Al Jazeera America: First Four Anchors Joining The Fledgling News Network

Al Jazeera America has announced the first four news anchors chosen to helm its news programming. Jonathan Betz, Richelle Carey, Morgan Fogarty and Del Walters will present the news live throughout the day from the Al Jazeera America studio in New York City when the network launches in late August.

"This talented and trusted group of on-air talent is a further indication of the quality and depth of journalism experience that Al Jazeera America is attracting," Bob Wheelock, senior executive producer for news and special projects, said in a press release. "Their previous work across the United States will help to ensure that our daily newscasts include objective reporting on the stories from around the block and around the globe that have a real impact on each American's lives."

According to the network, Betz worked at WFAA-TV Channel 8 in Dallas for four years as a field reporter and fill-in anchor. Before that, he worked as a reporter at WLL-TV Channel 4 in New Orleans, where he provided live reports from the city’s Lower Ninth Ward on the day Hurricane Katrina hit in 2005.

Prior to joining Al Jazeera America, Carey worked at CNN for seven years as an anchor and correspondent. She also served as a weekday anchor at HLN.

Fogarty spent close to 10 years working at WCCB News at 10 in Charlotte, N.C., where she was an anchor for three years. She also hosted the talk show WCCB NEWS Edge. She’s received journalism awards from Radio Television Digital News Association and the Associated Press.

Walters is an award-winning news anchor and reporter. He spent more than two decades with WJLA-TV in Washington, D.C., collecting more than 20 Emmys along the way. In 2004, Walters left WJLA to become the managing editor of investigative operations at WMAR-TV in Baltimore. He also started his own production company and taught at Bowie State University in Bowie, Md.

As the Huffington Post notes, Al Jazeera reportedly spent $500 million buying Al Gore’s Current TV, which had struggled mightily in the ratings. Shortly after the announcement, Time Warner Cable announced it would not carry Al Jazeera America. However, it later said it would reconsider.