Global Television Announces Dawna Friesen As Anchor Of Global National

    
                NBC News International Correspondent & Anchor
                                 Returns Home

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                           www.canwesttvmedia.com
    

TORONTO, July 13 /CNW/ - Global Television today announced Emmy(R) Award-winning journalist Dawna Friesen has been named Anchor & Executive Editor of Global National.

With a breadth of international experience that sets her apart, Friesen will bring a distinct voice and perspective to the more than one million Canadians who put their trust in Global National each evening. Along with the newscast's acclaimed team of correspondents, Friesen will make her inaugural broadcast this September.

"I'm honoured and excited by the opportunity to return to Canada as part of the Global National team," said Dawna Friesen. "Kevin and all the staff have created a rock-solid broadcast reputation, one that I want to preserve and develop. I can only hope to connect with Canadians the way he has. It's a fantastic challenge that I am eager to take on."

"Dawna's credentials and accomplishments are at an elite level - and in keeping with the new generation of anchor and correspondents Canadians have come to rely on at Global National," said Peter Viner, President of Canwest Broadcasting. "Today's announcement builds powerfully on the commitment to excellence established by Kevin Newman and the Global National team over the last decade."

As the London-based correspondent and anchor for NBC News, Today and MSNBC since 1999, Friesen has travelled the world, witnessing the day's top international stories unfolding from across the Middle East, Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Russia, Europe and Africa. Her passion for interpreting the events and personalities that shape our lives has taken her behind the scenes of conflict, power and hope. Often spending months in a region as situations evolved, she has lived inside the diverse stories she has told including the fall of Iraq and the war on terror, the struggle to bring peace to Afghanistan, the abduction and murder of journalist Daniel Pearl and the search for suspects in 2004's Madrid bombings. Friesen's engaged, inclusive style - whether with world leaders, entertainers or everyday people - earned a 2009 Emmy Award for her part in team coverage of Barack Obama's U.S. Presidential victory.

Born in Winnipeg and raised in rural Manitoba, Friesen began her news career in Canada in 1985, telling stories, learning the art of the interview and seeing her country from postings in Portage La Prairie, Brandon, Saskatoon and Thunder Bay. She went on to work as a correspondent and anchor for both CBC and CTV at the national level in Ottawa, Vancouver and Toronto, covering a wide range of health, economic and political issues, and also serving as a Senior Parliamentary Correspondent. Download biography, photos at: www.canwesttvmedia.com.

"Dawna has inspired the trust and confidence of interview subjects, audiences and colleagues around the world," said Troy Reeb, SVP News & Current Affairs, Canwest Broadcasting. "Her strength as a communicator and a news leader will truly resonate with Canadians."

Launched September 3, 2001, Global National changed the face of national news in Canada through the guiding principle of "News Understood." With a broader range of reporting and features, a powerful team of Canadian and international correspondents and an unprecedented early evening edition, Canadians embraced the notion that their news could be clearer, more direct and more accessible. Aggressive and innovative, the multi award-winning newscast has met people and stories where they live, broadcasting regularly on-location from across Canada and around the world.

"Global National stands among the most successful Canadian programs the network has ever built and is respected as one of the finest sources of national news in Canada. That was my dream when I was hired a decade ago to design and help build a brand new journalistic voice for Canada," said Kevin Newman, Founding Anchor & Executive Editor, Global National. "I know Dawna Friesen is the right person to help the dream thrive. She is an accomplished journalist which ensures she will continue the tradition of having a hands-on and engaged anchor. And I am certain viewers will quickly discover her qualities as a welcome friend at 5:30."

Global National airs weeknights at 5:30pm/6:30pm Maritimes on Global and 7:30pm NFLD on NTV.

Global Television is a Canwest Broadcasting network.

About Canwest Broadcasting

Canwest Broadcasting operates Global Television and nineteen of the country's most popular specialty channels, including HGTV, Mystery TV, National Geographic Channel, Showcase, History Television, Food Network and TVtropolis. Canwest Broadcasting is a division of Canwest Media Inc.

For further information: For media inquiries, please contact: Grace Park, Publicity Manager, Global Television, [phone], [email protected]