Former CNN presenter Anjali Rao to host Dateline
SBS News Release – 7 February 2013 (PDF)
SBS has announced that television journalist and presenter Anjali Rao will join its flagship international current affairs program, Dateline, as its new host when the program returns on Tuesday 12 February, 9.30pm on SBS ONE.
Anjali Rao is a multi-award-winning journalist who has spent 17 years in the top tiers of broadcast news and current affairs. For the past six years, she worked at CNN International – hosting the weekday breakfast program as well as the network’s weekly chat show, Talk Asia, both of which air globally to 220 million households. Earlier, Anjali worked as an anchor at both Sky News and Channel 5 News in London.
During her career Anjali has interviewed some of the world’s highest profile personalities including former US President Bill Clinton, the Dalai Lama, tennis star Roger Federer, and fashion icon Karl Lagerfeld. She has also covered numerous breaking news events such as the 9/11attacks, the 2004 Asian tsunami, the death of Pope John Paul II, the 7/7 bombings in London, the 2008 siege of Mumbai, and the 2011 earthquake and tsunami disaster in Japan.
Paul Cutler, SBS Director of News and Current Affairs, said: “Anjali is a unique and exceptionally talented journalist and presenter. She comes to Dateline with a wealth of experience from around the world and is a great fit for SBS. We’re delighted to have her on board.”
Peter Charley, Executive Producer of Dateline, added: “Anjali’s honest and engaging approach is a great addition to Dateline. Throughout her impressive career she’s shown she can tackle the toughest interviews and breaking international stories with professionalism and class, and we’re looking forward to the new dimension she’ll bring to the program.”
Anjali said: “Dateline has a unique approach, delivering honest and compelling journalism covering important stories from around the world that many others would not. To have the opportunity to be a part of such a distinguished program, and follow in the footsteps of some of Australia’s most respected journalists, is incredibly exciting.”
Born to an Indian father and Australian mother, Anjali was raised in Hong Kong, educated in the United Kingdom, but is now based in Australia. Locally she has appeared as a panelist on The Project on Channel Ten, and also as a host on Sydney’s 2UE radio station.
Award winning video journalist Mark Davis, who has shared the presenting role with Yalda Hakim for the past two years, will continue to present the program on occasion but will be spending more time travelling on assignment, and reporting more regularly for Dateline.
ENDS
For more information, and to arrange interviews, please contact:
Sarah Vahtola | T: (02) 9430 3319 | M: 0431 282 259 | E: sarah.vahtola@sbs.com.au