Andrew Morse | |
|---|---|
| Born | (1974-03-10)March 10, 1974 (age 51) Potomac, Maryland, U.S |
| Alma mater | Cornell University (BA) |
| Occupation | Television news executive |
| Known for |
|
| Title | President and publisher ofThe Atlanta Journal-Constitution |
| Spouse | Ana-Karina Morse (m. 2004) |
| Children | Cecilia-Ava Morse, Holden Morse |
| Parent(s) | Erica Ritter Morse Lewis F. Morse |
Andrew Morse (born March 10, 1974)[1] is an American journalist and news executive. He is president and publisher ofThe Atlanta Journal-Constitution.[2]
He was the Executive Vice President ofCNN US, as well as EVP and chief digital officer of CNN Worldwide from 2013 until 2022.[3] Morse is also the co-founder ofGreat Big Story, a digital storytelling network.[4] He previously held executive, editorial and production roles atABC News andBloomberg L.P.
Morse was born inPotomac, Maryland, the son of Erica (née Ritter) and Lewis F. Morse.[5][6]
He attended theLandon School, an independent boys day school inBethesda, Maryland, for his grade school education. He graduated fromCornell University, where he majored in government and was the editor-in-chief ofThe Cornell Daily Sun.[7] In 2009, he was a Fellow of the Punch Sulzberger Executive News Media Leadership Program at theColumbia University Graduate School of Journalism.[8]
Morse joinedABC News as a desk assistant and production coordinator for its Washington Bureau in 1997. He was an associate producer for ABC News.com when it launched that year, beginning his lifelong career in digital news. From 1998 to 2001, he was an assignment editor and producer at ABC's London bureau.[9] In 2001, he tracked the voyage of Team Adventure as they attempted to break the record for the fastestTransatlantic crossing.[10]
He was the Asia bureau chief and producer from 2002 until 2005. He led ABC's coverage of events like theWar in Afghanistan,Iraq War,2011 Egyptian revolution,2010 Haiti earthquake,2004 South Asia Tsunami and the2002 Bali bombings.[9] In 2003, Morse filmed his ascent to theMount Everest Base Camp as part of a special celebrating the 50th anniversary ofthe first successful ascent of Mount Everest.[11] He spent two weeks reporting from North Korea in 2004.[12] During this visit, he was detained, and had his notes and video footage confiscated by theKorean Friendship Association.[13]
After returning to the United States in 2005, Morse was a senior producer for the network's early morning programmes, including the weekend edition ofWorld News Now, andGood Morning America.[14] From 2007 to 2010, Morse was the Executive Producer ofGood Morning America Weekend.[1][15] He also served as Executive Producer of Innovation, overseeing ABC's digital portfolio, including the 24-hour broadband channel ABC News Now, as well as the development and launch of its iPad and iPhone applications.[16] Morse is credited with developingThe Quick Fix, a short-form online news programme which launched in 2009. The programme was more conversational and irreverent tone, which drew in younger audiences.[17] He also oversaw ABC's first media partnership withFacebook in 2008.[18]
Morse was head of theBloomberg television network in the U.S. from 2011 to 2013.[19] While at Bloomberg, he launched a new programming slate, built up the network's technology coverage and the San Francisco Bureau. He led Bloomberg's work in digital programming[20] and expanded its viewership beyond its core audience.[21] He also produced the network's first Presidential Debate and coverage of the 2012Republican andDemocratic National Conventions.[22][23]
In 2013, Morse became senior vice president of editorial atCNN US Television. Morse managed U.S. newsgathering and the D.C. bureau operations, including all political coverage.[24]Jeff Zucker stated that Morse's hire was meant to connect the network's digital and television newsgathering efforts.[24]
In 2014, he was promoted to Executive Vice President and General Manager of CNN Digital Worldwide, in addition to his editorial role. He managed its editorial, product, technology, business development and partnerships.[25][26] He managed various platforms including CNN.com, CNN Underscored, CNN Audio, and Vault by CNN.[27][28][29]
CNN Digital expanded significantly during his tenure,[30][31] and partnered with distributors likeApple TV,Roku,Pluto TV,Samsung andSnapchat Discover.[32][33] He oversaw the acquisition of Canopy, a technology company specializing in data privacy and content recommendation.[34] In 2020,Fast Company included CNN Digital on its list of the "Best Workplaces for Innovators".[35]
Morse spearheadedCNN+, the network’s streaming service, oversaw the content and product development, as well as the hiring of 500 employees and on air talent. He also secured funding fromWarnerMedia andAT&T.[36] CNN+ launched on March 29, 2022.[37]
Morse co-foundedGreat Big Story with Chris Berend, as a separate operation from CNN.[38] The start-up launched in October 2015 as a social and mobile-first video streaming network not focused on news content.[39][40][41]
Morse became president and publisher ofThe Atlanta Journal-Constitution in January 2023. During his tenure, Morse began a process of expanding the publication's digital subscriber base, local coverage,op-eds, and digital content, including newsletters and other media.[42][43] TheAJC also expanded into filmmaking, creating its first feature-length documentary,The South Got Something To Say.[44] Morse has also overseen the launch of new products related to politics, such asPolitically Georgia,[45] and products related toBlack culture likeUATL.[46] In 2024, the publication launched a mobile application and an updated website.[47]
Morse has received numerous awards and nominations over the course of his career. He has been nominated for severalEmmy Awards, winning two. Morse was named one of the "Changemakers in Media" byDigiday in 2017.[48] He was also included onVariety's "New Power of New York List 2017."[49] In 2018, Morse was awarded the Media Visionary Award for his commitment to the community.[50][51]
| Year | Award | Association |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Media Visionary Award | |
| 2010 | News & Documentary Emmy Award for Outstanding Live Coverage of a Current News Story – Long Form | 2010 Emmy Awards |
| 2004 | News & Documentary Emmy Award for Outstanding Investigative Journalism in a Regularly Scheduled Newscast | 2004 Emmy Awards |
He is married to Ana Karina Burdsall; they have two children.[52] His wife is a writer, and was the president of the board of directors ofECPAT USA.[53] He is a marathon runner and triathlete, having completed anIronman in 2019.[54]
| Year | Title | Credited as | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Target: Bin Laden | Executive producer | TV documentary |
| 2009–2011 | ABC World News Tonight with David Muir | Executive producer | 2 episodes |
| 2005–2010 | Good Morning America Weekend | Executive producer, senior producer | |
| 2005–2006 | Good Morning America | Senior producer | |
| 2004 | Primetime | Segment producer | 1 episode |
I owe a great deal to my parents, Ricky and Lew Morse, who fortunately couldn't be here tonight