Heather Allan Appointed to Lead News Gathering for AJAM
AJAM’s Amir Ahmed Named SVP of News Planning
NEW YORK, NY – October 26, 2015 - Al Jazeera America today announced that Heather Allan will join the network as Senior Vice President of News Gathering. A long-time American news veteran, Ms. Allan will be responsible for overseeing all of AJAM’s news coverage. Ms. Allan worked for 30 years at NBC, including as West Coast Bureau Chief, before joining Al Jazeera English in 2009 as Head of Global News Gathering.
AJAM’s current news gathering head, Amir Ahmed, an Emmy award-winning journalist who held leadership roles at CNN before joining AJAM in 2013, will assume the role of Senior Vice President of News Planning. Mr. Ahmed will be responsible for the strategic planning and delivery of AJAM’s high-quality news content.
The appointments reflect a strategic commitment by AJAM to bolster its news gathering resources and realign editorial operations so the network is best positioned to advance its journalistic mission across a range of platforms.
“Amir and Heather are strong leaders whom we’re pleased to have join the newsroom as we continue to advance AJAM’s mission to deliver the highest quality, in-depth journalism to more audiences and through multiple platforms,” said Amjad Atallah, Executive Vice President of Content, Al Jazeera America.
In her previous role at Al Jazeera English, Ms. Allan managed all global news coverage for the network’s 34 bureaus across the world. She played a key role in in launching AJAM in 2013, setting up all of the channel’s domestic bureaus and recruiting news staff for each location.
“Heather’s worldly experience and innate news sense will be a valuable asset in further strengthening AJAM’s exceptionally talented news division,” said Kate O’Brian, President, Al Jazeera America.
“AJAM’s unique mission, passionate journalists and dedication to its editorial vision are characteristics that I truly admire in this young network,” said Ms. Allan. “I’m excited about the opportunity to be part of it at such a pivotal time, as AJAM defines its role in the market and promotes the value of its content to new audiences.”
“With a news team committed to delivering content that’s consistently second to none, it’s a fascinating opportunity to work amongst journalists who all share the same mission,” said Mr. Ahmed. “I’m looking forward to having Heather on board as we embark on this next phase of AJAM, working together to reach new heights while ensuring our quality journalism continues to reflect our editorial DNA.”
About Al Jazeera America
Al Jazeera America is the U.S. news network that provides both domestic and international news to American audiences. Headquartered in New York City with bureaus in 12 cities across the United States, Al Jazeera America carries an award-winning mix of live news, special programming, documentaries and more. To find AJAM in your area, visit www.aljazeera.com/getajam. Like us on Facebook and follow @AJAM and @AJAMCorp on Twitter for the latest news and company updates. Join the conversation using #AJAM.
Contact:
Mallory Weinberg
Mallory.Weinberg@aljazeera.net
646-805-2043
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