Chung Jumps to CNN
By Steve Donohue -- Multichannel News, 1/22/2002 11:17:00 AM MT
Connie Chung plans to leave ABC to host her own show on Cable News Network, two sources confirmed Tuesday.
CNN scheduled a press conference in New York Wednesday afternoon, where CEO Walter Isaacson is expected to announce Chung's hiring. Officials at CNN declined to comment for the record.
A 30-year broadcast-news veteran, Chung has held stints at CBS News, NBC News and, most recently, ABC News, where she has been a 20/20 anchor since 1997.
While it's not clear when Chung will start at CNN, one source said a segment Chung recently did for 20/20 is still scheduled to air Friday.
'This is a very important opportunity for her to have her own program,' ABC News president David Westin said in a prepared statement. 'We wish her nothing but great success and happiness in her new job.'
CNN's strategy in recent months has been to hire anchors who are either young or have household names. Recent hires include Paula Zahn (Fox News Channel), Aaron Brown (ABC News) and two former MTV News reporters.
Chung's hiring could also give CNN another strong personality in primetime following the departure of anchor Greta Van Susteren, who jumped to FNC earlier this month.
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