CNN has announced Christine Romans will join John Berman as the co-anchor of “Early Start.” Romans, who will continue in her role as the network’s chief business reporter, replaces Zoraida Sambolin, who left CNN last month.
“Given the audience’s interest in business news as the day begins, and markets across the globe have been open for hours, Christine will add a great dimension to the program that starts CNN’s programming day,” CNN Worldwide president Jeff Zucker said in a statement, also noting Romans’ “fantastic rapport” with Berman.
CNN has also named Victor Blackwell and Christi Paul anchors of “New Day Weekend.” Blackwell, who has been anchoring the program for several months, will continue to report from Atlanta during the week, and Paul will continue in her role as an HLN anchor.
“Victor and Christi have proven that they are consummate journalists and anchors,” Zucker said. “In expanding their roles, CNN is fortunate to have their depth of knowledge and breadth of experience to tell the compelling stories that people expect from CNN.”
More from CNN after the jump.
Christine Romans Joins John Berman as Co-Anchor of CNN’s “Early Start”
Victor Blackwell and Christi Paul Named Co-Anchors of “New Day Weekend”
CNN today made two announcements about its morning programming lineup.
Chief Business Correspondent Christine Romans has been named co-anchor of CNN’s early morning program, “Early Start.” She will join co-anchor John Berman on the program, which airs weekdays from 5-6 a.m. ET. Romans will continue in her capacity as the network’s chief business reporter and anchor of CNN’s business programs.
“Given the audience’s interest in business news as the day begins, and markets across the globe have been open for hours, Christine will add a great dimension to the program that starts CNN’s programming day,” said Jeff Zucker, President, CNN Worldwide. “Plus, Christine’s fantastic rapport with John makes this a dynamic team for America to wake up to.”
In addition, Victor Blackwell and Christi Paul have been named co-anchors of the network’s weekend morning program, “New Day Weekend.” The program airs from 6-9:30 a.m. ET on Saturdays and 6:00–7:30 a.m. and 8:00 – 9:00 a.m. ET on Sundays. Blackwell will continue reporting for CNN based in Atlanta and Paul will continue anchoring for HLN during the week.
“Victor and Christi have proven that they are consummate journalists and anchors,” continued Zucker. “In expanding their roles, CNN is fortunate to have their depth of knowledge and breadth of experience to tell the compelling stories that people expect from CNN. Victor has been sitting in this seat for many months now, and we are thrilled to make this role official, and excited to pair him with Christi.”
Jim Murphy is the senior executive producer and Matt Frucci is the executive producer for “Early Start.” Nora Zimmett is executive producer of “New Day Weekend.”
Christine Romans is the Emmy Award-winning chief business correspondent and host of “Your Money” at CNN, reporting on the economy, politics and international business. She covered the AIG and bank bailouts, the government shutdown, battles in Washington over debt and spending, and has reported on corruption from the point of view of the investor and American worker. Prior to joining CNN, she reported for Reuters and Knight-Ridder Financial News in the futures trading pits of Chicago, covering bonds, stocks, derivatives and commodities. She is the author of two books, How to Speak Money (Wiley 2011) and Smart is the New Rich (Wiley 2010).
Victor Blackwell joined CNN August 2012 as an anchor and correspondent. Blackwell has reported on-the-scene for many breaking news stories, including his exclusive reporting on the death of Georgia teen Kendrick Johnson, George Zimmerman trial and troubles after the verdict, the Alabama child hostage standoff, Colorado wildfires, and Superstorm Sandy recovery. Blackwell came to CNN from WPBF 25 News in West Palm Beach, FL, where he served as an anchor for the 5 p.m., 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. newscasts. He was the recipient of an Emmy award and Edward R. Murrow Award.
Christi Paul is an anchor on HLN and formerly for In Session. Most recently, she had a news-making interview with Vice President Joe Biden on Obamacare and domestic violence prevention. In addition, she covered President Barack Obama’s second Inauguration in Washington, DC, was on the news desk during the first five hours of the Newtown, CT school shootings, and anchored extensive coverage of Hurricane Sandy. She has also anchored coverage of several U.S. presidential elections, the Virginia Tech shooting and several high profile trials. At HLN, she launched the news segment “Find Our Children,” which is a partnership with the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children to highlight the stories of missing children. To date, 35 profiled children have been found and brought home safe. NCMEC honored Paul with their Hope Award for the efforts. Before joining HLN in 2003, Paul was based in Phoenix as an anchor, consumer reporter and weathercaster at KNXV and later worked at CNN affiliate KTVK. She is the author of Love Isn’t Supposed to Hurt (Tydale House Publishers 2012), a memoir of her own experience in a verbally abusive relationship, of which part of the proceeds go to the National Domestic Violence Hotline.