UCLA Information Studies Seminar

The CNN Library:
24x7 Archiving and Research

Kathy Christensen
CNN

Thursday, April 17th, 2003, 3pm-5pm
GSE&IS Building, Room 111
(just west of the Research Library)

Abstract: In 1980, there were no 24-hour news networks and no models for the small group enlisted by Ted Turner to call upon in making his vision a reality. This was true for the library as well as news production. The presentation on the CNN Library will cover the library's evolution over the course of the past 23 years -- its creation, role within the organization, the never-ending challenges, and a view of the future.

Kathy Christensen is vice president of news archives and research. She oversees CNN's video archives and editorial research operations. Christensen is also responsible for CNN Imagesource, the stock footage licensing arm of the archive, the development of e-commerce for the video licensing business and is the project lead for CNN's digital archive project. Christensen is based in Atlanta and reports to Scott Teissler, news and corporate chief information officer and chief technology officer for the CNN Newsgroup and Turner Broadcasting, Inc. Christensen joined CNN as a librarian six months after the network launched in June of 1980. In this position she helped develop and create the CNN library and established CNN Imagesource, the stock footage licensing division of the video library. Promoted to library director in 1985, Christensen was tasked with continuing the organization of CNN's growing library and archives and since that time, she has led the development of CNN's digital archive system, and has established a team of researchers to support the business and corporate research needs of TBS, Inc. Christensen graduated from California State University at Fresno with a bachelor's degree in English. In 1980 she received her masters in Library Science from Emory University.

Everyone is invited.