Christopher Crommett
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Christopher Crommett (b. 1958), is the CNN senior vice president in charge of CNN en Español, CNN's Spanish language division.
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[edit] Early years
Crommett's parents moved to the United States from Puerto Rico in the late 1940's. They lived in Lewiston, Maine where in 1958 he was born. His family returned to Puerto Rico in 1960, where he was raised and received his primary and secondary education. In high school he gained some early journalistic experience by writing for and editing his school newspaper. After graduation, he attended Haverford College, near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. [1]
While still enrolled at Haverford, Crommett worked sporadically at WOSO-AM, a bilingual radio station in San Juan. After graduating from college, WOSO-AM hired him as news director and host of a classical music program. He also reported on major Puerto Rico news for the CBS Radio Network. Crommett served briefly as press secretary to Puerto Rico's Resident Commissioner Baltasar Corrada del Río, in Washington, D.C.
He later was the anchor and assistant news director at WPRV-TV, Channel 13, the only English-language TV station in Puerto Rico at the time, before becoming news director at all-news pioneer WKAQ Radio Reloj.[1]
In 1989, Crommett moved with his family to the New York area to accept the position of news director at the Univision station, WXTV 41. He later served in a similar capacity at WADO-AM, also in the New York market.
[edit] CNN
In 1990, Crommett joined CNN as a producer-writer, playing a key role in CNN's Spanish-language coverage of such global events as the Persian Gulf War. (At the time, CNN produced the evening newscast for the Telemundo network.) Crommett held various positions, including assignment manager and managing editor for Noticiero CNN Internacional. In 1998, he was promoted to the position of vice president and news director for the newly created CNN en Español 24/7 news network. In February 2002, he became the senior vice president and general manager of CNN en Español.[1]
As head of CNN's Spanish-language division. Crommett oversees all aspects, including newsgathering, editorial content, programming, production, operations, personnel, budget and finances, of the CNN en Español television network that reaches 22 million households throughout the United States and Latin America. Select CNN en Español programming is also seen in Canada, Spain and Japan.[1]
Based in Atlanta, CNN en Español operates bureaus/production centers in Mexico and Buenos Aires, has its own newsgathering personnel in Washington, New York, Los Angeles, Miami and Jerusalem, and a worldwide network of some 50 Spanish-speaking contributing journalists. [2]
In addition to his TV duties, Crommett oversees CNN en Español RADIO which is available to tens of millions of listeners in the Americas. He also serves on the board of directors of CNN+, CNN en Español's sister channel in Spain. [2]
Under Crommett’s direction,CNN en Español personnel have twice received Alfred I. duPont-Columbia University Awards, in 2001 for Outstanding Investigative Reporting and again in 2006 for Coverage of the Tsunami Disaster. CNN en Español staff have also been honored with the Peabody Award for coverage of Hurricane Katrina. CNN en Español has been honored with prestigious awards in numerous Latin American countries including Mexico, Argentina, Venezuela, Colombia and Costa Rica.[1]
[edit] Personal life
Crommett is a Lifetime Member and former Regional Director of the National Association of Hispanic Journalists, and has earned several professional distinctions, including the “Eagle Award,” and various journalism awards in Puerto Rico.
Crommett serves on the boards of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and of the nonprofit HERO (Health & Education Relief Organization).
Christopher Crommett currently resides near Atlanta, Georgia with his family, and enjoys spending the Christmas Holidays in Puerto Rico. An accomplished classical singer, he recently produced the CD Butterflies in the Rain Forest/Music for Meditation & Celebration, consisting of music composed by Gerónimo Lluberas (1956-2003).[3]
