CNN has announced its first permanent presence in Afghanistan and the creation of a London-based digital production unit as part of the largest ever expansion of its news operation.
The project, believed to be worth around $10 million, will include the creation of a regional newsgathering hub in the United Arab Emirates as well as establishing a CNN presence in Afghanistan, Belgium, India, Kenya, Malaysia, Nigeria, the Philippines, Poland and Vietnam.
It will be the first time in its 27-year history that CNN has a permanent presence in Afghanistan.
The expansion project will mean a total of 50 new jobs including 16 new correspondent posts worldwide. There will be two new correspondents for the network’s Johannesburg bureau and an additional correspondent at both London and Istanbul.
Staffing levels will also be increased at CNN’s Asia Pacific newsgathering hub in Hong Kong with additional correspondents in Beijing, Jakarta and Pakistan. Other investment is planned for South Korea and Mexico and within the Atlanta headquarters.
Jobs will also be created through the London based digital production unit which will produce and feed new CNN platforms, providing content for CNN International, CNNArabic.com, CNNMobile and new CNN services on TV-to-broadband sites.
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