CNN announced that it will be airing a one hour special ” Iraq: A Week at War” anchored by John Roberts on Saturday at 7pm ET. The special will cover this week’s events in Iraq.

CNN takes a closer look at the events in Iraq this week, including President George W. Bush’s surprise visit to Baghdad, in the second installment of the network’s Iraq: A Week at War. The program, led by CNN senior national correspondent John Roberts, who spent time embedded with the U.S. Marines during the Iraq war, will air Saturday, June 17, from 7 to 8 p.m. and re-air Sunday, June 18, from 1 to 2 p.m. (ET)

“With our unique ability to reach the frontlines in Iraq, the Pentagon and the heartland of America, we are able to deliver a comprehensive look at Iraq that weaves together all of the threads of the story into one complete tapestry,” said Jon Klein, CNN/U.S. president. “This is our second hour in two weeks that moves beyond the headlines and brings viewers a thorough assessment of the situation in Iraq.”
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NBC News announced that it was expanding its Beijing Bureau by stationing a correspondent there and naming a South East Asia Bureau Chief. This marks the 2nd major expansion overseas for NBC News this year.

Due to the increasing changes in the global marketplace and international politics, NBC News President Steve Capus announced today a major expansion of its Beijing bureau to include a full time correspondent and additional bureau staff. These changes are effective immediately and additional staff announcements in the region will be made shortly.

In less than a year, NBC News has opened and significantly expanded three bureaus, including one in the Middle East based in Beirut, Lebanon and another based in New Orleans serving the Gulf Coast region.

In making the announcement, Capus said, “Some of the most fascinating and important stories of our times are playing out in China and that region these days. This expansion underscores NBC News’ deep commitment to real, substantial coverage of this part of our world.”
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Johnny Dollar emailed in to note that Tony Snow will make a return to familiar digs this weekend when he appears on Fox News Sunday…

Inside Radio’s Mike Kinosian has a story on Fox News Radio with quotes from Fox News Radio Senior Vice President Kevin Magee and Directof of News Programming and Managing Editor Mitch Davis.

The first rule Davis recites to his anchors and reporters is that they can’t be boring. “From the beginning, we [said] this is not your grandfather’s radio network,” he comments. “I looked – and am still looking – for people who have a passion for reporting and love to do news. We don’t stand on top of a mountain and preach down to people. I’m not looking for people with a great delivery – I need people who want to tell a story and who are interested in telling the story. After talking with someone and getting a writing sample, you can fairly quickly get a feeling if this is something they’re doing because they really want to, or if it’s just a job.”

TVNewser notes that Iran is downplaying the news FNC’s John Moody broke that it would be willing to help in Iraq…

According to a report released by the Foreign Ministry Media Department, he said that Iran has not helped US secretly over Iraq and that Tehran’s approach in this respect is quite clear and transparent.

FTVLive posits the notion that 360 landed Jolie because of a side deal with People magazine but offers no evidence…

Jossip has the Olbermannwatch link to the emails…

An entire website devoted to Keith Olbermann. And it wasn’t even started by him!

9 am comes around and…no Countdown repeat…MSNBC is running live news. Is “the experiment” over?

An emailer writes in to note that on this morning’s Imus show, Monica Crowley was on and said that starting next week she’ll be anchoring at the 1 pm hour on Thursday and Fridays.

This says two things…

1) There’s no permanent anchor to fill in that slot.
2) Apparently Dan Abrams thinks political commentators make adequate substitute anchors. I wonder how the journalists at MSNBC feel about that?

Marketwatch’s Jon Friedman thinks so…

This man seriously needs a reality check.

It pains me to write this because I like and respect Cramer. I have no ancient grudge against the man.

Once, Cramer was a welcome relief from the standard television business news reports. He was bombastic, God knows, but his deep knowledge of the stock market could cover up for his shtick. It included loud buzzers, bells and, of course, the sounds of bulls, when Cramer felt bullish, as well as other eccentricities.
But he has gone too far.