NBC Universal’s Bob Wright and his wife were on Your World this afternoon to talk about Autism but Cavuto managed to get a couple of questions regarding MSNBC, CNBC, and NBC in as well. Though Wright dodged a bit about a CNBC/MSNBC merger and didn’t directly answer the question with a flat out denial, he did say that he was pleased with the direction MSNBC and CNBC are going, particularly in primetime. And he did flat out deny that NBC was up for sale. This particular line of questioning started with Cavuto wondering if their grandson’s Autism and their subsequent crusade to raise awareness for the disease maybe might have taken Wright’s “eye off the ball at Universal” (which Wright steadfastly denied). Transcript follows…

CAVUTO: Bob, can I ask you this? And I don`t this to be impolitic. But do you think, because of your concern and focus on your grandson, that your — your eye was off the ball at Universal?

BOB WRIGHT: No, I don`t, because the — you know, that is the first thing I think about every morning. Am I doing everything possible to make and keep Universal to be as successful as possible?

CAVUTO: But NBC has fallen in the ratings.

B. WRIGHT: Well, you know, these things happen, Neil.

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William Powers in the National Journal sees the story that Richard Engel will head NBC News’ Middle East Bureau as an example of a network doing what it should have been doing. And he uses that as an excuse to launch into satire…(via Romenesko)

2. Fox to Choose Female Anchors for Brains, Not Looks.

NEW YORK CITY — Fox News, America’s first choice in news, will begin hiring female anchors based entirely on intelligence. Beginning this week, the network will be on the lookout for smart, news-savvy women with extensive journalistic experience. “Given the intense competition for cable audiences, we wanted something special to draw viewers, something they can’t get elsewhere,” Fox News Vice President David Pixelbot said. “Since many Fox viewers have better-than-average IQs, it hit us that ’showing a little brain’ could be just as compelling as ’showing a little leg.’ Also, we studied headshots of Edward R. Murrow and concluded that he was not exactly eye candy.” Henceforth, female anchors will be selected through a “looks-blind” process in which candidates will be issued identical brown paper bags to wear over their heads during interviews and test videos.

CNN announced this morning that Michael Ware had joined the netwok as a Baghdad based correspondent…

Michael Ware, the TIME magazine Baghdad bureau chief who gained renown for in-depth coverage of the insurgency in Iraq, will join CNN as a correspondent based in Baghdad, it was announced today by Tony Maddox, senior vice president of international newsgathering operations.

A frequent guest to CNN over the last five years, Ware becomes a full-time international correspondent providing news reports and analysis across all CNN networks. On CNN/U.S., Ware will be a regular contributor to Anderson Cooper 360° as well as appearing on other programs.

“Michael is one of the most accomplished correspondents working in Iraq. His exclusive stories and unique insights into the workings of the insurgency will increase the scope and depth of our reporting,” Maddox said. “He joins a fantastic CNN team of committed journalists in Baghdad, and we are very excited to have him as a full-time member of the CNN family.”
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Over the weekend, word spread via EWTN that FNC’s Greg Burke was going to be named Vatican Spokesperson. This rumor is false. Burke remains a Vatican based correspondent for FNC.

I’m late noticing this. Broadcasting & Cable’s John Eggerton has a profile of CNN’s Zain Verjee. (via WHAC)

“When I spotted her doing some anchoring on CNN International, I pushed hard to get her on my show,” say Situation Room host Wolf Blitzer.

While still remaining a CNNI anchor, Verjee, who is 32, served in a “correspondent-like” capacity on The Situation Room when the show debuted last August.

“She has a huge future in this business,” Blitzer says. “The camera loves her, obviously, and the viewers love her.”

CNN/U.S. President Jon Klein seconds that. “Zain is inquisitive, disarmingly charming, and viewers really connect with her. ”