Former CNN anchor and award-winning journalist Soledad O’Brien has joined Al Jazeera America as the international news company continues to try to break into the U.S.
The news was first reported by TV Newser, which tweeted last week that it had heard that O’Brien was in talks with Al Jazeera America. Early Monday, the journalist and the network both confirmed the news.
“I look forward to beginning a relationship with Al Jazeera America, which has made a commitment to producing quality programming and pursuing underreported stories,” O’Brien said in a statement, notes The Hollywood Reporter.
O’Brien will host America Tonight, which will re-team her with senior executive producer Kim Bondy. The two worked together on CNN’s American Morning.
O’Brien last hosted Starting Point for CNN and announced her departure in February. She still hosts documentaries for the network and recently agreed to do features for HBO’s Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel.
Al Jazeera American has been busy hiring correspondents, including NBC’s Michael Viqueira and CNN’s Ali Velshi. It is set to launch in August, but it still without a chief executive for the daily operations.