CURRENT TV LAUNCHES "THE WAR ROOM WITH JENNIFER GRANHOLM" IN PRIMETIME; NEW PROGRAM TO BE ON THE FRONT LINES OF POLITICAL ANALYSIS AND ELECTION YEAR COMMENTARY WITH FORMER MICHIGAN GOVERNOR JENNIFER GRANHOLM
Launching January 2012, Nightly Program To Air At 9:00 PM ET/PT Following
"Countdown With Keith Olbermann"
San Francisco, CA, October 12, 2011--Current TV will launch THE WAR ROOM WITH JENNIFER GRANHOLM, hosted by the former two-term Michigan Governor. The announcement was made today by Al Gore, Chairman and co-founder, Current TV; Joel Hyatt, CEO and co- founder, Current TV; and David Bohrman, President of Current TV. Produced live in San Francisco at Current TV's headquarters, the weeknight program is the most recent addition to the progressive news network's primetime lineup. Granholm, an outspoken and passionate political leader, was the first woman to hold the office of Governor in the state of Michigan.
From the caucuses to the campaign trails to Capitol Hill, the hour-long program will shed light on the news of the day and will feature in-studio commentary by political insiders, campaign veterans, opinion leaders and newsmakers whose unique perspective will both inform and inspire. Granholm, a regular contributor to NBC's "Meet the Press," recently co-authored a new book, A Governor's Story: The Fight for Jobs and America's Economic Future, with her husband and leadership consultant, Daniel G. Mulhern. The book explores how Michigan pioneered its way out of an economic storm - and offers proven advice for a nation desperate to create jobs. In addition, Granholm is a distinguished practitioner of law and public policy at the University of California, Berkeley. She will continue teaching interdisciplinary courses on energy, leadership, state budgets and the economy at the UC Berkeley School of Law and the Goldman School of Public Policy.
THE WAR ROOM WITH JENNIFER GRANHOLM (www.current.com/thewarroom) will cap off a nightly roster of thought-provoking content beginning at 7:00 pm ET/PT with Cenk Uygur's THE YOUNG TURKS (launching November 2011) to be followed at 8:00 pm ET/PT by COUNTDOWN WITH KEITH OLBERMANN.
Current TV co-founder and Chairman Al Gore said: "THE WAR ROOM WITH JENNIFER GRANHOLM is at the core of Current TV's strategy to be a trusted resource for intelligent and compelling commentary during what is sure to be a critically important election year with many complicated and emotional issues." He added: "Jennifer Granholm is a supremely talented and dedicated public servant whose deep understanding of the issues makes her one of the most relevant voices in politics today. She would be an asset to any news organization, and I am delighted that she has chosen Current TV as her new home. I have no doubt that her ability to illuminate and provide context to the issues of the 2012 election will prove to be of inestimable value to Current's audience as well as to the public policy discussion surrounding the election."
Joel Hyatt, Current TV's co-founder and CEO, added: "Jennifer is a proven leader in understanding and articulating the concerns of middle-income families, of working Americans, of those struggling to cope with these difficult economic times. Her authenticity, compassion and intelligence define Jennifer Granholm. We are very pleased to bring someone of Governor Granholm's stature and experience to Current TV. We are thrilled that she will use THE WAR ROOM as a platform to frame the issues and the policy prescriptions during the election year of 2012."
David Bohrman, President of Current TV, said: "As we rev up and get to the starting line of the 2012 election year, it was important to have someone like Governor Granholm at the helm of THE WAR ROOM. Her knowledge of the political landscape truly sets her apart from the rest of the pack. The Governor will help viewers navigate through the many topics dominating the national conversation and will bring her distinctive point of view to every issue we address. We are delighted to have her playing this important role on our team."
Ms. Granholm said: "THE WAR ROOM will be a nightly show for political junkies like me and anyone who cares about the future of our country, focusing on the 2012 election from all angles. As a former governor, I want to take the viewers backstage to the great American drama that is democracy. The show will be dynamic, fun and informative. We will actively engage viewers with a blend of smart analysis and relevant commentary from guests on the cutting edge of politics, business and entertainment. Democrats will love it. The far right will hate it. Those in the middle will appreciate it. I can't wait to get started." She added: "And, it is a privilege to be part of a team of outstanding journalists, led by Keith Olbermann, along with dynamic progressives like Cenk Uygur and The Young Turks, whose integrity and commitment to excellence are unwavering."
In addition to its emphasis on campaign updates and political headlines, THE WAR ROOM WITH JENNIFER GRANHOLM will introduce Current TV viewers to the New Faces of 2012 - the up and comers who might not be immediately familiar but will most certainly be part of the changing face of politics in the year ahead.
And, tapping into Granholm's personal passion to improve the lives of working Americans, THE WAR ROOM will put the spotlight on progressive heroes--individuals whose decisions and actions have made a positive difference, including those in the business community whose leadership has supported their employees and in turn, the U.S. economy. THE WAR ROOM will also feature regular field reports from the voters' perspective, amplifying the voices of everyday Americans. Other regular segments include: By The Numbers: A daily analysis of polls in key contests and key states; Inside Out: A conversation with one or more of the pros that looks at the day's events, and projects what will happen next; and Campaign InfoMania: Satirist Brett Erlich's daily feature on the highlights and lowlights from the campaign trail.
And, in a nod to the program's home base of San Francisco, THE WAR ROOM's regular contributors will include some of Silicon Valley's brightest innovators.
About Current Media:
Current Media, the Peabody-and Emmy Award-winning television and online network founded in 2005 by Al Gore and Joel Hyatt, features the very best in commentary and information programming. Home to the newly launched "Countdown with Keith Olbermann," as well as the celebrated documentary series "Vanguard," Current is dedicated to providing insightful analysis of important issues - and digging deep into real stories to uncover how they affect real people. Current shines a light where other networks won't dare and boldly explores provocative subjects - opening minds, sparking conversations and forming deep connections with its viewers. Current creates the commentary and delivers the independent, unexpected point-of-view our viewers want and need to hear. Current is media that matters.
Current is now available via cable and satellite TV in 71 million households worldwide - 60 million in the US - through distribution partners Comcast (Channel 107); Time Warner; DirecTV (Channel 358 nationwide); Dish Network (Channel 196 nationwide); Verizon and AT&T. In the UK and Ireland, Current is available on BSkyB (Channel 183) and Virgin Media (Channel 155). Viewers can also find Current online at www.current.com.
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JENNIFER GRANHOLM/A BIOGRAPHY
Jennifer M. Granholm was elected governor of Michigan 2002. In 2006, she was re-elected with the largest number of votes ever cast for governor in Michigan. As Governor, Granholm led the state through a brutal economic downturn that resulted from a meltdown in the automotive and manufacturing sectors. She worked relentlessly to diversify the state's economy, strengthen its auto industry, preserve the manufacturing sector, and add new, emerging sectors, such as clean energy, to Michigan's economic portfolio.
In addition to diversification, Granholm focused on creating jobs, attracting international investment, improving education, and training Michigan's workers to promote Michigan's long-term economic health. She pushed the state to double the number of college graduates and signed into law a college prep curriculum for every high school student in Michigan in addition to some of the toughest turnaround requirements for low-performing schools in the nation. In 2007, she launched No Worker Left Behind, a program that gave unemployed and under-employed citizens the opportunity to attend community college or technical school to receive training for high-demand jobs by offering state-paid tuition to Michigan's displaced adults. The program enrolled more than 150,000 people, with a 75 percent job placement or retention rate - the best results in the nation. Community college enrollment in Michigan increased by 50 percent between 2000 and 2010.
Under her leadership, Michigan had the second highest rate of child health care coverage in the nation despite the economic challenges. She received praise for her commitment to the cultivating new jobs in Michigan. During her tenure as governor, the Michigan Economic Development Corporation brought in almost 4,000 companies or expansions projected to create 653,000 jobs. While serving as governor, Michigan was repeatedly named one of the top three states in the nation for business locations or expansions and was twice recognized by The Pew Center on the States as one of the best-managed states in the nation. According to the Gallup Job Creation Index, Michigan led the country in the improvement of job market conditions between 2009 and 2010. Granholm cut more spending from state government than any state in the nation and resolving more than $14 billion in budget deficits. For example, she eliminated 25 percent of state departments, shut down 13 prison facilities, and reformed public employee benefits and pensions.
Prior to becoming governor, Granholm served as a judicial clerk for Michigan's 6th Circuit Court of Appeals. She became a federal prosecutor in Detroit in 1990, and in 1994, she was appointed Wayne County Corporation Counsel. Granholm was elected Michigan's first female attorney general in 1998.
Governor Granholm is a Distinguished Practitioner of Law and Public Policy at the University of California, Berkeley. As an advisor to The Pew Charitable Trusts' Clean Energy Program, Granholm led a national campaign for a national clean energy policy that promotes and funds research and manufacturing for wind, solar and advanced battery industries in the U.S. Granholm and her husband, Dan Mulhern, recently authored a book, A Governor's Story: The Fight for Jobs and America's Economic Future, which tells how Michigan pioneered ways out of a perfect economic storm - and offers proven advice for a nation desperate to create jobs. She's a regular contributor to NBC's political talk show, "Meet the Press," and has served on the board of directors for The Dow Chemical Company and Fincantieri Marine Group.
Granholm is an honors graduate of both the University of California at Berkeley and Harvard Law School. She and her husband have three children.
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