CNN launches unprecedented week of coverage of the Middle East

A dedicated week-long initiative that focuses on the region and is part of the special programming commissioned to celebrate CNN's 25th anniversary. Highlights of the week include live nightly prime time programmes from Beirut and Amman, a round table discussion in front of a live studio audience, a CNN documentary on the process of democratic reform in the region, a special edition of 'Inside the Middle East' and interviews with opinion leaders from the region.

The week of November 21-27, 2005 promises to provide the global viewer with a comprehensive view on the new and modern Middle East and the issues facing this region.

'Eye on the Middle East' brings together CNN's top anchors and correspondents, including anchors Jim Clancy, Hala Gorani and Jonathan Mann with correspondents Brent Sadler, Ben Wedeman, Nic Robertson, Richard Quest, John Vause, Aneesh Raman, Chris Burns and Guy Raz to deliver reports, live programming and documentaries from every corner of the region. This wide-ranging and engaging week of special programming will focus on the people, the prospects they embrace, and the problems they face.

"While the Middle East plays a prominent part in CNN's global news agenda, the aim of the week's coverage is to talk to the people of this fascinating region and find out about what is important to them,"

said Rena Golden, senior vice president of CNN International. "We will be moving away from the breaking news that so often dominates the headlines by travelling the length and breadth of the Middle East, from North Africa to the Gulf, to examine the cultural shifts taking place across the region and its youthful population. We will be talking to the established leaders as well as the young people on the street to find out what is driving change and about their hopes and fears for the future."

"For 25 years CNN has been committed to providing comprehensive and impartial coverage of the Middle East, just as it covers the rest of the world. With this special week of focus, we will be able to bring all of our experienced reporting and network resources to discuss the unprecedented, globally significant reforms taking place in the region," Golden continued.

Also included in the week is a regional attitudinal survey conducted in a partnership between CNN.com and the Middle Eastern business magazine Iktisad Wal Amal. The survey has been commissioned to find out about attitudes from within the Middle East on a wide range of topics, including people, business, industries, culture and politics and the results will feature in CNN's programming.

As part of the themed week, CNN anchor, Jim Clancy is to host the fourth in this year's 25th anniversary editions of 'CNN Connects', with this edition recorded in front of a studio audience in Beirut. In this special programme he will talk to a young panel about their hopes and fears for the future of the Middle East in a special programme entitled 'Voices of a New Generation'.

'Eye on the Middle East' is supported by four major regional sponsors, with Lebanon's Investcom as the main sponsor and additional sponsors in Banque de la Mediteranee, Qatar Airways and Intercontinental Hotels, Lebanon.

CNN, the world's leader in 24-hour global news and information, celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2005. CNN's combined branded networks and services are available to more than two billion people in more than 200 countries and territories in seven different languages. CNN International can be seen in more than 180 million television households and hotel rooms around the world, including over 13 million in the Middle East, reaching more than 200 countries and territories worldwide, via a network of 38 satellites. CNN.com's news web sites include international and US editions of CNN.com as well as six local language sites in Arabic, German, Japanese, Korean, and Spanish.

The web sites also support mobile services, including a PDA service on Avant Go and a breaking news SMS news alert service.

'Eye on the Middle East'
One of the highlights of 'Eye on the Middle East' is a daily hour-long report anchored live from Beirut by CNN International anchor, Jim Clancy and from Amman by his co-anchor Hala Gorani. The programme will feature reports from CNN correspondents throughout the region, covering the people, the changing the face of politics, business, religion and culture across the entire Middle East. Coverage will include interviews with key Middle Eastern players, opinion leaders and newsmakers, talking about what they think the future holds for their generation and the region.

'CNN Connects - voices of a new generation'
Hosted by Jim Clancy in the Lebanese capital of Beirut, where the rapid political and economic change taking place across the region is embodied, this discussion panel brings together youth leaders from the entire Arab World to debate, discuss, confront, and challenge the status quo in the region. The one-hour discussion in front of a live studio audience will focus on how society is changing and what the Arab World's next generation can do to shape the region in the decades to come.

Documentary: CNN Presents: 'Egypt: A test case for democracy'
Change in Egypt has many faces: a retired teacher who has just had enough, a woman who was molested by a government thug when she attended a demonstration; a Muslim preacher who says that repression is breeding terrorism; an American President who says dictators in the Middle East are on notice; an Egyptian President who is giving democracy a chance it has never had in his country's thousands of years of history. As CNN International casts its 'Eye on the Middle East', Jonathan Mann has a look at the people who are planting democracy in the desert. Will Egypt really embrace reform? What will that mean in a country where Islamic politics are so powerful? What will it do for the country's fight against terror?

'Inside the Middle East' - Special Edition
A special edition of 'Inside the Middle East' has been commissioned for this theme week, featuring three exclusive CNN reports, hosted by Hala Gorani from Jordan.

In the programme Gorani marks the Amman hotel bombings where 57 people were killed in triple-suicide attacks in the Jordanian capital. She joins the convoy taking the bodies of celebrated Syrian filmmaker Moustapha Akkad and his daughter, 33-year-old Rima, back to their homeland who were both killed in the bombing of the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Amman. Gorani attended the burial in Aleppo and spent time with his wife.

In Egypt, Chris Burns reports on the complicated issue facing the country as it goes after its antiquities stolen over the years, many of which are now exhibited in museums around the world. Egypt is now using a new weapon - threatening to shut down excavations unless the objects are returned.

Finally CNN's John Vause reports from Israel on artist Andrew Rogers whose canvas is the deserts of southern Israel. Roger's sculptures, constructed with the help of local Bedouins, are huge geoglyths, the monumental impact of which are best seen from the air. Rogers calls his work in the Israeli desert "Rhythms of Life", celebrating the human spirit overcoming adversity.

SURVEY WITH CNN.com and IKITSSAD WAL AMAL
CNN has teamed CNN.com up with Iktissad Wal Amal to conduct a pan-regional survey amongst business men to find out about attitudes from within the Middle East on various topics, including people, business, industries, culture and politics, and the results will feature within CNN's coverage.