Isha Sesay out at CNN International after 13 years, cites excessive coverage of Donald Trump; now wants to help Africa's girls.

Isha Sesay, the TV anchor and reporter well-known to African TV news viewers, has left CNN International (DStv 401) after 13 years, citing excessive coverage in Western media of the American president Donald Trump drowning out other news and saying that she wants to focus on more coverage about Africa and devote more time to helping the continent's young girls.

On Wednesday on social media Isha Sesay, using her Twitter account wrote, "It's really happening, folks!! After more than a decade behind the desk with those three red letters… I HAVE LEFT CNN."

It's really happening, folks!! After more than a decade behind the desk with those three red letters... I HAVE LEFT CNN. https://t.co/DzSQ3P9p2u

— Isha Sesay (@IamIshaSesay) August 1, 2018

In an interview with the site Whatweseee, Isha Sesay said "It's all so Trump-focused. He sucked all of the oxygen out of the room. The media is following that lead to the exclusion of almost everything else, in a meaningful way. For me, personally, it's not what I want to spend all my time doing".

She said she wants to "do more coverage of the Ebola outbreak, of the elections in Liberia, or any number of things that are happening. I'm ready to take control of what I’m talking about".

Isha Sesay who joined Turner Broadcasting's CNN International and anchored shows like International Desk, BackStory, CNN NewsCenter, and filed reports for the weekly African Voices, was also a co-host of the now scrapped annual CNN MultiChoice African Journalist of the Year Awards that rewarded African journalism from across the continent.

Her last anchor work was as co-anchor of CNN Newsroom: Los Angeles with John Vause the past three years done from Los Angeles. In August 2013 Isha Sesay got married to fellow CNN staffer Leif Coorlim in Atlanta.

Isha Sesay was a vocal and outspoken journalist about the story of the Chibok school girls in Nigeria who were abducted in April 2014, doggedly pursuing, covering and holding the Nigerian government to account for its failure to do more faster to find and free the girls.

"I've been at CNN for 13 years, it's the end of a huge chapter," Isha Sesay told Whatweseee. "It's been such a tremendous time, such an eventful 13 years - I feel like I grew up working there. I showed up as a 30-year old in 2005, with two suitcases and a one-year contract - I've managed to make that last 13 years. It's been amazing, I've been married when I was there, divorced when I was there, it's all happened."

She explained that she is "writing a book about the Chibok girls, it's being released in May 2019. It really speaks to where my head is at, currently - a lot more coverage about Africa, a lot more work on the continent, and a lot more focus on young girls. That's what I'm about right now."

Isha Sesay said she wants to "put a focus on Africa in the way I wish all international media would cover Africa".

Isha Sesay and John Vause to co-anchor new CNN Newsroom live from Los Angeles from Monday at 06:00 on CNN International.

Isha Sesay and John Vause will co-anchor a new show CNN Newsroom, also called CNN Newsroom Live from Los Angeles, starting on Monday morning, 28 September at 06:00 (South African time) on CNN International (DStv 401).

Isha Sesay has been the presenter of CNN NewsCenter on CNN International at night time.

"I'm the China guy. I'm the Middle East guy," says John Vause in a CNN promo. "I'm drawn to stories from the developing world, and women and minorities," says Isha Sesay in the promo.

"Between the two of us, we're gonna have the world pretty much covered," says John Vause. "So that you get a sense of the stories that are important to me, and important to John and why we think you should care about them too," says Isha Sesay.

The two hour CNN Newsroom live from Los Angeles (there's more CNN Newsroom from 08:00 10:30 but not done from Los Angeles) will run on weekdays on CNN International.

It's not clear who will be taking over the anchoring of CNN NewsCenter from Atlanta permanently now that Isha Sesay has moved from Atlanta to Los Angeles and it appears that CNN NewsCenter which used to be at 20:30 has been dropped from the schedule.

Today's interesting TV stories to read from TV with Thinus - 15 September 2015

SABC fires Sammy Sosa.
"Sick" Sammy secretly used her time to film Vuzu AMP (DStv 114)'s hip-hop reality show The Hustle.


India gripped by murder mystery of the TV executive who allegedly murdered her sister - who was actually her daughter!
India's numerous 24-hour TV news channels are all going insane with lurid live coverage, panel shows, discussions, gripping satire and commentary of TV executive Indrani Mukerjea, Indian's first TV mogul, who allegedly strangled her sister Sheena Bora to death ...
... only for the shock revelation that Sheena Bora was actually ... her daughter!
... with the irony that her husband was a pioneer of satellite TV 24-hour TV news!
... going from setting up 24-hour TV news, to be covered by it incessantly!
... who now claims his domineering wife abused him!
... viewers across India are gripped - just like South Africa's Oscar Pistorius trial, by the surreal, real-life crime drama about rich and famous people engulfed by murder, hidden identities and a body burnt in a forest!
... it's a sensational TV news moral fable about materialism, media and motherhood.


Tumultuous exodus underway at Bloomberg Television (DStv 411).
A dramatic string of TV executives are out at the business news TV channel. Also went through one of its biggest firings last week when 80 Bloomberg editorial staffers globally were shown the door.



M-Net South Africa CEO Yolisa Phahle shares her story.
M-Net top executive who was raised in Britain with South African parents, tells CliffCentral how she got to the position and her music history in a wide-ranging 54 minute interview.
The relevant M-Net part starts at minute 22 until minute 46 where she talks about Mzansi Magic, reveals she was worried and panicked about the Channel O youth day mock-up ad, talks hit shows and scandals, transformation, reveals she was involved in casting the judges for The Voice South Africa and that they've been chosen and says M-Net wants to make "TV that people will talk about".


John Oliver forced to shut down his fake church.
After exposing some unscrupulous televangelist practices by starting his Our Lady of Perpetual Exemption "church", the Last Week Tonight with John Oliver host on M-Net (DStv 101) decided to shut down his church - because people mailed him sperm. It comes after he asked viewers to send him their seed (meaning money).


Isha Sesay is doing NewsCenter from Los Angeles
since she and John Vause will soon be doing a new, simulcast show on CNN International (DStv 401) and CNN.

Can Uzalo on SABC1 just bring Gxabhashe back already?
The character that was "killed off" is set to return (and fake, unsourced tabloid stories that there was friction between the actor and the production wasn't true).

Doctor Who needs a lot more kissing
Says Peter Capaldi.

A must-watch sneak peek at the The Unauthorised Beverly Hills, 90210 Story.
The Lifetime channel's unauthorised biographical film about the hit 90s teen drama is absolutely spot on.

Vanity Fair looks at why American late-night television is "better than ever".
But sadly completely excludes women and female comedians. It's "Manity Fair" and such a great unintended example of a "boy's club".


On Digital Media (ODM) and director and consultant Eddie Mbalo's fight continues in licence and shares battle.
Eddie Mbalo says its impossible to place a value on a company that was near liquidation.

The X Factor UK has long ago lost all credibility says Graham Norton.
The ITV star seen in South Africa on BBC First attacks the reality competition show seen on M-Net and says he "hasn't watched in years".

Public pressure group SOS Coalition slams parliament over the SABC.
Vacant positions for the SABC board remains unfilled and vacant.

Four key elements for over-the-top (OTT) television to survive and flourish.
The same elements hold true for South Africa's growing number of video-on-demand (VOD) players like Naspers' ShowMax, Times Media Group's VIDI, MTN's FrontRow and others.

e.tv has started moving to its new high-definition (HD) Cape Town building.

Orange plans to start a video-on-demand (VOD) service in South Africa.
Orange Horizons wants to launch it in 2016 and want to partner with a local player under the name Orange VoD.

Jon Farrar at BBC Worldwide explains new BBC channels
Is responsible for the programming and acquisition strategy for BBC Worldwide's new channels BBC Earth, BBC Brit and BBC First. He explains how the channels are different, what they're looking for and more context to the channels' alignment.

M-Net's ex boss in Africa starts her Grooming for Greatness project.
Former managing director of M-Net Africa Biola Alabi is starting a leadership development initiative.

Comedy Central (DStv 122) is taking a "multi-platform" ad approach to market Trevor Noah.

The real history of The Golden Girls theme song.
Which has traveled down the road and back again and is now 30 years old.

DATELINE DAR ES SALAAM: CNN International's Isha Sesay is 'an angry black woman' over media coverage and the world's response to Ebola.

The CNN International (DStv 401) anchor Isha Sesay whose parents are from Sierra Leone - the epicentre of the Ebola pandemic devastating West Africa - says she is "an angry black woman" over the media coverage and the world's inadequate response to Ebola.

"I am an angry black woman. I have a very tense relationship with the story because I'm living in the United States but my family is in Sierra Leone. My mother, brother, grandmother - most of my family - are in Sierra Leone right now."

Isha Sesay was speaking as a panelist member at the Serena Hotel in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, in one of the media forum sessions forming part of the CNN MultiChoice African Journalist Awards 2014.

"I'm in a place where America has taken this, in my words 'bizarre' approach to this public health emergency on our continent and the media in the United States has made it all about them and their few cases," said Isha Sesay who've spent much of her childhood in Sierra Leone.

"I was at the airport a couple of weeks ago and the driver was picking me up. I was there at the baggage carousel. And he said 'Where are you from?' And I said 'I'm from Sierra Leone.' And he took a step back from me."

"And I thought: 'Wow. How wretched a job have we done as the media that people think that just because I'm from Sierra Leone, that just being in my presence, regardless of whether I was in Sierra Leone or not, that I'm somehow inherently a carrier of Ebola," said Isha Sesay.


A lack of knowledge, lack of empathy
"What I'm seeing in the United States is this lack of knowledge. And not just a lack of knowledge, but also a lack of empathy for what we are going through right now on the continent. So I'm in a really difficult space right now."

"The coverage of Ebola to date - before we moved to the situation where we're now where the focus is so much on America and the fear that the Western hemisphere is going to be taken over by Ebola - the coverage of the continent had fixated on the continent, and so little on the people."

"It was all about the disease stripping us of our dignity, that the stories of the people - what it is doing to individuals and families and communities - haven't been told as much. We haven't as media been that committed to telling it in as much as the continent deserves."

"I'm the co-founder of eboladeeply.org because I want to change the discourse around Ebola and really bring in the voices of our people who are suffering, who may not be suffering from the disease directly but are being impacted," said Isha Sesay.

"The media need to hold the international community to account, to say 'Where are you?' We have an Ebola UN emergency fund and there's very little money in it. We have pledges being made, but the pledges aren't being translated into action."

"We have some countries saying they're going to step up and a lot of countries sitting on the sidelines."

"Where are we as the media asking those questions and holding people accountable, and staying on the stories and not averting our gaze and being sidetracked to cases of three people in the United States - people whose lives are valuable, critical - we don't want anyone to die, but again, the epicentre is on the African continent. The responsibility lies with the journalists here in Africa to ask the questions," said Isha Sesay.


The clock is ticking
"We have to realise that the clock is ticking. The world has never anything like this and the world really doesn't know how to deal with numbers that is being put out there that could become a reality."

"The media needs to do their part in getting the facts out, asking the questions, staying on this story and tracking it and looking at the resources coming into countries."

"There's a lot of stories to be told. There's an information gap here. In the absence of information there's hysteria. And there's inertia," said Isha Sesay.

"I interviewed a survivor of Ebola from Liberia who not only has been cast out but his children are being cast out. He told me his car broke down the other day and the mechanics and they wouldn't touch his car."

TV with Thinus asked how media without the global reach and resources of a 24-hour TV news channel or international newspaper can try and cover Ebola news more effectively. Thomas Evans, CNN London's bureau chief said that "with the story of Ebola, the risk is quite high, so I wouldn't recommend people rushing in without taking proper precautions".

"That being said, that is not the only story - going into an Ebola country. That is not the only way to tell this story. You can talk about what governments are doing, you can talk about the issues of health care systems; these are stories that are equally important."

"Just because you're not in villages being completely wiped out by Ebola, doesn't mean that you can't be telling the Ebola story economically, socially, government response," said Tomas Evans.


Africa's dilemma over Ebola
"There is another dilemma Africa faces," said Kenya's dr. Susan Mboya-Kidero, president of The Coca-Cola Foundation, saying African countries' governments and local media have an attitude of "lets not play this [Ebola] too much".

"Just take Kenya for instance. The country the past year has gone through terrorism, security issues, tourism is way down. The last thing African governments need right now is another disaster."

"And so for many they're saying: 'Let's not overdo this. Let's not blow it out proportion. Let's not give the world another reason not to come and not to invest in Africa. And that's the dilemma," said dr. Susan Mboya-Kidero.

"We need to learn from the situations in Nigeria and Senegal and we need to keep telling the stories," said Isha Sesay.

"eboladeeply.org is not just about getting the information out, it is also a forum to engage key influencers and thought leaders to look for further answers and solutions to this crisis."

DATELINE DAR ES SALAAM: Isha Sesay oddly absent as host, as Soni Methu steps in to present CNN MultiChoice African Journalist Awards 2014.

The CNN reporter and anchor Isha Sesay who did fly to Tanzania and who was announced and supposed to be the host, was oddly absent on Saturday evening when Soni Methu suddenly stepped in to be the host of the CNN MultiChoice African Journalist Awards 2014 in Dar es Salaam.

The journalist-filled studio audience at the Mlimani City conference centre in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania  instantly started to buzz, wondering and asking aloud: "Where is Isha?" when the new CNN International (DStv 401) presenter of Inside Africa, Soni Methu, appeared on stage to welcome the audience.

The organisers of Africa's most prestigious competition recognising and honouring excellence in journalism across the continent, earlier announced Isha Sesay as the host of the CNN MultiChoice African Journalist Awards 2014, and she is the one people expected to see as the presenter for the evening.

It is also Isha Sesay's name who appeared in the official, high-gloss printed programme for the CNN MultiChoice African Journalist Awards 2014 as host for the evening.

Yet neither CNN International nor MultiChoice ever announced that Isha Sesay would no longer be the host, and no prior mention was made that Soni Methu would be the new host.

There was no explanation as to her absence and why Isha Sesay disappeared.

Earlier on Saturday morning in Dar es Salaam as part of the three day long media forum series of the CNN MultiChoice African Journalist Awards 2014, the always eloquent Isha Sesay was part of a panel discussion regarding media coverage of Ebola, and on Friday evening she also showed up at a thank you dinner at the Akemi Revolving restaurant.

At the gala dinner on Saturday night following the CNN MultiChoice African Journalist Awards 2014 journalist buzzed about Isha Sesay's absence. With no explanation from the organisers, multiple "conspiracy" theories bloomed.

Did Isha Sesay suddenly fly to Nigeria to cover the latest news about the missing Nigerian school girls - a story she gave exceptional coverage to earlier this year - since she was now again a hop skip and a jump away in Africa from that country?

Was Isha Sesay somehow pushed out at the last minute with Soni Methu pushed in?

Did Isha Sesay suddenly take ill?

Did Isha Sesay quickly fly to Sierra Leone to see her family and parents who still live there and to check on them, since she is very concerned about their well-being in the African country which is the epicentre of the struggle with Ebola?

Or was Isha Sesay "jealous" of Soni Methu also being a part of the event and refused to take part? Journalists thought this last theory was unlikely - both Isha Sesay and Soni Methu took several photos together, chatted the whole evening, and posed together with guest for photos at Friday evening's dinner.

BREAKING. CNN International's Christiane Amanpour, Anderson Cooper, Isha Sesay, Arwa Damon, all in South Africa for Nelson Mandela.

Christiane Amanpour and Anderson Cooper of CNN International (DStv 401) are now both also in South Africa to lead unprecedented coverage of the death and funeral and celebration of the life of Nelson Mandela.

CNN International now has the biggest team of reporters deployed in South Africa to cover the death of Nelson Mandela and South Africa and the world's reaction to his passing.

Christiane Amanpour who arrived today in Johannesburg was instantly recognised and greeted at immigration with a "thank you for coming to honour Mr Mandela".

Besides the CNN heavy-hitters Christiane Amanpour and Anderson Cooper, CNN senior international correspondent Arwa Damon is now also in South Africa.

Isha Sesay is also heading to South Africa who've been reporting on Nelson Mandela from Soweto just a few months ago.

Chris Cuomo seen mostly on CNN in America but who've appeared on CNN International a few times in 2013 when CNN International takes the CNN US feed, has also arrived in South Africa and instantly started Nelson Mandela coverage.

Besides them, South Africa's David McKenzie, CNN International's correspondent in China, returned to South Africa on Saturday as I've previously reported.

They all join South Africa's Robyn Curnow who've already distinguished herself with instantly stellar reporting regarding the death of Nelson Mandela.

Errol Barnett who's based in Johannesburg and who've been already to Zimbabwe for a reaction story over this past weekend is also already back in Johannesburg and reporting live from Houghton on CNN International on Monday afternoon.

Charlene Hunter-Gault who've covered South Africa for many years, working for among others, CNN International, and now NBC News, also travelled to South Africa.

Besides CNN International's heavy presence of correspondents in South Africa, here is the already massive - and growing list - of foreign correspondents and TV reporters who've travelled to South Africa and who remain here to cover the biggest official funeral the world has yet seen:

Jeremy Thompson (Sky News), Stuart Ramsay (Sky News), Robert Nisbet (Sky News), Brian Williams (NBC News), Richard Engel (NBC News), Lester Holt (NBC News), Ron Allen (NBC News), Komla Dumor (BBC World News), Jon Sopel (BBC World News), Fergal Keane (BBC World News), Ros Atkins (BBC World News), Byron Pitts (ABC News), Alex Marquardt (ABC News), TerryMoran (ABC News), Greg Palkot (Fox News Channel), Mike Hanna (Al Jazeera), Jonah Hull (Al Jazeera), Bill Whitaker (CBS News), Mark Phillips (CBS News).

No! No! No! CNN International say it ain't so. CNN International now trashes it up using tabloid trash like Us Weekly for information.

It's sad but true: CNN International (DStv 401) is now trashing it up, wasting time and denting its credibility and reputation as a news source, stooping to use American tabloid trash such as Us Weekly as a news source and for commentary broadcast globally.

CNN International has always mostly maintained an almost "church and state" like separation between its struggling, inwardly Ameri-cocooned, pandering and severely ratings challenged CNN domestic channel in the United States, and its more successful, more global, and less trashy international CNN International channel feed.

But now CNN International seems to have succumbed to the oh-so trashy, tittle-tattle of tabloid news, willing to use and waste expensive satellite transponder time and space to have people like news anchor Isha Sesay ham it up with Us Weekly talking about British princess Kate Middleton's "who appears to be back in pre-baby shape".

CNN International, doing tabloid news in what is sold to viewers as a credible and serious news programme such as NewsCenter, must clearly be feeling that providing viewers with partially hydrogenated television trash is what forms part of its new news of relevance, world importance and that it is news of international consequence.

Talking to Us Weekly's Ian Drew on Kate Middleton's weight (because that is of international news importance) on Thursday night on CNN International, a smiling Isha Sesay said she will have three doughnuts now.

Us Weekly - a trashy read on par with OK! and National Enquirer and which has often gotten news wrong, now also appears regularly on CNN International to aid news and commentary.

If, as a viewer and as a TV critic I wanted that, I would have watched E! Entertainment (which i do when that news offering has relevance). What I don't want is to watch this on CNN International and done almost in a laissez-faire way as "legitimate" news.

It's not news. And as Richard Quest of Quest Means Business always (perhaps hollowly?) intones about CNN International: "This is the network where the news always comes first".

CNN International's sterling weekday Amanpour still remains the very best across all international TV news channels of what the medium of 24-hour TV news is capable of producing on a daily basis with the resources and reach available to news networks.

Putting trash like Us Weekly on the air on CNN International detracts from what other shows like Amanpour, International Desk, News Stream and Fareed Zakaria GPS work so hard to try and achieve.

CNN International should add Showbiz Tonight from its American sister channel HLN to its schedule if it feels compelled to bring viewers celebri-dishing over things such as Kate Middleton's post-baby weight.

It's sad that CNN International deliberately chooses to dilute it brand by devoting time, associating itself, and giving air to things and other brands which not only distracts, but detracts, from what CNN has once built its name around: real news.

Isha Sesay on CNN International jets to Soweto, South Africa, as anxiety and TV news coverage ramps up over ailing Nelson Mandela.

Isha Sesay of CNN International (DStv 401), the presenter of NewsCenter jetted into South Africa and Soweto to cover from there the deteriorating health of Nelson Mandela.

All the 24-hour TV news channels and TV news crews are ramping up their coverage around the ailing South African statesman who remains in critical condition in a Pretoria hospital as the world waits on edge for any updates.

Nkepile Mabuse continues with her media vigil outside the Pretoria hospital together with dozens of foreign media and reporters, their cameras and satellite trucks aimed at the hospital where Nelson Mandela remains in critical condition.

Nkepile Mabuse did live crossings again on Tuesday from the hospital and Isha Sesay was also in South Africa and filed from Soweto.

The eNCA had reporter Xoli Mngambi in the Eastern Cape filing reports from Qunu covering the two family meetings today of the Mandela clan who met to "discuss delicate matters" - a traditional type of meeting held in Xhosa culture to talk about any kind of "significant family event".

Isha Sesay from CNN NewsCenter will continue to do that daily show as well as a second daily new show, Evening Express, on the HLN channel.

Isha Sesay from CNN NewsCenter on CNN International (DStv 401), weekdays at 21:30 on the global news channel is staying with the show, and will indeed be doing double duty when she also starts to present the show Evening Express in America on the HLN channel (not seen in South Africa).

Isha Sesay will continue to do both CNN NewsCenter as well as Evening Express, CNN International tells me.

ALSO READ: Is Isha Sesay of CNN NewsCenter keeping that show and adding another daily show, or what is going on?

Is Isha Sesay on CNN International keeping CNN NewsCenter and adding another daily show or what exactly is going on?

What exactly is happening with Isha Sesay on CNN International (DStv 401) where she is the presenter of the new CNN NewsCenter on weekdays: Is she leaving CNN NewsCenter to be just the presenter of the new Evening Express on the American TV channel HLN or will she be doing both?

I've been struggling for longer than a week to get any kind of coherent answer or perspective from CNN International's PR company in South Africa who appears clueless and disinterested.

Last week CNN in America announced that Isha Sesay will become one of the new presenters of a new show Evening Express on HLN, a sister channel of CNN in America. I asked but had to wait for longer than a week for any answer from CNN International's PR company in South Africa. I had to ask again this week after an answer wasn't forthcoming.

Earlier this week I was eventually told: "Isha is not moving to a new show".

Well, since the CNN press release in America already said she definitely is going to be on a new show, the answer from the PR company who is getting paid to communicate these things, seems odd and is insufficient to make clear what exactly is happening with Isha Sesay. UPDATE: In a very clear answer now, CNN International says Isha Sesay will be doing both daily weekday shows.

While its not impossible for one person to do two shows per day, its not that easy a feat to juggle. Anderson Cooper from AC360 on CNN International also does his weekday show as well as an hour of his syndicated talk show. Will Isha Sesay remain the face of CNN NewsCenter and add Evening Express in America? How does one person juggle that timewise and adequately prepare for two different TV shows per day?

I've again asked for a more clarifying answer, and if I get anything, I'll try to shed more light on this.

CNN International's primetime line-up for South African viewers meanwhile is currently one of the best its been in years. With Quest Means Business at 20:00, Amanpour at 21:00, CNN NewsCenter at 21:30, Connect the World with Becky Anderson at 22:00, a repeat of Amanpour at 23:00 and World Sport at 23:00, CNN International is now a news junkie in Africa's dream on weeknights.

The offering is incredibly strong and after a few weeks have held up - meaning CNN International is back to being about global news in primetime, comprehensively covered and less emphasis on fluff.

The various primetime programmes are strong on news, flows and complements each other perfectly. The brilliant Amanpour at just the right time for South African and African viewers is the best single TV news programme on any international news channel in my opinion as a TV critic and a journalist and it's daily appointment television for me. I enjoy the amazing take of a compendium of news, interviews and context (and on a daily basis!) tremendously. It's very well done.

The new CNN NewsCenter is also strong and well put together with little fluff (although you probably have to include the stunt guy jumping out of a plane without a parachute and landing on boxes).

BREAKING. Isha Sesay's brand-new weekday show will be called CNN NewsCenter, starting Monday 16 April at 21:30.

Isha Sesay own, brand-new weekday show on CNN International (DStv 401) will be titled CNN NewsCenter and will start this coming Monday, 16 April on the international news channel at 21:30, directly following the new Amanpour with Christiane Amanpour at 21:00 (all South African times)

There's no official announcement from CNN or CNN International yet regarding the show or its name.

CNN NewsCenter with Isha Sesay will give viewers a "global picture of the day's news, taking you beyond the headlines and going to the heart of every story" says the new electronic programme guide (EPG) information on MultiChoice's DStv i-plate.

"We'll take you beyond the headlines and to the heart of every story, with the most compelling video and sound feeding in from around the world. But we'll also shine the spotlight on other stories, some of which are under the radar, but which we believe are just as important."

"In CNN NewsCenter you'll hear from underrepresented voices, and from the people at the center of the story. And we'll only bring in our reporters and analysts when they can provide the very latest new information or can add a frontline perspective that is crucial to understanding the story. Smart, dynamic and passionate, CNN NewsCenter won't just keep you informed, we'll keep you on the edge of your seat.''

Amanpour and CNN NewsCenter kicks in CNN International's brand-new primetime line-up on Monday, which could presumably, possibly, also be the date that CNN International's new World Sport starts which is also getting a make-over sometime this month. CNN International now has a primetime line-up perfect for South African viewers with appointment television.

Quest Means Business with Richard Quest at 20:30 is from Monday the lead-in to the very strong Amanpour at 21:00, followed at 21:30 by CNN NewsCenter with Isha Sesay, Connect the World with Becky Anderson at 22:00 and World Sport at 23:30.

The caustic and opinionated Piers Morgan Tonight gets moved out to midnight. BackStory becomes a weekly show. The new primetime line-up shows a renewed emphasis on news reporting in prime time for CNN International.

BREAKING. Isha Sesay getting her very own show on CNN International very soon on weekdays.

CNN International (DStv 401) just announced that Isha Sesay will be getting her very own weekday show on the global news channel very soon in a timeslot perfect for viewers across the African continent as well as Europe.

CNN International which said that Isha Sesay will soon get her own show, for now calls it an untitled ''new weekday news programme anchored by CNN's Isha Sesay'' which will form part of a CNN International's major primetime schedule overhaul (which looks tailormade-perfect for viewers in Africa).

Isha Sesay's new weekday show will start with the debut and return of Christiane Amanpour's ''old-new'' show Amanpour on the CNN International line-up very soon.

That CNN International has been actually planning a new show for Isha Sesay now makes perfect sense.

It explains why Isha Sesay was suddenly removed from Inside Africa which she presented for a long time with Errol Barnett who took over half a month ago, and which just left Isha Sesay as the presenter of BackStory - a move which also happened unexpectedly and inexplicably in September 2011.

Here is how CNN International's primetime schedule will change very soon, although CNN International refrained from annoucing a specific date. Times are South African time (GMT+2):

20:00 International Desk
21:00 Quest Means Business
22:00 Amanpour
22:30 New Isha Sesay anchored show (name to be announced)
23:00 Connect the World with Becky Anderson
00:00 Amanpour (repeat)
00:30 World Sport
01:00 Piers Morgan Tonight

BREAKING. Errol Barnett the new presenter of Inside Africa on CNN International; replacing Isha Sesay.

Isha Sesay is out and Errol Barnett is in as the new presenter of Inside Africa, the weekly magazine programme on CNN International (DStv 401).

Inside Africa will now also be done from Africa itself with Errol Barnett that has moved to this continent, whereas Isha Sesay previously presented Inside Africa from Atlanta. CNN International made no official press announcement, but said on Inside Africa's Facebook page that ''We are pleased to welcome CNN's Errol Barnett, who has moved to the continent to become the new host of Inside Africa.''

''Errol will be embarking on a journey of discovery around Africa, and we invite you to take this journey with him. This week, we start in Zambia – where you will experience everything from the historical town of Livingstone to a bungee jump from the bridge near Victoria Falls.''

''After years of incredible work on the show, Isha Sesay will be moving on to focus on BackStory and her work with AC360, among her many other projects.''

ALSO READ: Michael Holmes gone from BackStory on CNN International; replaced by Isha Sesay as presenter.

BREAKING. Isha Sesay joining Ander Cooper 360 on CNN International from Monday.

Isha Sesay from Inside Africa (Saturdays at 14:00; 19:30) on CNN International (DStv 401) is joining another CNN International show, Anderson Cooper 360 from Monday as a news anchor.

Isha Sesay who joined CNN in November 2005 will still continue anchoring and doing inserts for Inside Africa as well as presenting the weekday show International Desk (Mondays to Fridays, 17:00). She now adds AC360 that runs from Tuesdays to Saturdays at 05:00 (South African time) to her work load as well.

BREAKING. CNN International will have eight correspondents in South Africa to cover the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

CNN International (DStv 401) will have a team of eight correspondents based in South Africa for the upcoming 2010 FIFA World Cup.

CNN International tells me that Pedro Pinto, Alex Thomas, Michael Holmes, Isha Sesay, Diego Bustos and the South African CNN reporters Robyn Curnow, Nkepile Mabuse as well as David McKenzie (who's actually CNN International's de facto correspondent in Nairobi, Kenia) will all be here for comprehensive coverage of match results as well as to do a wide variety of 2010 World Cup stories.

David McKenzie will spend the entire month traveling around South Africa in a Winnebago and taking the pulse of South Africa from Cape Town to Graaff Reinet and from Qunu to Soweto. David McKenzie will travel more than 3 000km and viewers will be able to track his journey with the help of an interactive map on CNN.com as well. Meanwhile Aaron Mokoena, Bafana Bafana captain will be filing video diaries for CNN and also contribute as a World Cup analyst.

CNN International's Isha Sesay shines at the CNN MultiChoice African Journalist Awards 2010 in a dress by Stella.

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KAMPALA, UGANDA. -
The terrific Isha Sesay, host of the weekly magazine show Inside Africa on CNN International (DStv 401) simply shined as the host of the CNN MultiChoice African Journalist Awards 2010 that will be broadcast on the eNews Channel (DStv 403) on July 12.

I asked Isha Sesay about her maroon dress and beaded necklace that she chose to wear during her second stint (last year was her first) as the host of Africa's most prestigious competition and awards ceremony honouring journalism across the continent that took place earlier this evening.

''Every year we try and get someone from our host country - a local designer to make the dress,'' Isha Sesay told me. ''We want - while it may have a European element to it - something that does speak to our African audience and that has an African theme or twist from that country,'' she said. ''This year we got a local designer here in Uganda by the name of Stella, she's the designer of this dress. It's a maroon dress - one of my favourite colours. And a halter neck - once again something that is a personal favourite chose to wear. I'm really thrilled to wear this dress - especially one made just for me. Not every girl gets that!''

ALSO READ: CNN International's Isha Sesay ''really, really thrilled to host the CNN MultiChoice African Journalist Awards again.

FIRST LOOK! Isha Sesay looks as good as gold; ''really, really thrilled'' to host the CNN MultiChoice African Journalist Awards again.

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KAMPALA, UGANDA. - I spotted the beautiful Isha Sesay, the host of the weekly magazine show Inside Africa on CNN International (DStv 401) last night at a VIP dinner held for attendees of this evening's CNN MultiChoice African Journalist Awards 2010. Isha Sesay completely rocked in a purple dress with some chandelier ear rings and she chose gold as the colour for her accessories.

I asked Isha Sesay how she's feeling about hosting the CNN MultiChoice African Journalist Awards for a second time. ''I feel really, really thrilled and honoured to be asked a second time,'' Isha Sesay told me. ''The first time you do it you can't enjoy it. You just can't. You're learning the ropes, you're getting to know the team. The second time around, I'm loving working with the team. I really want to give a shout out to the team that pulls together this event. The CNN team coming from London and the MultiChoice team from South Africa – they're incredible. Really some of the best in the business that I've worked with.''

I wanted to know how she feels about Uganda. ''I've mainly been in the hotel since I got here,'' Isha Sesay told me. ''All I've had the chance to engage with Uganda people so far has really just been in the hotel, but they have for their part been so welcoming and have just embraced hosting the CNN MultiChoice African Journalist Awards this year. Its such a mammoth event that you just can't pull it off without everyone pulling together. Staff at places can get very fed up, very quickly with this huge roadshow that suddenly pulls in, but they have been wonderful and they have been very, very welcoming. I have to come back to Uganda!''

Isha Sesay also had a near miss car accident on her way to Uganda. ''We left from Nairobi, Kenia to come here to Uganda which in itself was eventful,'' she laughs. ''In Nairobi their traffic seems to compete with Ugandan traffic - a lot of traffic and a lot of logistical issues. We were coming from Kenia to get here. We were on the roads and we had a near miss because everyone's driving as if they've got somewhere more important to get to that what you do. Generally speaking we haven't had any major dramas. We've done okay,'' she laughs.

BREAKING. Africa's media elite getting ready to converge on Uganda for the CNN MultiChoice African Journalist Awards 2010.

Africa's media elite are getting ready to converge on Uganda where this year's CNN MultiChoice African Journalist Awards 2010 will be taking place in Kampala on Saturday evening.

The prestigious awards ceremony - the continent's biggest competition for African journalists across a broad range of mediums - will be broadcast on CNN International (DStv 401) in June, on as well as the eNews Channel (DStv 403) on June 12.

Besides contestants and journalists from all over Africa who will attend the award ceremony, several high-flying executives as well as well-known TV faces will be in attendance this year. Besides CNN's Isha Sesay who presents the weekly Inside Africa and who will most probably again dazzle as host, the CNN International correspondent David McKenzie based in Nairobi, Kenia and who's also well known to viewers might also drop in. e.tv's Debora Patta also told me that she will again be there this year.

Besides executives from CNN like Khosravi Parisa, the senior vice president and managing editor of CNN International, MultiChoice will also have some of its most prominent names from the pay TV operator attending the event. Nolo Letele, group CEO of MultiChoice South Africa will definitely be there, as will Collins Khumalo, president of MultiChoice Africa. Several parliamentary portfolio committee members for communication have been invited like Niekie van den Berg, Johnny de Lange and Rosalie Morutoa to name just a few.

The guest list from the rest of Africa read's like a veritable who's who from the world of journalism, with a plethora of press from Angola, Ethiopia, Malawi, Mozambique, Mauritius, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Zimbabwe, Liberia, Senegal, Botswana, Kenia, Namibia, Nigeria and Zambia who will attend.

ALSO READ: CNN MultiChoice African Journalists Awards 2010 finalists announced.

BREAKING. Isha Sesay back as co-host of CNN MultiChoice African Journalist Awards 2010.

The beautiful CNN presenter Isha Sesay is back as the co-host of the CNN MultiChoice African Journalist Awards 2010. The international news channel has announced that Isha Sesay who co-hosted the glam event last year celebrating the best of African journalist on the continent, will do so again this year when it's held (and televised continent wide) in Kampala, Uganda.

The 15th year of this prestigious competition has its annual awards night on 29 May and the closing date for entries is 28 January 2010. If you want to find out more about that, you can read my earlier posts about exactly how to enter and the categories RIGHT HERE.

''I'd encourage African journalists to enter as a way to get broader recognition for their work as a professional journalist across the continent,'' says Isha Sesay.

The competition is open to all African professional journalists including freelancers across print, television, radio, internet with photojournalism recognised as well.