Former CNN Soledad O’Brien will now appear on the HBO series Real Sports. HBO announced this week that O’Brien will become part of the investigative sports reporting show.
According to the Associated Press, O’Brien’s first on-air story will be about war veterans coping with post-traumatic stress disorder through martial arts. Real Sports is a monthly sports show focused on in-depth and personal stories.
Though O’Brien has limited experience with sports reporting, she has been in journalism for over 20 years. After leaving Harvard University, O’Brien began her career as a reporter for a Boston NBC affiliate. She soon moved to NBC news proper, reporting for both the NBC Nightly News and Today. In 2003 she moved to CNN, where she became the anchor of CNN morning show American Morning.
O’Brien’s most recent position was as the anchor of CNN’s Starting Point. She signed off the show for the last time on March 29, invoking the value of strong journalism and tough questions:
O’Brien’s new position was announced through HBO’s Twitter account. O’Brien herself has also been showered with congratulations through social media:
We’re proud to announce that we have added award-winning broadcast journalist @soledad_obrien to our #RealSports team. See her debut on 6/25
— HBO (@HBO) June 12, 2013
“@donnabrazile: Congratulations @soledad_obrien on your great news. @hbo“//thanks, chica! Xo
— Soledad O’Brien (@Soledad_OBrien) June 12, 2013
@soledad_obrien Congratulations on becoming reporter for HBO….you just gave me a reason to order HBO
— Keith Bowens (@kbowens042467) June 12, 2013
“@katorihall: @nicolearip thx so much for the follow! I’m in awe of ur talent!!!!”//oh, my favorite women chatting! Lol
— Soledad O’Brien (@Soledad_OBrien) June 13, 2013
“@srekal_1: @soledad_obrien party people say, party people say, ay, it’s a new day, it’s a new day #HBO“//why yes it is. Lol
— Soledad O’Brien (@Soledad_OBrien) June 13, 2013