Velshi to launch biz show on Al Jazeera America

Ali Velshi, the former CNN chief business correspondent, has joined Al Jazeera America to develop and host a daily prime time business program.

Based in New York, the as yet-to-be named 30-minute magazine-style program will initially launch in a weekly format but is expected to move to a five-days-a-week schedule by year’s end.

The program will cover a variety of topics including employment, personal finance, healthcare and education and will feature a mix of field reports, studio guests and interactive discussions designed to highlight how economic developments in the U.S. and around the globe affect the daily lives of Americans.  The program will draw upon the extensive global resources of the Al Jazeera Media Network and will employ specialists and other correspondents who will lend their expertise.

In making the announcement, Ehab Al Shihabi, executive director of Al Jazeera international operations, said in  statement, “We are thrilled to secure Ali’s extraordinary talents and services. Al Jazeera America will be bringing respected, independent reporting to its viewers and that’s exactly the type of coverage Ali Velshi is known for.”

Velshi has covered breaking news events and politics, as well as global and national issues such as the world financial crisis, the collapse of U.S. financial system and the debt ceiling debate.

“I’m thrilled to be joining Al Jazeera America, an organization that puts quality, fact-based journalism first,” said Velshi in a statement.  “It’s a tremendous opportunity and I look forward to taking advantage of the extraordinary U.S. news-gathering capabilities the channel is building and working with such a diverse and talented group of colleagues to tell compelling stories that matter to Americans.”