Posted on 09/15/2003 10:33:14 AM PDT by mhking
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In the latest top-level shuffle at CNN, Teya Ryan is leaving her post as general manager of U.S. programming, the network announced.
Her successor is Princell Hair, who joins CNN from Viacom, where he was vice president of news for the Viacom Television Stations Group. In that role he oversaw news coverage across the Viacom portfolio of 39 television stations operating in 15 of the 20 top markets in the United States.
Prior to joining the corporate ranks of Viacom, Hair was news director at KCBS-TV in Los Angeles and at WBAL-TV in Baltimore.
His new position includes responsibility for the Atlanta-based network's prime-time lineup, which has slipped in the ratings.
CNN president Jim Walton, in a memo announcing the switch, said Hair's "professional credentials are extensive and impressive, but what makes him such a strong addition to the seasoned CNN executive team is his demonstrated ability to lead a news organization. He combines practical newsroom experience and a deep respect for journalists and their craft with business acumen and the ability to foster communication and respect."
Walton also said the network's newsgathering structure is being changed.
"Effective immediately, Newsgathering shifts from operating as a stand-alone unit between CNN Domestic and CNN International to a function of each unit. The Newsgathering infrastructure -- the people and resources operating within that framework -- is being integrated into the Domestic and International units, closer to programming decision-making and the journalism that ultimately airs."
Walton said newsgathering chief Eason Jordan will become executive vice president and chief news executive, "remaining our editorial champion, our conscience and someone who understands where CNN came from and where it is going."
Ryan held the domestic programming post for about 18 months. She was promoted to the post after a stint leading Headline News. Ryan got noticed at the company for a makeover of Headline News with more graphics and a faster pace.
She moved up to domestic programming chief under then-chairman Walter Isaacson, who resigned early this year to head the Aspen Institute. His successor, Walton, has focused more on hard news and less on opinion and soft news.
CNN recently reworked its prime-time lineup but still is losing the ratings battle to rival Fox News.
Ryan, who joined CNN in 1990 as a producer, will leave the company.
Walton said Ryan's departure follows "extensive, highly productive philosophical and practical discussions about the structure of CNN/U.S.," which "yielded a new management structure for the network."
He said Ryan "has served the company expertly in times of transition and provided leadership in periods of heightened news, most recently during the war in Iraq."
Hair's been out for a long time.
"Heck, I'm not going down with the CNN ship."
His first order at CNN:
Open all hatches, attack President Bush and America! Death to all conservatives! Dive! Dive! Dive!
Great point!
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