CNN Worldwide has announced plans to significantly increase the number of correspondents worldwide, open a regional newsgathering hub in the United Arab Emirates, invest in a London-based digital-production unit and make major investments in CNN’s International Newsource and CNN’s in-house wire operations. The broadcaster claims this is “the biggest expansion of international newsgathering resources in its 27-year history.”
“This is all about owning more content; these new resources will have a huge impact across all of CNN’s networks and platforms,” said Tony Maddox, EVP and managing director of CNN International in a prepared statement. “Owning the content we broadcast, publish and make available to affiliates and other platforms is the backbone of this business. This multi-million dollar investment in staff and resources bolster our world-class, award-winning journalism as well as give us the power to move swiftly into developing new business models.”