Following its hiring of Michael Viqueira last month, Al Jazeera America has landed another noted Hispanic journalist: Soledad O’Brien.
The network, which had been rumored to be eyeing the 46-year-old half-Cuban American broadcaster, confirmed on Monday that it has signed a deal with the former CNN star.
O’Brien will contribute to Al Jazeera America as “special correspondent.”
Meanwhile, her production company, Starfish Media Group, will produce hourlong documentary specials for the cable network.
“I look forward to beginning a relationship with Al Jazeera America, which has made a commitment to producing quality programming and pursuing underreported stories,” O’Brien said in the announcement.
As a correspondent, O’Brien will contribute short-form segments to the primetime current affairs magazine America Tonight on the new network, which is funded by the government of Qatar.
O’Brien stepped down from CNN in March when network chief Jeff Zucker cancelled her morning program Starting Point.
At the time she left CNN, she formed Starfish Media, which, in addition to the production deal with Al Jazeera America, now also has a production deal with CNN, as well as development deals at HBO and National Geographic Channel.
