Christopher Crommett
Encyclopedia
Christopher Crommett was the CNN senior vice president in charge of CNN en Español, CNN
's Spanish language
division, from 2002-2009. Crommett is currently a media strategist with NewsCertified Exchange. He also serves as a consultant to businesses in the U.S. and Latin America.
, Maine
in 1958. When he was two years old, his family moved to Puerto Rico, where he was raised and received his primary and secondary education. His father, Eugene Crommett, was a professor at the University of Puerto Rico
and a priest of the Episcopal Church
. In high school he gained some early journalistic experience by writing for and editing his school newspaper. He later attended Haverford College
, near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
.
In 1978, while enrolled at Haverford, Crommett took a summer job at WOSO-AM, a bilingual radio station
in San Juan. He subsequently took a one-year leave from the college which he spent working as an announcer, newscaster, reporter and correspondent assigned to the 1980 Democratic National Convention
at WOSO. After graduating from Haverford in 1981, 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. In 1982-83, Crommett served for 12 months 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 for three years at all-news pioneer WKAQ Radio Reloj.
In 1989, Crommett moved with his wife, Ana, and daughter, Julie Ann, 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 in New Jersey, where his son Michael was born.
. (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.
As head of CNN's Spanish-language division. Crommett directed all aspects, including newsgathering, editorial content, programming, production, operations, personnel, budget and finances, of the CNN en Español television network that reaches 28 million households throughout the United States and Latin America. Select CNN en Español programming or content was also seen in Canada and Spain and distributed to numerous web and wireless clients.
Based in Atlanta, CNN en Español operates bureaus/production centers in Mexico, Washington and Buenos Aires, has its own news-gathering personnel in New York, Los Angeles, Miami and Jerusalem, and a worldwide network of more than 50 Spanish-speaking contributing journalists.
In addition to his TV duties, Crommett oversaw CNN en Español RADIO which is available to tens of millions of listeners in the Americas. He also served on the board of directors of CNN+, CNN en Españols sister channel in Spain.
Under Crommett’s direction,CNN en Español personnel 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 were also honored with two Peabody Awards and the Maria Moors Cabot Award, and garnered many prestigious awards in numerous Latin American countries including Mexico, Argentina, Venezuela, Colombia and Costa Rica..
Crommett served for several years on the boards of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra
and of the nonprofit HERO (Health & Education Relief Organization).
Christopher Crommett resides near Atlanta, Georgia
with his family. An accomplished classical singer, who performs frequently in the Atlanta area, in 2006 he produced the CD Butterflies in the Rain Forest/Music for Meditation & Celebration, consisting of music composed by Gerónimo Lluberas
(1956–2003). In December 2010 he produced a second CD, Navidad de mi niñez, with 16 songs arranged by Gary Anderson
including traditional Puerto Rican Christmas "aguinaldos" or carols, universal favorites, and five original songs composed by Crommett.
CNN
Cable News Network is a U.S. cable news channel founded in 1980 by Ted Turner. Upon its launch, CNN was the first channel to provide 24-hour television news coverage, and the first all-news television channel in the United States...
's Spanish language
Spanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
division, from 2002-2009. Crommett is currently a media strategist with NewsCertified Exchange. He also serves as a consultant to businesses in the U.S. and Latin America.
Early years
Crommett was born in LewistonLewiston
Lewiston is the name of some places in the United States of America:*Lewiston, Alabama*Lewiston, California*Lewiston, Georgia*Lewiston, Idaho*Lewiston, Illinois*Lewiston, Maine*Lewiston, Michigan*Lewiston, Minnesota*Lewiston, Nebraska...
, Maine
Maine
Maine is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and south, New Hampshire to the west, and the Canadian provinces of Quebec to the northwest and New Brunswick to the northeast. Maine is both the northernmost and easternmost...
in 1958. When he was two years old, his family moved to Puerto Rico, where he was raised and received his primary and secondary education. His father, Eugene Crommett, was a professor at the University of Puerto Rico
University of Puerto Rico
The University of Puerto Rico is the state university system of Puerto Rico. The system consists of 11 campuses and has approximately 64,511 students and 5,300 faculty members...
and a priest of the Episcopal Church
Episcopal Church (United States)
The Episcopal Church is a mainline Anglican Christian church found mainly in the United States , but also in Honduras, Taiwan, Colombia, Ecuador, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Venezuela, the British Virgin Islands and parts of Europe...
. In high school he gained some early journalistic experience by writing for and editing his school newspaper. He later attended Haverford College
Haverford College
Haverford College is a private, coeducational liberal arts college located in Haverford, Pennsylvania, United States, a suburb of Philadelphia...
, near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States,...
.
In 1978, while enrolled at Haverford, Crommett took a summer job at WOSO-AM, a bilingual radio station
Radio station
Radio broadcasting is a one-way wireless transmission over radio waves intended to reach a wide audience. Stations can be linked in radio networks to broadcast a common radio format, either in broadcast syndication or simulcast or both...
in San Juan. He subsequently took a one-year leave from the college which he spent working as an announcer, newscaster, reporter and correspondent assigned to the 1980 Democratic National Convention
Democratic National Convention
The Democratic National Convention is a series of presidential nominating conventions held every four years since 1832 by the United States Democratic Party. They have been administered by the Democratic National Committee since the 1852 national convention...
at WOSO. After graduating from Haverford in 1981, 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
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
Radio Network. In 1982-83, Crommett served for 12 months as press secretary to Puerto Rico's Resident Commissioner Baltasar Corrada del Río
Baltasar Corrada del Río
Baltasar Corrada del Río is a former politician from Puerto Rico. He held various high political offices in the island, including President of the Puerto Rico Civil Rights Commission, Resident Commissioner , Mayor of the capital city of San Juan , Puerto Rico's 15th Secretary of State and...
, in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
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 for three years at all-news pioneer WKAQ Radio Reloj.
In 1989, Crommett moved with his wife, Ana, and daughter, Julie Ann, to the New York area to accept the position of news director at the Univision
Univision
Univision is a Spanish-language television network in the United States. It has the largest audience of Spanish language television viewers according to Nielsen ratings. Randy Falco, COO, has been in charge of the company since the departure of Univision Communications president and CEO Joe Uva...
station, WXTV 41. He later served in a similar capacity at WADO-AM in New Jersey, where his son Michael was born.
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 WarGulf War
The Persian Gulf War , commonly referred to as simply the Gulf War, was a war waged by a U.N.-authorized coalition force from 34 nations led by the United States, against Iraq in response to Iraq's invasion and annexation of Kuwait.The war is also known under other names, such as the First Gulf...
. (At the time, CNN produced the evening newscast for the Telemundo
Telemundo
Telemundo is an American television network that broadcasts in Spanish. The network is the second-largest Spanish-language content producer in the world, and the second-largest Spanish-language network in the United States, behind Univision....
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.
As head of CNN's Spanish-language division. Crommett directed all aspects, including newsgathering, editorial content, programming, production, operations, personnel, budget and finances, of the CNN en Español television network that reaches 28 million households throughout the United States and Latin America. Select CNN en Español programming or content was also seen in Canada and Spain and distributed to numerous web and wireless clients.
Based in Atlanta, CNN en Español operates bureaus/production centers in Mexico, Washington and Buenos Aires, has its own news-gathering personnel in New York, Los Angeles, Miami and Jerusalem, and a worldwide network of more than 50 Spanish-speaking contributing journalists.
In addition to his TV duties, Crommett oversaw CNN en Español RADIO which is available to tens of millions of listeners in the Americas. He also served on the board of directors of CNN+, CNN en Españols sister channel in Spain.
Under Crommett’s direction,CNN en Español personnel 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 were also honored with two Peabody Awards and the Maria Moors Cabot Award, and garnered many prestigious awards in numerous Latin American countries including Mexico, Argentina, Venezuela, Colombia and Costa Rica..
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 multiple journalism awards.Crommett served for several years on the boards of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra
Atlanta Symphony Orchestra
The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra is an American orchestra based in Atlanta, Georgia, USA. Robert Spano has been its music director since 2001...
and of the nonprofit HERO (Health & Education Relief Organization).
Christopher Crommett resides near Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
with his family. An accomplished classical singer, who performs frequently in the Atlanta area, in 2006 he produced the CD Butterflies in the Rain Forest/Music for Meditation & Celebration, consisting of music composed by Gerónimo Lluberas
Gerónimo Lluberas
Gerónimo "Gerry" Lluberas was a Puerto Rican physician, humanitarian, writer and composer. His medical mission work in Haiti led to the foundation of the nonprofit HERO and his music is extant through recordings and live performances.-Life and profession:José Gerónimo Lluberas Acosta was the...
(1956–2003). In December 2010 he produced a second CD, Navidad de mi niñez, with 16 songs arranged by Gary Anderson
Gary Anderson
Gary Allan Anderson is a former National Football League placekicker. He was the first NFL kicker to have a "perfect regular season," successfully making every field goal and every PAT during regular season play.-Early life:...
including traditional Puerto Rican Christmas "aguinaldos" or carols, universal favorites, and five original songs composed by Crommett.