social outing as I'll be out of town doing a workshop. I travel almost as much as I ever did as a correspondent, but at least I now have some say over when and where.
Jody K. Hassett
Jody.K.Hassett@abc.com
I left CNN on the cusp on the millennium to work for ABC's World News
Tonight. The original plan was that I would cover religion and culture, a
beat agreed upon after several great conversations with Monsieur Jennings.
Post 9/11 that has changed and I now cover education, social issues,
culture, religion and whatever's on page two of the NYT that morning. But
the biggest change post-CNN is that I walk out the door at 7PM most nights.
Mucho blessings in other areas of my life: being a homeowner has brought
some changes - I now spend at Home Depot what I used to spend on shoes at
Neiman's. I also find myself gravitating to the gardening column in the
paper, frightening.
I have been a fellow at the CS Lewis Institute this year which has kept
my spiritual and intellectual gears whirring. I'm plotting to get a small
sailboat - or crew for someone else - this summer, mentoring a young
Palestinian girl and working on some freelance articles for a couple of art
and travel magazines. Much to be thankful for indeed.
Charles Bierbauer
BierbauerC@aol.com
Charles Bierbauer, his wife Susanne and son Andrew head south in July to establish
the Palmetto Chapter of the CNN Alums.
I'll be the first dean of the newly merged College of Mass Communications and Information Studies at the University of South Carolina. The college's roots are in journalism and library science, but its buds are in the unfolding world of computer-assisted research and media convergence. All those days of "when you're done with your standup, don't forget to file radio and write something for wires and do an internet chat" will serve well in this new endeavor--if only as the model for how not to do it!
Susanne will bring her dozen years of Pentagon experience to the AP's Columbia bureau which is only an RPG's shot from the Army's Fort Jackson.
Andrew will enter the 6th grade at Heathwood Hall in Columbia.
After July 26th, contacts will be:
3800 Kilbourne Hill Road
Columbia, S.C. 29205
or College of Mass Communications and
Information Studies
University of South Carolina
Columbia, S.C. 29208
office: (803) 777-4105
fax: (803) 777-4103
e-mail: charles.bierbauer@usc.jour.sc.edu
(My AOL address will also work...as long as it's still free.)
Richard Wexler
RWexler648@aol.com
I was a writer/copy editor from 1997 through mid-1999. Worked on the noon
program, World View, CNNI at 11, 2 and 3 and far, far too many weekend programs.
With eight months of grant money in hand, I left to
become the first executive director of a small, non-profit child advocacy
organization I helped to found, the National Coalition for Child Protection
Reform. I just celebrated my third anniversary on the job.
Heidi S. Berenson
heidi@berensoncom.com
After launching Crossfire, and network-hopping between Good Morning America,
CBS News and ABC News Peter Jennings specials that yielded 2 Emmys and a Peabody,
(for which I am grateful), Berenson Communications was born. So basically,
I have transitioned from network producer to producing and coaching network-aspiring
professionals for prime time -- whether facing the press or a presentation.
So … am I pleased that news doesn't crack the whip around my office? … You betcha. But once in a while the old journalistic instincts creep in which makes me appreciate our CNN alumni cabal all the more. And after attending the CNN 20th anniversary party, I can truly say I feel privileged, and in good company, to call myself a CNN pioneer.
Julie Becker
JLBecker71@msn.com
Since leaving CNN, I worked at the DC office of Good Morning America. I left
after a year to work for Newsweek Productions, producing for a PBS show, HealthWeek.
The show went off the air in January and now I am freelancing. I am working
for Newsweek Productions, HGTV, and a new show called Warehouse Warriors,
a reality building competition show that airs on the new DIY Network (Do-It-Yourself),
a sister station of HGTV.
O'Connor, Eileen
EOConnor@pattonboggs.com
Joining Patton Boggs has kept me very busy, including a trip to Russia, London
and many other U.S. cities. In the post-Enron environment, it seems the crises
business at least is booming.
I am looking forward to starting law school and while I don't see my children
as much as I would like, which is every second of every day, I am getting
to take them to school in the morning and getting home for family dinner nearly
every night, which is HUGE. Also, I don't dread the phone ringing anymore.
It's a big difference. And I am stretching my brain cells in a totally different
way, which will increase this fall as I start at Georgetown Law.
And, I get to take vacation days practically on a moment's notice!!!!
Elissa Free
elissabill@erols.com
I can identify with Eileen about stretching one’s brain cells in a totally
different way. I’ve been doing just that in an intensive web publishing
“boot camp” this summer at the USDA Grad School’s Center
for Applied Technology.
I am not even half way through, but have already been required to design and publish a 10 page website, hand-coded in HTML (no web publishing software allowed.) For those of you who know what that means, I’m sure you can feel my pain.
I’m looking forward to seeing many of you Friday night!
Cynthia Steele
SteeleCYN@aol.com
I've just been hired to anchor a show called "Business Now"...airs
in NY, Washington, DC and San Francisco along with some other smaller markets.
I also serve on several boards--including the International Center for Journalists--we
are always looking for 2-3 week internships for our visiting journalists.
These are working journalists from around the world--if anyone out there can
help out--would love to hear from you!
Carol Joynt
RossJoynt@aol.com
A reminder that Nathans welcomes all CNN alum. We serve dinner every night
of the week and a boffo brunch on Saturday and Sunday. Reservations can be
made at 338.2000. The managers are Stu, John and Eduardo. The address is the
corner of Wisconsin and M Streets in Georgetown.
Janice Hui
Janiceshui@aol.com
Shortly after quitting my job at the DC bureau, I moved to the San Francisco
Bay Area with my husband, Dan, and we bought a house in Berkeley. I freelanced
at CNET.com for a while before getting caught up in the Condit craze and began
freelancing for CNN. I continue to work at CNN's San Francisco bureau several
days a week, primarily producing technology stories for the show "Next@CNN."
(It's fun and fairly low-stress compared to WX!) I'm also working for PBS's
Frontline on a project with Lowell Bergman on the state of television news.
Dan works from home on his website, JournalismJobs.com, which is doing amazingly
well despite the economy. Life is good in California... the weather, the food
and the lifestyle especially!
Julie Becker
jlbecker71@msn.com
For the last five years, I worked for Newsweek Productions here in DC producing
magazine pieces for a PBS show-- HealthWeek, hosted by another CNN alum Sharyl
Attkisson (now at CBS). The last two years I was also reporting.
The show ended its run in January and now I am freelancing for Newsweek Productions
working on a PBS special about Cancer.
Kevin Enochs
KEnochs@natgeochannel.com
I am currently the Assignment Manager at the new National Geographic Channel.
Specifically I handle the daily newscast "National Geographic Today."
My job consists of finding stories all over the world, getting them shot and
then back here where we can put them on TV. I work with about 60 or 70 different
freelancers from Maine to Moscow. It's fun. Plus I get to come to the National
Geographic building every day.
Sue Nester
SNester@iiaa.net
When I left CNN I worked full-time doing PR, corporate video production, and
media training…until the time of my greatest production yet…a
daughter, Catherine. She just turned three. I took 7 months off when she was
born and returned to work just part-time after that. I love being a mom!!
Catherine and I spend a lot of time together, and it’s a blast. Since
I’m fortunate enough to be able to make my own schedule, I try to keep
the PR gig to just 2 days a week. I like the work OK, and the people there
are great—very laid back and family-oriented. Best of all it’s
extremely flexible and manageable. I can actually leave at 5pm everyday and
pretty much forget the job for the day. (No more wearing a beeper and 6am
live shots!!) I still keep in touch with lots of CNNers and photographers—former
and current. Patty Davis and Kelli Arena and I have recently been getting
our babies together for play dates! (How life has changed!!) I really miss
everyone at CNN. Can’t believe it’s been 5 years since I left!
Herb Perone
HerbPerone@acli.com
I am (and have been for four years) the Director of Media Relations &
External Communications for the American Council of Life Insurers (ACLI),
one of the largest trade associations in Washington DC, representing 400 life
insurance companies (that do about 75% of the life insurance and annuity business
in the U.S.). They peddle life insurance, annuities, pensions, 401(k)s, IRAs,
disability income insurance, long-term care insurance and other retirement
planning and financial protection products. I'm on TV a lot, on the radio
a lot, and in the public print a lot. As a result, everybody I ever borrowed
money from knows exactly where to find me.
More important, I am a Board member and House Commissioner for the Montgomery Youth Hockey Association. My House (recreational) program has 30 teams, with more than 450 kids (ages 6-17), more than 100 coaches who volunteer their time and more than 900 parents who are never happy about anything, except perhaps screaming nasty remarks (and occasionally taking punches at) referees. I run a charity youth hockey tournament every December to benefit the Children's Inn at NIH - we've raised over $5,000 in the past two years.
I've also been able to devote more time to a lifelong passion - photography - and even take the occasional magazine assignment.
And every fall/winter I moonlight - writing the PBS foreign affairs/public affairs show, "Great Decisions" - now anchored by CNN alum Ralph Begleiter. Small World!
If I'd known there was THIS MUCH LIFE after CNN, I might have thought twice!
Bill Headline
BHEADLINE@aol.com
Hi to everyone. I am sad that I won't be able to join you on the 22nd. The
bright side for me is that I will be with friends of 50 years, always a joyous
occasion. As some of you know, after my retirement in '98 I worked with Voter
News Service -- yes, the infamous VNS -- for almost three years. Bless the
lord, my scheduled departure came at the end of 2000 and I was delighted to
leave. Since then I have been working with the European Broadcasting Union
in Washington almost full time. I now am cutting back on time with EBU but
have a project in the works with Team Video so I manage to keep off the streets.
Kate and I are well, still have the poodles and I ride my mountain bike 40
to 60 miles a week. Yes, I ride at 4:15 AM instead of running. I bought the
bike with the money that many of you presented to me when I stepped down as
CNN bureau chief and a great gift it was. I think of you often, relish the
good years at CNN and feel blessed to have had so many of you as friends and
colleagues. Enjoy!
Roger Cossack
RCossack@aol.com
I'm working a couple of days per week for Court TV, but most importantly I
just found out that I will be a grandfather by the end of the year. Yea........
Peter Kendall
PandBkendall@aol.com
One thing I have noticed is that the dress shirt laundry bill is way down
as is that of Mrs. Lee, but the travel budget is going through the roof. Once
to Montana, three times to Maine to see grandson George (who has also been
to Washington twice) once to Paris, London and Chipping Campden, and two more
trips planned to the UK and Germany this month and next. Otherwise Charles,
Jim and I meet over lunch to discuss what "Old Goat Productions"
might do in the way of projects.
I had hopes of doing an hour on "German POW's in America"--there were some 70-thousand here during and shortly after World War II--which is an interesting story because of how they were captured during Rommel's North Africa campaign, and the Battle of Bulge, their activities in the camps and how they formed lasting friendships with many Americans, and even some fruitless escape attempts. After their repatriation, some returned here to live and many who returned to Germany later came to the US for reunions.
I had done 99% of the historical research and finding elements, people to interview, etc., only to sit before the magic lantern one night to tune in the History Channel and Lo and Behold, up popped "Nazi Prisoners in the US." (I suppose "Nazi" is the operative catchy word in the title). Arthur Kent (the Scud Stud in an earlier incarnation) was the anchor. There was one positive lesson, though: I did all of the research, including finding a number of American camp museums, US experts on the subject and German websites with pertinent information, on the Internet. In fact, had a couple of elements which History Channel did not have. So, in this case, at least, the Internet lived up to its promise and I have a couple of other projects in the works. History of World Wars I and II is a special interest of mine.
Otherwise, Spring is around the corner and I have to get the "Nellie Bly" ready for summer sailing. Anyone aspiring to the role of deckhand is welcome to apply.
Claire Meyerhoff
Clairephil@aol.com
(freelance CNN writer, on and off from 1990 to 2001) works in radio, and you
can hear her doing news and traffic on Mix 107.3 FM. She does voice-over work
("...if you love shopping, you'll LOVE the Fashion Centre at Pentagon
City!") and produces the occasional corporate video. She is married to
CNN/Mobile Video/Sheldon Levy graduate Phil Geyelin, a freelance cameraman
who mainly works for 60 Minutes. They have a five year old son and live in
Silver Spring. Claire's best friends are former CNN'er LeeAnn Stauffer (no,
they are not sisters) and CNN hiatus-woman, Beth Fouhy. Claire is the founding
member of S.L.S.W.V.S.N (Sol Levine Swear Word Victim Support Network).
Caryn Stein
Carynstein@aol.com
Hello all! A big thank-you to Elissa for taking the initiative in creating
this forum for us to stay connected! For so many years CNN was my second family
which I truly miss. It is great to be able to keep in contact and be updated
as to what my old pals have been doing with their careers and lives! As for
me, I have been extremely busy starting my own business. (I am editing again!
My true passion!). I have purchased and built an editing suite in the basement
of my home and am producing and editing corporate and montage videos. In between
projects, I am busy doing volunteer work with the Montgomery County school
system. When not editing or busy volunteering, I am what my kids call "the
best taxi driver around"! My kids are now 12 and 14 years old and are
both active on school sports teams as well as National teams in basketball
and soccer. We are constantly traveling to tournaments and competitions around
the country with their teams. To say the least, my husband and I are beat
but the kids keep on going and going and going...! I hope to hear from some
of you soon and hope all is well.
Brian Haefeli
Bhaefeli@aol.com
About 5 years ago I left CNN as you might remember to work for NBC...I was
recently offered a job covering the White House permanently for Fox News Channel.
Futrowsky is my boss !!! I started there in January. And all is well!!
Maggie Simpson
simpsonma@earthlink.net
Since leaving CNN in August of 2000, I have been working as an independent
PR consultant on various projects in D.C., Seattle and San Francisco. I also
just signed on last October as Senior PR Counsel for Goodman Media International's
D.C. office, which services such clients as The New Republic, The Association
for Public Television Stations, ABC Radio Networks, Discovery and The European
Broadcasting Union. Leslie Field, from our old CNN D.C. PR team has joined
me at Goodman and it is great to be working with her again.
Yes, I do sometimes miss the CNN life! But I was lucky, as you were, to have
been there during the best of times...and, it was time for me to leave...not
least, because I didn't want to miss the best of times with my two little
ones. And I have been doing just that: enjoying life on a much more flexible,
pagerless work schedule and devoting a lot more time to the kids! Jack is
now 4 1/2 and Sarah is 3, and another little boy on the way, due in late July!
Charles Bierbauer
BierbauerC@aol.com
From Ivory Towers to Tinseltown
Espousing the Yogi Berra Philosophy of Career Planning, Charles Bierbauer
has come to the fork in the road and is taking them all!
He's spending mid-March at the University of Michigan as the Marsh lecturer
in journalism. Charles is reprising a condensed version of his Penn State
course on Media and Government. He'll also have a mini-CNN reunion when he
drops by Tony Collings' classes on the Supreme Court.
Then Charles heads for the West Coast version of the Supreme Court. He'll
be shooting this season's final episodes of the CBS drama series "First
Monday." It airs Fridays at 9pm Eastern. CNN's former Supreme Court correspondent
is a consultant to the show and appears as himself in a reality segment interviewing
Newsmakers--remember that show?--in a segment unabashedly called "Curveball."
Watch for a Bierbauer-Ollie North reunion in the season finale. Which one
was the real Cowboy in the White House basement?
Cindy Steele Vance
SteeleCYN@aol.com
I left Fox News five years ago where I was the 6am and Noon Anchor to raise
my new baby Merritt. I now have two children. Merritt is five and Wyatt is
two. I still do some freelance on-air work and public relations consultanting
but mostly focus on my children. I still have very fond memories of all my
buddies at CNN !
Sue Bennett
bbmedia@earthlink.net
I left CNN in 1996 for a position as the Washington producer for Good Morning
America, which though it looked like quite a good job ON PAPER - turned out
to be one of the worst jobs I've ever had in television. Quit ABC/GMA and
decided to get out of television news altogether. Started Bennett & Beard
- a media consulting business with former Larry King and Burden of Proof producer
Ellen Beard. We had a great run together as business partners before she left
the company to raise her twin boys last year.
Currently running the company solo -- now called Bennett Media Group -- we do on-camera media training and public relations. We're celebrating our 5th year in business next month, and it's been a wonderful experience. It's great to be your own boss - I love it, and we're lucky to have interesting clients. The job gives me lots of flexibility to be with my 18 month old daughter Natalie Jane. My husband Dan Terwilliger and I are now happily awaiting the birth of our second child in July, 2002.
Janet Keefer
janet.keefer@zu.ac.ae
Since Feb. 22, I have been the dean of the College of Education and Media
Sciences at Zayed University in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
I came to this job after seven years as dean of the School of Journalism and
Mass Communication at Drake University in Des Moines, IA. If I had been asked,
as a fresh-faced news wannabee, I would never in my wildest dreams have pictured
myself in this kind of job in either place.
Zayed University is a fascinating educational experiment. It is only four
years old (in a country that is only 31 years old). It was developed and designed
to provide a Western-style education for the daughters of Emirati citizens.
We offer Bachelors of Science degrees from six colleges: Arts & Sciences,
Business Sciences, Communication & Media Sciences, Education, Family Sciences
and Information Technology. The students are interesting and delightful young
women, who most likely are the first females in their families to attend college.
I think it's going to be a truly life-changing experience to work with them.
We are looking for qualified faculty in a variety of fields, and we welcome
guest speakers with media experience. We have a guest room or two, so if anyone
is traveling to the region and would like to visit Dubai and Zayed, please
let me know.
Eileen O’Connor
EOConnor@pattonboggs.com
First, we moved. Then, we remodeled. Then, I got a job to pay for it all.
My freedom was short-lived but totally enjoyable, coaching 4th grade girls'
basketball and running carpool. The girls got better food than they had in
years. And although I am now at Patton Boggs, a very hopping law firm downtown,
I still get home for family dinner and get to send them off to school nearly
every single morning, which is a thousand times better than it had been.
I love my job, doing Strategic Policy and Communications. I am working with
Lanny Davis, Ben Ginsberg, Ira Fishman and others (as you can see, both sides
of the aisle) helping clients get their message strategically placed in the
media or around the Hill, and even overseas. It's not straight PR, which is
what I really like. I did get officially accepted into Georgetown Law School's
part time program in the Fall. Being at the firm means I am already picking
up some "legalese" from all these lawyers, which could help me bluff
my way through some classes. At least that's the hope.
So that's my update...not much..but there it is.
Chris Black
christine_black@msn.com
I write a weekly column for Roll Call's on line service called The Monday
Afternoon Quarterback. I critique the Sunday Talk Shows and feel mildly guilty
this week about my consistent criticism of Sam and Cokie. I have written articles
for Parade, The American Prospect, The National Journal, Chicago Tribune and
the Boston Sunday Globe Magazine. I fill in as a TV reporter for Tribune Broadcasting
and I helped judge the Miss Illinois Beauty Pageant last summer. I am still
hoping to land a full time job doing smart TV and hoping that smart TV is
not an oxymoron.
MaryAnn McGann
m.mcgann@att.net
I live in Maplewood, New Jersey with husband Frank, daughter Kate and son,
Nick. I've been at home full-time since Nick was born almost two years ago.
I write articles on local topics for a small Maplewood publication. I also
recently produced/wrote a piece for the National Geographic Channel (thanks
to my former Washington bureau pal, Kevin Enochs, who hired me!) But my primary
job these days is raising these ever-changing little people -- Kate is almost
four; Nick nearing two and it's a challenge every single day. And I thought
dealing with cranky producers and reporters on a daily basis was hard! Oh
my.
Anyway, glad to hear from you and look forward to the next gathering!
Judd Ginsberg
jbg93@acs.org
There is life after CNN... and it is good! The best was the birth of Lily
Rebecca Ginsberg on March 23, 2001. She is the most beautiful baby I have
ever seen (and that is an objective opinion) and very sweet as well. She is
one year old now, and she has become a mobile unit (she will be walking soon).
She does not talk yet, but she communicates very well. I stayed home with
Lily and Hilary until December. Now,I am working for the American Chemical
Society, which is the professional organization for chemists. I am a senior
communications officer running the National Historic Chemical Landmarks Program,
which commemorates great events in the history of chemistry.
Sonia Ruseler
soniaruseler@hotmail.com
Sonia is loving every minute with her 4-year old daughter Alegria, and 18
month son, Nelson. Life is a tornado of Cheerios, toys, and all past TV news
habits have been replaced by the Teletubbies. Still, at nightime, between
9pm and 5am, somehow I'm finding the time to work on my business projects
(media training politicians, judges and executives in Spanish and English,
corporate videos for the World Bank, freelance magazine articles, and above
all, my favourite late night activity, writing a novel). Hugs to all. I miss
the jokes.
Elissa Free
elissabill@erols.com
On January 3rd, only three days after my last "official" day at
CNN, I quite unexpectedly found myself participating in a brain storming session
for a documentary on the events of September 11th for ARD German TV. Also,
equally unexpectedly, I found myself joining the production team! It's been
fun and something I can do from home that's not full-time. (ARD, as many of
you know, is the German equivalent of the BBC.) But best of all, I was able
to bring in CNN alum Carl Rochelle as our aviation consultant and my research
on the Pentagon has put me in touch with alum Chris Plante -- so it's been
"old home week" for me!
But my much larger project is to obtain certificates in Desktop/Electronic
Publishing, Webmaster Publishing and Development and become conversant in
Video Streaming. I plan to use these skills, combined with my TV background,
to become a broad-based media & public relations consultant -- working
out of my home. I've started the classes and my head is now spinning with
an unbelievable amount of information!
But most importantly, my new lifestyle has allowed me to spend much more precious
time with my family -- I was even able to serve as make-up chairman for my
10-year-old daughter's school play," Bye, Bye Birdie". Along with
a team of make-up-maven-moms, I was responsible for "painting" 87
little faces for two performances. Guess all that practice with a base stick
on Bob Novak's face paid off -- they looked pretty good! (Thanks Bob.)
And, as you can see, I have more time for hobbies -- like starting up the
CNN WX Bureau Alumni Society, which keeps me in touch with my dear CNN family
-- ALL OF YOU!
Bill Press
TruAmercan@aol.com
As the newest member of the CNN Rejects Club, I am busy looking for other
opportunities in the media - while I continue co-hosting Crossfire until
April 1. Meanwhile, I am also burning the candle at both ends, co-hosting
morning drive on WMAL Radio from 5 to 9 a.m. Plus, I spend two hours each
afternoon at the corner of 16th. & K with a sign "Will Work for Food."
Look
forward to seeing the rest of the proud rejects on March 22. Why don't we
start our own network?
Rebecca Cooper
cooperdupin@yahoo.com
Rebecca Cooper is doing war duty by working the 2am to 3pm shift at ABC NewsOne
as one of the -based reporters covering the war on terrorism daily for the
ABC affiliates. Like Elvis, she takes drugs to go to sleep and drugs to wake
up. But since she doesn't have Elvis' doctor, she is stuck with Tylenol PM
and coffee as her current drugs of choice.
Paul & Betsy Cohen
CohenP@fleishman.com
While dinner sounds fun, Betsy and I would have trouble finding a babysitter,
jumping on a plane from SF and joining you all!
Life is grand here in SF. Betsy and I have a cute, yet wild, 18-month old
who divides his time between reading books and destroying the house with his
toy dump truck. It's fun to watch, though not to clean up!!
I'd love to hear who attends the event..how everyone is doing... big news...etc....
Please say hello to everyone for us.
Ralph Begleiter
RBegleiter@aol.com
Ralph & Barbara Begleiter remain ensconced in their academic life at the
University of Delaware. Barbara works in the administration of the university's
Student Health Service. Ralph teaches journalism and political science at
the undergrad level. They get away nearly every weekend (and for long summer
stretches) to their home on the bay near Bethany Beach.
He's taken over responsibility from another polical science professor for
an annual visiting-speaker series, whose theme this year is "Understanding
International Terrorism." Ralph enjoys working with students, though
he's often struck by how young they are and how many experiences in our lives
occurred before they were politically or media conscious. (CNN, for example,
has always existed for these students, who were born in the early-mid 1980's.)
During the 2000 election, Ralph co-taught, with a terrific political science
prof, a three-course sequence on the media & politics called "Road
to the Presidency," during which he took students to live at the GOP
convention in Philadelphia for a week and secured internships for each student
with either media or the party. (Some of you saw his students at the CNN trailer
park in Philadelphia.) He also teaches a course called "Raiding the Lost
Ark: The Golden Age of TV News Documentary." (You can imagine what that's
like.)
His other courses include 'Crisis News!" and "Media & Politics."
Perhaps because Delaware is such a small state (population fewer than 800,000
for the entire state), Ralph is frequently invited to speak to community groups,
and loves doing it (he always did love to talk, right?). After 9/11, he was
invited to speak at West Point, at the Naval War College and the Army War
College about media & military issues.
Ralph hasn't given up his love for international travel, though nowadays it's
on his own schedule. He's been to Jordan twice teaching journalists, and has
been invited to South Korea and Syria for the same purpose. Barbara and Ralph
have taken a few beautiful trips of their own to Europe since leaving CNN,
without fear of being recalled in a crisis. By the way, Ralph doesn't wear
a beeper, his cell phone rarely rings, and no one seems to need... or want...
a "whereabouts" note containing contact info when he's not on campus.
The two most frequent questions he receives are: "Do you miss CNN?"
(no, except for a few moments - but only moments - on 9/11/01) and "How
could you leave such an exciting life to move to Delaware?" (A longer
answer which most of you will surely understand instinctively.)
Frances Hardin
FHARDIN@imf.org
I am still toiling away at the IMF, making the world safe for capitalism or
is it capitalism safe for the world? I am both a press officer and video producer.
Our most recent production is about Uganda's progress under the debt and poverty
reduction initiative of the IMF and World Bank. It's in worldwide distribution
for broadcast. I was "converted" to regular staff last year - so
now have a pension, something that looms ever more important with each passing
year.
And speaking of passing years, "the girlfriends" gave me one heck
of a bash for my birthday - a significant one that ends in "0".
These seven girlfriends are mostly close friends whom I met at CNN - Stephanie
Lambidikis , Carol Catty, Cynthia Steele Vance but also include Joan Gartland
(friend from Columbia J-School days), Mary Davis (Time Life Books), Judy Bachrach
(Vanity Fair) and Julie Six, (real estate agent).
Some of you may remember my Russian boyfriend - Ilya. We are still together
(14 years) though "together" is relative. Ilya -who is a naturalized
U.S. citizen- is currently serving in the US Embassy in Eritrea, having previously
served in Moscow as one of the Cultural Attaches at our embassy there. We
manage to see one another about every three to four months. He'll be here
for a few days in April and then we'll see one another again in August in
France where I've rented a house for a month in the Loire Valley. Stop by
if you're in the neighborhood!
Lee Thornton
thornton@jmail.umd.edu
Lee Thornton, who was senior producer of "Both Sides with Jesse Jackson"
for seven years, is now Richard Eaton Professor of Broadcast Journalism at
the University of Maryland. Lee's is the only endowed chair of its kind in
the nation.
Since she went to Maryland in 1997, her students have won nearly 40 regional and national journalism awards--and many of them have already carved out successful careers in the business. Lee had taught for some years at Howard University and holds a Northwestern University Ph.D.
Carol Joynt
RossJoynt@aol.com
Carol Joynt, producer, Larry King Live, left CNN the Fall of 1998. She was
a producer for John Hockenberry and then Chris Matthews at MSNBC until the
spring of 2001. She has been doing some freelance writing, but is seriously
looking for a solid job. Carol, a widow, has a 10-year-old son, Spencer, who
is in 4th grade at The Landon School. He likes school, but he loves lacrosse,
baseball, skateboarding and The Simpsons. Carol also owns Nathans Restaurant
in Georgetown, which has been in business for 33 years.
Her e-mail address is rossjoynt@aol.com
Her phone is 202.338.6193.
Carin Dessauer
cdessauer@earthlink.net
Well so much for taking a year off. I was enjoying cleaning closets, taking
pilates, spinning, taking tennis lessons, volunteering and traveling (Italy
is simply the best), but then The George Washington University asked me to
consider a fellowship at their School of Media and Public Affairs. I thought:
why not? I certainly did not expect to receive the honor, as Helen Thomas
held it just before me. But alas, they granted it to me. What an honor and
a great challenge. I designed and taught a course on Internet news, focusing
on the editorial, business and technology components of an integrated and
converged model. The students are so bright. I have had both undergraduates
and graduates. I also planned and moderated a panel open to the entire University
and the public on covering terrorism in an integrated, multi-media world.
Len Downie, Jr. and Mike McCurry, among others, joined the discussion. I didn't
want people to stand on ceremony and use the "professor" title,
but I was reprimanded by my superiors :). So much for not standing on ceremony.
Besides the fellowship, I have been busy with a number of projects. I started a consulting company after the Markle Foundation asked me to work with McCurry and others on an interesting project. I am a principal with mc2, multi-media, creative concepts (yes, that is the theory of relativity).
I have been out a bit on the speaking/moderating circuit. This has not been such a bad thing because I have had to go to locations that I have not visited. For example, I had to moderate a panel on entertainment and technology at CES (the Consumer Electronics Show (high-tech)) in Las Vegas. I convinced my husband to come out and we made a vacation out of it. Some weeks ago, I was honored to join an esteemed panel of .com executives, including MSNBC.com's Merrill Brown, on a panel at the National Press Club on the future of online news. Next month, I am off to Austin. No trip to Australia yet, but you never know.
In addition, I was asked to write a chapter on news for an upcoming book on the Internet. And, I am doing some initial research on a book.
Somehow, I have had more time to accept joining a number of boards and do more volunteer work and still spin several times a week. That and actually have dinner with my husband. The next chapter has been good so far. You never know what is around the corner!
I look forward to seeing you all! Thanks to Elissa for being so organized.
Lisa Lawrence
LisaL@texas.net
Hello everyone! I am currently living in Austin, Texas with my husband, Jeff
Gordon and our 18 month old baby girl, Halle Grace Gordon. Before taking a
break from full time work and my professional life to be a mom, I most recently
worked in high tech public media relations for an agency. Prior to that I
was the public relations manager for Texas Monthly magazine. Most of my work
there was creating a touring photo exhibit (5 Texas cities, NY and LA) in
celebration of the magazine's 25th anniversary. It was a lot of fun. Hello
to the DC gang and hope you are doing well. Hopefully I can make the next
alumni gathering. I have so many wonderful memories of my years at CNN. If
anyone is coming to Austin -- I would love to see you!
Patricia Ochs
ochspatricia@hotmail.com
Greetings to ex-CNN Washington...Our family (Maddy, 13, Lily, 7, and Brian
( ! ) has been replanted in Paris for the last 7 years. We've had a blast,
all in all, and our kids are much more adept at French than we are, in fact
they still bristle at our accents and beg us to keep silent in front of their
friends.
I am currently an editor at the International Herald Tribune, which has seen
many layoffs, like the rest of the world, but it is a fun paper to work for
and you can't beat the local meals served in between the toil. We do miss
the States from time to time, but we have gotten very used to good social
benefits, nasty bureaucrats and 10-day school vacations every 6 weeks. There
are definitely good places around to spend the time and always a good wine
to go with the territory.
I look forward to catching up on what all of you are doing. And if ever you
want to take over the rent in our apartment, usually in July, just call or
write. We are at: 11, rue Barye, 75017 Paris, France, or call at 33-1-46223431.
Linda Lashendock
LMLashendock@aol.com
This Friday night I will conf call into the dinner and just say hi. You all
will be in my thoughts for this event is a fantastic idea and I am sure will
be a blast!!! Please pass on my hello's to one and all...and pass on a toast
to everyone in finding a new and exciting professional and personal life!!!!
When will the next dinner be scheduled for? Have a great time.
In your newsletter...please tell everyone hi from Chicago from me. And just
a side note...Chicago is getting snow on this Thursday!
Beth Mendelson
bmendelson89@aol.com
For the past year I have been doing free-lance work with many of the foreign
broadcasters in town, ITN, TF1, and ARD. I spent five days in February making
a video for the Escoffier Cooking School at The Ritz Hotel in Paris, and as
good
luck would have it, had to stay at the hotel, which was a dream assignment!
I was invited on a journalists trip to Cuba several weeks ago, spent the week
in Havana, and am writing a magazine piece for The American Journalism Review,
at The University of Maryland,about US news organizations and how they operate
in Cuba. I got to know the AJR staff, when last year I adapted the magazine
into a talk show and produced five pilot programs. Getting ready for the summer,
and will plan on renting a house for two weeks in Brigehampton, my favorite
summer getaway for the past few years!
Danny Maiello
Daniel_Maiello@was.bm.com
Hello all! I left CNN in April of 2000 to work for Burson-Marsteller Public
Relations here in DC as a Manager of their "Media Practice". So
far so good. PR has proven to be challenging, rewarding and not exactly what
I expected. I work with many different corporate clients and my assignments
have taken me from Tanzania to Romania to good ole St. Joe, Missouri.
One of my biggest challenges at the moment is trying to balance work with
a hairy home renovation project!
I certainly miss my days with the old gang, but fortunately I am lucky enough
to see and work with many CNN'ers fairly often. Hope to see you Friday.
PJ Robinson
PJsPen7@aol.com
What a treat to start my day by catching up with a gaggle of ex-CNNers! One
of the advantages/disadvantages of having lived through so many birthdays
that end in "0"--with another heading dead-on way too fast!--is
that you lose track of time. How could I have missed the deadline for telling
my own post-CNN saga? Missing deadlines is not my forte (otherwise, my habit
of eating regularly would be seriously jeopardized . . .).
Since February 28, 2001, when Bernie "stepped back" from CNN, I
stepped "away" from CNN, as most of you know, for the second time.
While his life has certainly changed--and he will have to speak for himself
(if I do, he has to pay for it!!)--mine is still hectic.
I am still managing editor (after 10 years!) of The Metro Herald newspaper,
headquartered in Alexandria, VA, and it's still the best little weekly tabloid
in the mid-Atlantic region. I still work with Bernie, who has signed on to
the Washington Speakers Bureau: edit/produce his (growing number of) speeches,
maintain his calendar, and
the rest of the "Florence Nightingale" activities that Tom Johnson
brought me back to CNN to do in January 1991. Bernie and I usually/frequently
meet at his "new branch office," a.k.a. the bar at The Henley Park
Hotel [best part of this client relationship!].
I am still working with the think-tank in Oakland, CA, and NYC called PolicyLink,
as senior editor/communications consultant, just this week finishing a provocative
report, "Fighting Childhood Asthma," that will be published this
summer. I also just finished editing a book, "Looking for the Promise,"
which focuses on teaching math and
the sciences in after-school programs to inner-city kids (a true, tough-love
assignment).
About once a quarter, I sneak home to Winston-Salem to spend a long weekend with my 81-year-old mom, who continues to beat me at bowling [she bowled 222 a couple of months ago: my hero!].
And, in my "spare time," I still help my friend raise his grandson, "C.J.," who just turned seven (I cannot believe that!) and "wants to be 18 so I can drive Mommy's car." We bought an 87-year-old Victorian on the Chesapeake Bay, in Reedville, VA, that CJ claims as his own. As Gene Randall says, CJ is still charming, rakish, and all-boy: MY HEART!
Because my schedule is so wicked, I am not sure I can make Friday evening; if do, I will embellish on this anecdote; if I do not, you will know why!
Elissa, I join the groundswell of those who say kudos to you for birthing
this baby.
Tom Haynes
Tom.Haynes@turner.com
After eight years at CNN, I am leaving to join the news team at WDIV, the
NBC
affiliate in Detroit. I'll be anchoring "Today In Detroit" from
5 to 7am, just before
the TODAY show.
This is a tremendous opportunity for me to expand and improve my skills as
an
anchor and reporter. WDIV is a highly-regarded top ten local news station,
rated
number one in their market.
Lani and I are very excited to start our new life in Michigan. Once we get
settled,
I'll send another e-mail updating you with our new contact information.
Steven Hamberg
stevenhamberg@yahoo.com
After I left Larry King/Cap Gang/Crossfire I worked for a small production
company. For the past eight years I have been freelancing. Most of my clients
are companies with programming on History Channel, Discovery, etc. but I also
do some sports work, syndicated shows like "Extra", "Access
Hollywood" and occasional corporate project.
I got married in 1998 and my wonderful wife, Nicole Yakatan, and I are in
the process of adopting a child from Russia. It will be fun to catch up with
everyone.
Olivia Sellers
OffStreet@aol.com
As many of you know, I returned to CNN for an encore in 1998. It culminated
in a stint producing the CNN20 vignettes. That was fun especially because
I got to see so many of you for the first time in years. But the novelty wore
off and eventually I fled to the Turner Entertainment Group where I am now
happily ensconced as Executive Producer of Southern Living Presents and Southern
Living Step-by-Step. These are programs that celebrate life in the South.
No news allowed.
The girls are now 15 and 12. Alex is a ballerina and smart person. Sabrina is a champion gymnast. I'm sorry to miss the party, but the champ has a state championship to win on Saturday.
Love to all and I will most definitely come to the next one.
Frank Sesno
Sesno4News@aol.com
A lot going on in the nearly four months since I moved on from CNN.
I have accepted a position as Professor of Public Policy and Communication
at George Mason University. It is an unusual joint appointment to the School
of Public Policy and the School of Arts and Sciences, which is where
journalism/communication reside. I will be teaching -- starting with a course
this fall looking hard at the concept of media bias. I will also convene several
symposia and Town Hall meetings in conjunction with the
appointment.
A very exciting angle to this is a project I'm working on that brings GMU
and WETA together in pursuit of a weekly half hour public affairs program.
It is our hope to have it ready for the fall, though there is much work --
and
fundraising -- to do before then. I hope to pull together the best of both
institutions -- the quality, depth and reach of WETA/public television along
with the expertise, intellectual capital, diversity and edge that you find
at a university. We'll see.
More immediately, I'm working on a major documentary on the life and times
of Ronald Reagan which will air on The History Channel. There is a wonderful
collaboration going on -- bringing together Jim Connor, Caroline Nolan and
myself along with some great new people we're thrilled to be working with.
Mikhail Gorbachev is our first interview, so the caliber of participants is
incredible.
Some speaking and a few other projects round out my 'free' time... but there's
enough left over for more quality and quantity with the family. That's very
good. I'm writing and being my usual nutty self! I'm deep in the creative/editorial
side of things again, mixed now with some genuine entrepreneurship, and I'm
loving it.
Ginanne Brownell
Ginannebrownell@aol.com
I left the WX bureau in September of 1998. I moved to London to do a Masters
degree in history at the London School of Economics and Political Science.
After completing my degree, I worked for Newsweek in London for year as a
writer/reporter and then for about 6 months in Warsaw, Poland. I am now back
in London, doing a second Masters, this time in International Journalism,
and freelancing for Newsweek and People Magazine. I do not know if I miss
television news, let alone CNN, but I sure do miss all the people I met there.
I have to say many of my closest friends I met as I ran around the bureau
pulling tape!!
My phone number in London is +44 (0) 7810 678 404
also funny small world, cnn story:
My flatmate who writes for People Magazine was sent to Islamabad a few months
ago and I told her to call Nancy Harmeyer (fellow CNN alum) when she was there
as Nancy was the bureau chief for Fox News's operations in Pakistan. Eileen
(my flatmate) and Nancy meet for dinner and Eileen brings along Scott, this
an American friend of a friend who had been helping Eileen as a fixer, etc.
Well Nancy and Scott find out they both have lived in DC and the conversations
gets rolling and turns out, this guy is former a CNNer and the infamous mystery
BASYS message man, SCOTT HEIDLER who had been sent to Pakistan to do relief
work!!! Very small world!!
Beth Fouhy
fouhyb@yahoo.com
Hi everyone -- I'm still in California at Stanford University, approaching
the end of my year as a Knight journalism fellow. It's been a great experience
-- I feel so privileged to be here, studying and learning with such amazingly
smart professors and students. I never really felt old before, and now I'm
in classes primarily with undergraduates, the OLDEST of whom were born in
1980! It's been fascinating to get a glimpse into their world -- I now know
all about things like Groxter and Gnutella (post-Napster music download sites)
and am getting used to the prodigious use of the word "dude." But
I'm still trying to figure out the Britney Spears fascination -- I always
thought she was just the obsession of pre-teen girls, but she seems to be
on the minds of a lot of otherwise brilliant and worldly Stanford students
(particularly the guys!)
I've been taking a wide range of classes, including fiction writing, feminist studies, 20th century Irish literature, and intensive introductory Spanish. I'm also singing in an a capella group and teaching a yoga class. I love my colleagues in the Knight program -- great journalists from all over the world, with amazing stories to tell. We've all gotten really close and I dread saying goodbye when the fellowship is over.
Joe is working for the year at Sun Microsystems, and really enjoying his introduction to the high-tech world. The Silicon Valley is a fascinating place, even in the midst of the Dot-bust. And 5-year old Jonathan is doing great, loving his school and thriving in all the sunny weather.
I wish I could be there for the Clydes gathering, but please know I'll be thinking of everyone! Thanks to Elissa for organizing our Bureau.wx.alum society -- just reading over the names on the e-mail list brings back such great memories of the best days at CNN.
Love to all you guys.
Kevin Enochs
KEnochs@natgeochannel.com
So work oriented am I that I completely forgot to add the most important thing
that I am doing.
I am getting married in September! My fiance's name is Carol Kaufmann who
works at National Geographic Magazine. She has a long history in TV Journalism
but was smart enough to get out when she could.
Anthony Collings
collings@umich.edu
I miss CNN but am happy teaching, writing and doing pr at the University of
Michigan in Ann Arbor. I teach three courses (on ethics issues, Supreme Court
coverage, and foreign coverage). The past two weeks Charles Bierbauer has
been here teaching a minicourse and doing guest appearances in my classes,
which the students enjoyed. I was fortunate enough to have a book published
last July ("Words of Fire," about courageous journalists who face
dangers around the world, published by NYU Press).
This year my partner Alesia and I set up a company, Media Relations Plus,
to do media training and other public relations, and it's great fun. We've
been in touch by email with a journalist in Jakarta who may avail himself
of our services (could be a long commute).
My sons Andy and Matt are in Chicago, only four hours away, so that's good.
Matt was here last weekend and we had a great time. My third son, Dan, is
in Burke, Va., and I was happy to be at his wedding last fall. Best wishes
to everyone, and I'm glad to see that so many alums are doing so well in the
outside world.
Kyle Kaino
Kyle.Kaino@nbc.com
I'm currently working for NBC in NYC in their Corporate Communications
department. I've been here 3 years (before I was at MSNBC for 2 years) and
I really enjoy my job. I handle the press for corporate issues like ad
sales, diversity, the NBC TV stations but I also plan events for the NBC
Presidents Council and work with charitable organizations like the
Make-A-Wish Foundation on behalf of the company. I also got married last
year in April.
There seems to be a large ex-CNN contingency in NYC, especially from the
first Clinton term, that get together from time to time. If you live in NY,
please e-mail me and I'll add you to our distribution list.
Aziza Baccouche
aziza@physics.umd.edu
Aziza will soon complete her Ph.D. studies in nuclear physics at the
University of Maryland at College Park. She came to CNN as a AAAS
(American Assoc. for the Advancement of Science) Mass Media Fellow where
she worked out of the Washington bureau producing science news segments
for CNN's Science & Tech Unit. Under the guidance of former chairman Tom
Johnson, Aziza produced a short documentary on African-American
achievements in Science which is currently being used to inspire and
motivate young students to consider pursuing studies and careers in
science.
Aziza plans to continue work in science journalism. She believes there is
a growing need for connecting science to the human experience and like
wise the human experience to science.
David Futrowsky
david.futrowsky@foxnews.com
Since leaving CNN in '97 for what can only be called interesting adventures
at Fox, life has truly been adventurous and incalculably rewarding. My wife
Cathy & I are the proud parents of an 18 month old cutiepie named Katie
who
has a little sister on the way due in August. What was my single-guy thirty
year plan to fix up a very old house has been compressed into three years
and is now virtually complete. Now it looks new and I feel old, but very,
very happy.
Tom Kastanotis
tomkast@iwon.com
I left Washington to return to Palm Beach County, Florida thinking I would
get away from those national stories. Did I ever get a surprise. Yes, this
is the place where we had fun with the confusing presidential ballot, chads
that wouldn't fall out, protest marches and recounting votes. As special projects
producer at a station here, I ended up spending so much time in the control
room I thought the headsets were attached to my ears.
Then after 9/11 we found out a group of the hijackers had lived down here
while taking flight lessons. If that wasn't enough, this is the place where
we had the first anthrax case. Now we're caught up with the Catholic pedophile
scandal... the Bishop of Palm Beach just had to resign for molesting a kid.
If nothing else, we have a good variety of stories.
But the best part of living down here is: NO winter. I haven't lost a weekend
to bad weather. My tennis game is improving, and I eat so many meals at a
restaurant along the waterfront that they know my name. After a long day,
I put the hammock up underneath the palm tree on my patio and snooze. It is
a tough life. If anyone is interested in getting away from the cold and taking
a vacation down here, send me a note. I'll tell you the good places to stay
and the best restaurants where you can buy me a meal.
Susan Reichley
s_reichley@yahoo.com
Four years ago, I moved to Los Angeles with Good Morning America (after 3
years in New York with the show). Two years ago, I finally got tired of life
a la beeper and worked for a short time at a health web site before following
the trend of getting laid off.
For the last 1 1/2 years, I've been senior internet producer at JPL -- the
Jet Propulsion Laboratory is a NASA center based in Pasadena. Although not
designing spacecraft or rovers, I am managing their web site.
My next mission is to get married in less than a month. I am greatly honored
to have CNN's globe-trotting White House correspondent Kelly Wallace as my
maid of honor. My husband and I will honeymoon in Australia.
Hello to everyone and hats off to Elissa for arranging all this.
Rob Reynolds
Rob.Reynolds@nbc.com
Here's the tale of my recent whereabouts: I left cnn washington in '90. spent
6 years at cnn
london. went to nbc as moscow correspondent in '96. returned to washington
in '98 & am with cnbc now. My kids are 16 and 13 now & Im an old,
old man.
See you friday.
Tamara Linderman
tamaralinderman@thesportsclub.com
After leaving CNN in October 1999, I worked as Press Officer for Secretary
of Energy Bill Richardson. Political appointments are fun; I got to travel
to interesting places, work on important issues (nuclear nonproliferation
and chemical biological warfare, anyone?) and ponder if I was cut out for
public relations without "selling my soul".
When the party ended January 2001, I decided to work for The Sports Club/LA
as their Corporate Membership Director. I am healthier and happier than I
have ever been - Pilates, Yoga, and Muscle Ballet beat Prozac and Zoloft for
stress-relief!
I love talking to companies about how they can improve their employees lives,
and even got CNN to offer a corporate membership, so my old friends can come
down.
I've been doing a fair bit of personal travel, both domestic and intl, and
love putting the top down on my Audi TT Roadster and hitting the country roads.
All in all, life is very good and I feel fortunate.
Stacia Philips
staciaphilips@hotmail.com
I left CNN DC in 1996 to join the Dallas Bureau as Assignment Manager. Then
in 1998 I was lured to Atlanta to run the CNN Political Desk for the 2000
campaign. While on a 1999 trip to Italy, I decided to visit CNN'er Kim Segal
who was working in Macedonia covering the bombing campaign in Kosovo. On my
first day in Skopje, Macedonia, I met a young Kosovar refugee who was working
as a translator for CNN. We immediately struck up a friendship and continued
to talk on the phone after I returned to the States. Eventually Shklezen Deshishku
(he goes by the name Xeni - which sounds like Zinny) moved to the States and
we were married in June of 2000.
By the end of the Presidential race in December 2000, I was ready to take
a break from work and the US. I took a 3-month leave of absence from CNN to
travel to Kosovo to meet my in-laws and the rest of Xeni's family. I went
to Kosovo expecting the worst - a war-torn country with very little infrastructure.
But instead what I found was a thriving community, caught
somewhere in the cultural crossroads between post-war freedoms and the old-world
family mindset. It was fascinating for a Texas girl. I found moving back to
the states and joining the rat race again extremely unappealing.
In January of 2001 Xeni and I had a long talk and decided to stay in Kosovo for a while. The only obstacle was finding work, but it proved easier than I thought. On my first walk-in interview I was offered a job in the UN Mission as a Press Officer. To top it off I received one of the CNN buyouts - a "goodbye" gift worth receiving!
Since then I have worked as a Public Information Officer in the Office of the Spokeswoman. My job is two-fold - on the one hand, I am a media strategist, responsible for creating, coordinating and implementing information campaigns on behalf of the head of the Mission. Essentially we are responsible for educating the public about everything that is happening politically in Kosovo. On the other, I serve as a liaison to the local and international media providing information and interviews about the day-to-day challenges of the UN. It has been extraordinarily rewarding. I have been able to use my journalistic background and jump to the 'other side.' Now I am the one saying 'no comment' when the questions are asked!
The UN has a unique role in Kosovo in that it was sent here to set up an interim government and build a democracy from the ground up. It has been full of victories and challenges. We just held the first province-wide elections, which resulted in an elected Assembly, President and Prime Minister. I see it as an honor and a pleasure helping to create this government. We have had to educate the public about everything from democratic policies to the need for income taxes to personal responsibility for paying their own electricity bills. It is something that we take so for granted in the US. But here they are taking baby steps, moving toward Europe and the West.
The other exciting news in my life is that I am expecting our first child,
a baby boy, the first week in April. Xeni and I are in the states for the
birth and then we will return to Kosovo by June.
April Oliver
aoliver@gmu.edu
AO sends greetings, as well as thanks to the many CNNers who quietly provided
friendship and support during a difficult time. She graduates this spring
from law school at George Mason. After cramming for the Maryland bar, she
joins Steptoe & Johnson LLP. Law school has been uniquely therapeutic.
To counteract all the sitting & reading & cite checking, she has picked
up competitive swimming after a 25 year hiatus. Her medley relay team ("Ancient
Mariners") finished first in the USA in her age group. She is grateful
to compete in a sport which is nonsubjective, and ruled entirely by the clock.
She recently saw fellow CNNers Amos Gelb, Julie Powell, Cliff Hackel at at
a book party for "Into the Buzzsaw", a collection of 18 essays regarding
the fate of investigative journalists in this country (Prometheus Press).
Good fun. Finally, she notes with relief last week's ruling by the 9th Circuit
that her reporting for CNN was accurate and correctly construed based on a
key source, but that Floyd Abrams' retraction was potentially libelous. Even
though the courts take their time, such a decision by a high court makes the
transition from journalism to law somewhat easier. With best regards, AO
Linda Taira
ltaira@pbs.org
FROM IRAN-CONTRA LIVE SHOTS TO BIG BIRD BROADCASTS: LINDA TAIRA KNOWS HOW
TO COUNT DOWN FROM 3-2-1, AND HOW TO COUNT UP FROM 1-2--3.
As you can see from my email address, I've climbed into Bird Bird's nest.
Been here for five years as Vice President, Station Relations. I handle
policy work regarding membership and programming issues (everything from
digital to dues questions) for 350 PBS stations around the country and the
U.S. territories. I also run our conference services department and serve
as EP for a number of our large meetings. I travel a lot, but nothing like
my salad days at CNN. These days, I actually attend the NAB to look at
equipment!
After leaving CNN in 1988, I went to CBS News from 1988-1994 as a
Washington- and New York-based correspondent. Had a terrific time. Lots
of wonderful memories. Then left broadcast news for a stint as Senior VP
at Ketchum and then Senior Managing Director at Hill & Knowlton, where
I
worked with the great Frank Mankiewicz and my next-door-office neighbor,
Kathy Bushkin. Kathy left for AOL in 1997 and is now a multi-millionaire.
I joined PBS in 1997 and am still unable to afford my own AOL account
(just a joke, folks).
Here's what else I've been able to do with a more normal life (trying to
do this in bullet fashion for those who can read only full-screen fonts):
* Celebrating my 10th year of marriage to my wonderful husband, Bill Welch
of USA Today (we met in typical DC style --covering the Keating 5 Senate
ethics hearing).
* I have a giant Golden Retriever, Rollei Welch (he decided to take my
husband's last name), who outweighs me. People laugh when they see me
walking him.
* Sent off 19-year-old twins to college -- Providence College and NC State.
* Ran and finished the Honolulu Marathon, and train regularly at a
slowpoke 9:30 minute pace.
* Become a big Michael Jordan and Tiger Woods fan.
* Threw away my hair rollers, ultra-stiff hairspray and huge makeup kit.
Call me, write me. I love email.
Todd Philips
dtoddphilips@hotmail.com
Life has been one heck of a roller-coaster since I left CNN in 1997. As
many of you know Liz Pizza and I got married in August of 1997 and pushed
off for the left coast so I could attend law school at the University of
San Diego. Liz wasn't all that thrilled with giving up her career but was
a trooper throughout and thus we set off into the sunset. After three
years of studying the law I came to the decision that I didn't want to
pursue a legal career and began looking for an alternative after I
graduated. I met a local attorney in San Diego who was just beginning his
bid for City Council and he asked me to manage his campaign. I took him up
on the offer and officially began my political career. We won in November
2000 and I joined him downtown running the city and serving as the chief
liaison between the City Council and three major planning areas of the
City, including both La Jolla and Torrey Pines.
Soon thereafter, Liz approached me and indicated her wish to return to
school to get her MBA...I was thrilled for her, and so she began
applying. After visiting schools ranging from the east coast to the west,
she settled on Rice University in Houston. So I gave up my oh-so-brief
political career (as she had done for me four years before) and we were
soon making the trek to Texas, and I was returning to my hometown
(yuck). Liz is just now finishing up her first year and I have joined on
with two organizations within Rice. I coordinate both a yearly business
plan competition for the business school and I also coordinate the
industrial outreach program for the Center for Biological and Environmental
Nanotechnologies. I am also getting my Master's in Public Administration
at the University of Houston.
Liz recently was offered an internship with Hewlett-Packard's printer
division in San Diego, and thus we may be heading back to California come
her graduation in 2003, but for now we are still here in Texas."
Cissy Baker
CBaker@tribune.com
Left CNN in 1991. Tried to segue from VP and Managing Editor at CNN to prime
time comedy show on NBC with Garth Ancier. After that show tanked my friend
and CNN mentor, Ed Turner, told me to do what I do best, which is news gathering.
(BTW, E.T. is very sick with cancer. Will keep everyone posted on his status.)
Am currently Washington Bureau Chief of Tribune Broadcasting, (23 stations
including WGN, KTLA, WPIX, 9 newspapers, Chicago Tribune, LA Times, etc).
Yes, I still sit on the assignment desk!
I love my job. The staff is wonderful...it's like a mini-CNN. We even use
the same rundown format as the old CNN days. We also have morning and afternoon
editorial meetings just like the old CNN days.
I still miss everyone from CNN. It was a very special time in my life. What
a gift to be part of the launch of CNN.
Elissa, thank you so much for creating this wonderful alum update. Wonderful.
Cissy
Liz Pizza (Philips)
lizphilips@yahoo.com
After working in the medical news unit (95-97), I headed back to sunny
San Diego with brand new hubby Todd Philips (also from CNN -- you
probably remember him because he did the PARKING every month and fixed
those g.d. antiquated printers!) He attended law school in San Diego,
and I found a career doing communications for a medical research
institute (go figure) and then for Qualcomm. Most recently, I've gone
back to school to get an MBA at Rice University in Houston, and I'll be
back in San Diego this summer working for Hewlett-Packard's printing
division in new market development. We hope to end up either back in
Cali or in DC when I'm done with my program (2003). I've promised Todd
only two years of misery in Houston! No kids yet, but looking forward to
being an aunt to Stacia (Philips-Deshishku's) baby boy due April 1.
It was so wonderful to read updates on everyone. Thanks to Elissa for
putting this together. I remember fondly back to the "good ole days"
of
playing spring softball with Jim Barnett and gang (including Kelly
Wallace, and it's so great to see her on air now!), taking detailed
messages for Greta from callers who knew who REALLY killed OJ's wife,
thinking the one-line messaging capability of BASYS was so "advanced,"
getting ripped off by Ms. Lee, wearing those neat colored lanyards from
Scott on the assignment desk, eating scary things from the OLD FERC
cafeteria, waiting forever for the cabs from that horrible cab company
(Diamond Cab?) to show up, running around trying to make air by 5:10,
etc., etc. -- yikes, those were fun times and it seems like it was
forever ago.
