Reese Schonfeld
| Reese Schonfeld | |
|---|---|
| Born |
Maurice Wolfe Schonfeld 1931 (age 85–86) |
| Education | B.A. Dartmouth College M.A. and J.D. Columbia University |
| Occupation | Media executive |
Maurice Wolfe "Reese" Schonfeld is an American television journalist who is a co-founder of CNN and the Food Network.
Schonfeld grew up in Jewish family in Newark, New Jersey in 1931, the son of Yiddish speaking parents. He graduated from Weequahic High School. He graduated with a B.A. in political science from Dartmouth College and then received an M.A. and a law degree from Columbia University.
He began his career with United Press Movietone News in 1956. Later he became vice president of United Press International Television News. In 1975, he founded the Independent Television News Association, a service that provided independent television stations with pooled news coverage delivered via satellite.
In 1978, he was approached by Ted Turner who wanted to found a 24 hour news channel (Schonfeld had previously approached Turner with the same proposition in 1977 but was rebuffed). Schonfeld responded that it could be done with a staff of 300 if they used an all electronic newsroom and satellites for all transmissions. It would require an initial investment of $15-20 million and several million dollars per month to operate. In 1979, Turner sold his North Carolina station, WRET, to fund the transaction and established its headquarter's in lower-cost, non-union Atlanta. Schonfeld was appointed first president and chief executive of the then-named Cable News Network (CNN). He hired Jim Kitchell, former general manager of news at NBC as vice president of production and operations; Sam Zelman as vice president of news and executive producer; Bill MacPhail as head of sports, Ted Kavanau as director of personal, and Burt Reinhardt as vice president of the network. While at CNN, Schonfeld is credited with originating the 24-hour cable news concept. In 1982, Schonfeld was succeeded as CEO by Ted Turner after a dispute over Schonfeld's firing of Sandi Freeman; and was succeeded as president by CNN's executive vice president, Burt Reinhardt.
...
Wikipedia