Left to right: Tommy Hills, Georgia Historical Society Board Treasurer; Dr. W. Todd Groce, Georgia Historical Society President and CEO; Rick Davis, CNN Executive Vice President, Standards & Practices; Ted Turner, CNN Founder; Louise Sams, Turner Executive Vice President and General Counsel; Vince Dooley, Georgia Historical Society Board Chairman; Sonny Deriso, Georgia Historical Society Board Vice Chairman and Chairman-Elect.
"This place will always feel like home, and it’s good to be back."
ATLANTA, May 24, 2018 - The Georgia Historical Society was pleased to dedicate a new Georgia Business History Initiative historical marker recognizing CNN and visionary founder Ted Turner. The marker was unveiled in a private ceremony at the CNN Center that was attended by friends and family of Turner along with hundreds of CNN and Turner Broadcasting employees.
"When Ted Turner personally launched CNN's first broadcast on June 1, 1980, he forever changed the way the world received its news," said Dr. W. Todd Groce, President and CEO of the Georgia Historical Society. "We at GHS are proud to honor Ted and to induct CNN into the Georgia Business History Initiative."
In addition to Dr. Groce, speakers for the dedication included CNN Founder Ted Turner; Vince Dooley, Chairman of the GHS Board of Curators; Rick Davis, Executive Vice President, Standards and Practices for CNN and one of four original CNN employees in attendance; and Louise Sams, Executive Vice President and General Counsel, Turner.
Of CNN’s Atlanta roots, Turner said, “So many memories have been created here… I’m thrilled that almost 40 years later, tourists continue to flock to CNN Center to learn more about this global network’s humble beginnings and to witness history in the making. This place will always feel like home, and it’s good to be back.”
"CNN Center is not just a building. It’s also a symbol of this company’s investment in Atlanta and this community." said Sams.
Each year, the Georgia Historical Society recognizes iconic companies in the state to teach Georgia students, citizens, and tourists alike about the pivotal role of the state’s leading businesses in the economic, cultural, and social development of Georgia and the United States.
The historical marker reads:
CNN
Cable News Network
Media mogul Ted Turner launched the Cable News Network—CNN—in Atlanta on June 1, 1980, as the world’s first 24-hour all-news network. Turner had revolutionized cable television by beaming Superstation TBS around the globe by satellite and was convinced there was a market for an all-news network that could reach audiences through the expanding cable and satellite network. Headquartered in Atlanta, CNN opened news bureaus around the world. Through its subsidiary channels and the competitors it inspired, CNN extended its reach globally, revolutionizing the broadcast industry and the way people receive news and information.
Erected by the Georgia Historical Society and Turner Broadcasting System, Inc.
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ABOUT THE GEORGIA HISTORICAL MARKER PROGRAM
The Georgia Historical Society (GHS) administers Georgia’s historical marker program. Over the past 20 years, GHS has erected over 250 new historical markers across the state on a wide variety of subjects. GHS also maintains the more than 2,100 markers installed by the State of Georgia prior to 1998. Online mapping tools allow users to design driving routes based on historical markers, and a mobile app helps visitors locate and learn about markers nearby.Visit georgiahistory.com for more ways to use Georgia’s historical markers and experience history where it happened.
ABOUT GEORGIA HISTORICAL SOCIETY
Georgia Historical Society (GHS) is the premier independent statewide institution responsible for collecting, examining, and teaching Georgia history. GHS houses the oldest and most distinguished collection of materials related exclusively to Georgia history in the nation.
To learn more visit georgiahistory.com.