Statement: CBS Meteorologist Elise Finch and BBC Journalist George Alagiah Pass Away

Jo Ling Kent - Linkedin

Broadcast: CBS News has a new journalist, Jo Ling Kent. Kent joins CBS News as a senior business and technology analyst, starting later this Summer. Not only will she report on all CBS News programs and platforms, but she will also deliver news on consumer business trends and important financial stories, as well as news on emerging technology like AI (artificial intelligence). Formerly, Kent worked as a business correspondent for Fox Network, afterward a business and technology consultant for NBC News and MSNBC. Kent’s hire was announced by CBS News and Stations president and co-head Neeraj Khemlani stating:

“Jo Ling has reported on artificial intelligence’s impact on our lives, viral disinformation, social media privacy issues, and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the global supply chain,” said Khemlani. “She’s also led investigations into the conditions of workers at Amazon’s warehouses and Facebook’s impact on the 2016 elections. We look forward to having her on our team.”

In sudden news, Elise Finch, WCBS New York meteorologist, has passed away at the age of 51. The passing of the Emmy-award-winning meteorologist was recently announced by the TV station considering her death. It was reported Finch passed away at her local hospital with no cause of death to be reported. Finch started her prominent career in TV as a production coordinator for special projects and live events behind the scenes on E! Entertainment Television. She moved on to be an anchor and reporter at CBS and Fox affiliates in Youngstown, Ohio, and the ABC affiliate in Austin, Minn; weekend weather anchor at the CBS affiliate in Phoneix, Arizona; a meteorologist for the Early Today Show, MSNBC and NBC Weather Plus, before ultimately joining the CBS New York weather team.

WCBS released this statement: “Elise has been a friend and team member at WCBS for 16 years,” the station said in announcing her death. “Elise was a gifted and consummate professional who took great care with her work. She was also a wonderful ambassador in the community, including her hometown of Mount Vernon. Above all, Elise was a fiercely loving and devoted mother to her daughter Grace and wife to Graig Henriques, who is a photojournalist at WCBS.”

Aman Dhillon - YouTube

Cable: The UK seems to be building a new project; an all-new South Asian-focused talk show. ReelIN, a UK-based film company, founded by Aman Dhillon, will be collaborating with entertainment website Filme Shilmy to launch The Filmy Shilmy Show. The series aims to feature South Asian talent – both established and independent – all of whom will appear to tell a story and promote projects whilst bridging the gap between South Asian talent and UK audiences. ROQ RAW, a South Asian station, is set to be the official radio partner – sponsored by the State Bank of India UK (SBI), and Nashtaa Café. The venue to host the series’ first edition will be Rich Mix cinema in Shoreditch, London; taking place on September 22.

“We at ReelN are excited to be working with Filme Shilmy and Anuj Radia, who has been promoting independent talent and new releases through his platform for the last few years. After becoming a well-known and sought-after journalist, it seems fitting to now develop this as a show with a live audience,” said Dhillon. The company continues to support new, emerging talent and new releases, and this new show concept enables audiences a unique opportunity and immersive experience with talent and gives talent a platform, which is often not available.”

Award-winning BBC Journalist, George Alagiah, has died at the age of 67. BBC News confirmed that Alagiah was diagnosed back in 2014 with stage four bowl cancer which spread to his liver and lymph nodes. As a result, Alagiah endured two rounds of chemotherapy, multiple operations, and the removal of most of his liver. Alagiah served as one of BBC’s longest standing journalists and fixture on U.K. TV news for more than three decades. Born in Sri Lanka before moving to Ghana and ultimately England, Algiah joined BBC as a foreign affairs correspondent. Receiving numerous awards and accolades for his reports on famine and war in Somalia in the early 1990s and nominated for a BAFTA in 1994 for covering Saddam Hussein’s genocidal campaign against the Kurds of northern Iraq. One of Algiah’s major accomplishments include being named Amnesty International’s journalist of the year in 1994 for covering the civil war in Burundi along with winning the Broadcasting Press Guild’s award for television journalist of the year. Alagiah is survived by his wife, Frances Robathan, and two children.

Director-general Tim Davie stated, “Across the BBC, we are all incredibly sad to hear the news about George. We are thinking of his family at this time. George was one of the best and bravest journalists of his generation who reported fearlessly from across the world as well as presenting the news flawlessly. He was more than just an outstanding journalist, audiences could sense his kindness, empathy and wonderful humanity. He was loved by all and we will miss him enormously.”

ESPN Soccer Analyst, Shaka Hislop, collapsed on live broadcasting. The former soccer player, now sports analyst for ESPN, fainted during a live pre-match telecast at the Rose Bowl. Hislop and co-host Dan Thomas were on air prior to the start of a match between AC Milan and Real Madrid. During the segment, Thomas noticed Hislop wobbling, eventually losing his balance and keeling forward. Thomas attempted to get the attention of Hislop by calling out his name before calling for medical assistance. After the scary ordeal Thomas appeared on air at halftime to give the viewers an update.

“As it stands, It’s good news,” Thomas told viewers. “He’s conscious; he’s talking. I think he’s a little embarrassed about it all. He’s apologized profusely. [He’s] not a man who likes people to make a fuss of him. Obviously, [it’s] far too early to make any sort of diagnosis, but the important thing is that Shaka is conscious. And we spoke to his family as well, because you imagine seeing that happen live — there can’t be many more things that can scare you amongst the family.”