Al Jazeera International announces Amanda Palmer as presenter

Amanda Palmer's career has spanned three continents in news, current affairs and entertainment journalism, working for CNN, the Associated Press Television Network, and as European foreign correspondent for Channel Seven Australia, before coming to head up the Entertainment Department at Al Jazeera International.

A gifted and versatile journalist, Amanda will write, produce and design entertainment programmes for Al Jazeera International, hosting them with her own inimitable charm, as well as leading a talented and creative team in covering international entertainment for the network.

In keeping with Al Jazeera International's aim to bring English speaking viewers around the world a fresh 360 degree perspective on world news and current affairs, Amanda will travel the globe to take the pulse of destinations across the planet - exploring everything from cultural and religious events, to the social and economic back-drop behind each unique location with a special emphasis on people.

Al Jazeera International's viewers will also be introduced to a whole new community of international filmmakers as Amanda and her team present a regular show that will appeal to lovers of great film.

Speaking on the announcement, Paul Gibbs, Director of Programmes, Al Jazeera International stated, "I am pleased to reveal our plans for entertainment programmes with the addition of Amanda Palmer to our talented Programmes' team. We will be unveiling more of our Programming line-up as we gear up to launch in the Spring of 2006."

"As well as entertainment and culture, our programme genres will reflect the most important areas from technology, politics, religion, women's issues and business news which will be presented to viewers from Al Jazeera International's fresh global perspective," he continued.

Amanda Palmer said,

"I am really excited to be part of Al Jazeera International, which I think is the most bold and innovative project in television today. We'll be offering our audience an alternative look at destinations across the globe and bypassing the clichés of entertainment programming. I'm looking to go beyond the red-carpet as well, and introduce the world to those interesting people behind the neon lights."

Amongst Amanda's high-profile interviews with acclaimed international filmmakers, highlights include; Lord of the Rings composer Howard Shore, Russell Crowe, Ron Howard, Gabriele Salvatores and Fernando Meirelles. In recent years Amanda has also travelled to Moscow to interview Paul McCartney for his first concert performance in Russia, Sting in Venice, Black Eyed Peas in Verona, as well as Beyonce, Kylie Minogue, Dido and Italian music icons Zucchero and Eros Ramazzotti.