Top of ticker: January 2025 will mark the fifth anniversary of the tragic loss of the basketball legend Kobe Bryant. CNN is paying tribute to the NBA star with a three-part CNN original series that delves into the private history of the unseen forces that propelled his rise. Premiering January 25 at 9 p.m. ET, Kobe: The Making of a Legend features personal interviews with Kobe’s former coaches, teammates and family friends.
“Kobe: The Making of a Legend” tells the private story of the unseen forces that propelled his rise and the personal transformations he faced along the way. The three-part series premieres Saturday, January 25 at 9 p.m. ET/PT on CNN. pic.twitter.com/af9HciooJI
– CNN Original Series (@CNNOriginals) December 12, 2024
What’s new: Fox News foreign correspondent Gillian Turner and her husband, Alex Kramerreceived an early Christmas present as they welcomed a new member into their household. The stork gave birth to baby Jack on Monday, and he will undoubtedly follow his big sister Coco Rose Kramer around in a few years. News of the latest addition to the Turner/Kramer home was announced on Thursday evening’s Special Report with Brett Baier.
Another Fox News personality also recently increased her household count. Late Night Host Greg Gutfeld confirmed that he and his wife, Elena Moussawelcomed their first child, Mira. Gutfeld had recently been absent from his chair and this absence will continue into the new year.
Career celebration: Friday morning, MSNBC provided the anchor José Diaz-Balart with a special tribute to his 40th year of journalism. The channel broadcast a video during the José Díaz-Balart reports which looks back on some of his most memorable reporting moments. Also included are messages from friends and people who have worked with him over the years, including the singer Gloria EstefanChairman of NBCUniversal News Group Cesar Condepresident of MSNBC Rashida Jones and MSNBC anchors Andrea Mitchell, Ana Cabrera, Chris JansingAnd Katy Tur.
Students launch into the world: 24 student journalists from Georgia Tech, University of Florida, Howard University and Georgia State University will join 140 additional student journalists from around the world for the CNN Academy newsroom simulation in Abu Dhabi from December 10 to 18. They will be part of an immersive experience focused on harnessing the power of AI in journalism, and will also be mentored by CNN’s top international correspondents and editorial staff.
Historical honor: 60 Minutes correspondent Cécilia Vega received the first-ever national Latino Journalist of the Year award from the National Association of Hispanic Journalists on Dec. 7 at the Excelencia Awards ceremony in Los Angeles. Vega was honored for her journalistic achievements, including recent interview with the border tsar entering Tom Homan– as well as his dedication to mentoring young Hispanic journalists.
Cecilia Vega with the National Latina Journalist of the Year award from the NAHJ.
What’s in a name: As NBCUniversal moves forward with his projects for SpinCo— the spinoff company that will house many of its fading linear channels — there was some good news for one of the networks. Status’ Olivier Darcy reports that CNBC, which recently announced plans to launch a CNBC+ streaming servicewill be allowed to keep its name when SpinCo goes live in 2025. As for MSNBC, Darcy reports that no decision has been made regarding a possible name change.
