Checking Out Ashleigh Banfields Canadian and French Roots

http://www.msnbc.com/news/386376.asp ^ | 4/25/2003 | Self

[Helms]

Most noteable is Ms. Banfields lack of a degree in Journalism, her tie to Peter Jennings (what else pray tell?) as well as her Canadian Nationality and Major in French:

BANFIELD COVERED the terrorist attacks of September 11, reporting live from the World Trade Centers in New York City for eight consecutive days before departing to Islamabad, Pakistan. From late September 2001 to July 2002, she reported live from Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, England, Israel (Tel Aviv, West Bank), Jordan, Lebanon (Beirut) and Syria in a primetime series titled “A Region In Conflict.” From July to October 2002, Banfield anchored “Ashleigh Banfield: On Location” anchoring live from locations across the country and around the globe, covering breaking news stories including the war in Afghanistan, the conflict in Israel and the abduction of Elizabeth Smart from Salt Lake City.

Preceding the events of September 11, 2001, Banfield co-anchored “Newsfront” weeknights from 5-6 p.m. with Lester Holt. Banfield covered the 2000 Election for MSNBC by going on the road with the Bush/Cheney campaign. She also covered the 2000 Summer Olympic games from Sydney, Australia.

Prior to joining MSNBC, Banfield served as the 5 p.m. and 9 p.m. news anchor for KDFW-TV, the FOX station in Dallas. While there, she received an Emmy for “Best News Anchor” for her coverage on “Cadet Killers” and a Texas Associated Press Award for the “Best Series” category on the controversial “To Serve and Survive.” Prior to that, Banfield worked at Canada’s CICT-TV, as a producer from 1992-93 and from 1993-95 as their evening news anchor. In 1994, Banfield earned two IRIS awards for the “Best News Documentary” and “Best of Festival” categories where she chronicled the life of a homeless man.

Simultaneously while at CICT-TV, Banfield freelanced as an associate producer for ABC’s “World News Tonight,” where she covered the 1991 Bush/Gorbachev Summit in Russia and the 1992 Clinton/Yeltsin Summit in Vancouver.

In 1988, Banfield began her career at CJBN in Kenora, Ontario, Canada as a photographer/researcher/reporter and then later moved to Winnipeg’s CKY station as a researcher/reporter for their evening news. From 1989 to 1992, Banfield served as weekend evening news anchor at CFRN in Edmonton, Alberta.

Banfield received a bachelor’s degree in political studies and French from Queen’s University in Ontario.

[Mr. K]

Ashleigh who?

[theDentist]

her tie to Peter Jennings

What tie?

[SwinneySwitch]

Was she named after Ashleigh Longworth?

[The Hon. Galahad Threepwood]

...her tie to Peter Jennings...

What she does in her off hours is no concern of mine.

[Cyber Liberty]

I'm more concerned about her grey roots.

[Helms]

"Banfield freelanced as an associate producer for ABC’s “World News Tonight,”

This is Petas broadcast. Excuse me if I have extrapolated.

[L_Von_Mises]

What tie?

I am guessing this: Simultaneously while at CICT-TV, Banfield freelanced as an associate producer for ABC’s “World News Tonight,” where she covered the 1991 Bush/Gorbachev Summit in Russia and the 1992 Clinton/Yeltsin Summit in Vancouver.

[Little Bill]

We need better control over whom we issue Green cards.

[GraniteStateConservative]

Her MSNBC show was canceled. Declare victory and move on.

[Helms]

Welcome to FR-since April of this very year.

[Consort]

Liberal media types don't have off-hours. That's when they reload.

[caisson71]

Send her back to Canada where she can rot.

[Great Dane]

Never heard of her.

[Cicero]

Well, I've always thought it curious that General Wesley Clark, the butcher of Belgrade, was a Rhodes Scholar who was born in Arkansas. But that wasn't enough to condemn him. He had direct connections to clinton, who rapidly promoted him over the heads of his peers, earning him the nickname of Ultimate Perfumed Prince. Before he was named NATO Supreme Commander, he helped his boss out by providing the armor and weapons used to incinerate the children at Waco, when he was the commander at Fort Hood.

I don't see any such suspicious connections between Banfield and Jennings. Canada is a pretty big place. There's no evidence that Banfield was ever a protege of Jennings. I agree that they are both insufferable, but so are dozens of other TV talking heads.

[Helms]

I suppose I am guilty of a Drudge like teaser. Thanks for the info. Also I found the following on Rick Sanchez while whistling past the MSNBC graveyard of reporters:

Note the Habitat for Humanities plug:

SANCHEZ CAME to MSNBC in 2001 from South Florida where he was a news anchor at WSVN- TV, the Miami Fox affiliate. Sanchez joined WSVN in 1982, as a reporter where he covered news throughout Miami and South Florida. He was also an anchor for KHOU-TV in Houston, Texas. Sanchez returned to WSVN in 1988. A native of Havana, Cuba, Sanchez won an Emmy for a five-part series on Cuban immigration to South Florida. In addition to covering numerous major national and international stories, Sanchez has covered the contra war in Nicaragua, the invasion of Grenada, the uprisings in Haiti, the Reagan White House and several assignments in Havana, Cuba. Sanchez was the spokesperson for WSVN’s community campaign, Habitat for Humanities, and he was responsible for developing a successful campaign to acquire new roofs for the hurricane victims in South Dade.

[John Lenin]

Wasn't she in the Cheech and Chong movie ? Nevermind, that was Ashley Roachclip ...

[Steven W.]

It was cancelled but then they actually promoted her to Pentagon correspondent!

[richardtavor]

In a way, I owe Banfield a favor. The last MSNBC program I ever watched was when she covered herself from head to toe and prostrated herself to get an interview with a Taliban cleric (wasn't even high up.) I figured she would do anything for a spot, so I decided never to watch MSNBC's crap again. The cleric, incedently, was laughing his a$$ off at getting paid and seeing this prostitute for American TV.

[Cedric]

Remember on 9/11 she was blonde? Then when she was sent to Afghanistan, fearless and intrepid reporterette that she is, she died her hair dark. No doubt to avoid having her cranium used as a key fob by some warlord.

[Hillary's Lovely Legs]

1992 Clinton/Yeltsin Summit in Vancouver.

Why was the governor of Arkansas holding a Summit with the President of Russia?

[Helms]

You also conjure up an image of a shrunken head on a key chain..lol.

[FReepaholic]

Photos please!! You know the rules! ;-)

[RJL]

Banfield received a bachelor’s degree in political studies and French from Queen’s University in Ontario.

It looks like she's pretty much a French politician.

How far does any American trust a French Politician?

[TonyInOhio]

Photos please!! You know the rules! ;-)

Your very whim is our command:

[lilylangtree]

First and last time I ever took note of her was during the 911 reporting. Haven't seen her since.

[JennysCool]

THERE'S a fetching portrait! :-)

[FReepaholic]

Ahhhh...yes! Thanks!

[Cicero]

I never, never watch TV, but I've heard enough about this bubblehead to completely agree with you. Furthermore, it wouldn't suprise me to learn that she was Peter Jennings' girlfriend or something of the sort. That kind of connection is endemic to the industry and to Democratic politics. But nobody has turned up a smoking gun yet, to borrow a phrase.

[mykdsmom]

When I lived in S FL I'd occasionally have the misfortune of surfing past the Miami Fox station that Sanchez was on. Trust me he was NOT a news anchor. More like the National Enquirer attempting to be called the news.

He sounded like one of those used car salesmen screaming the late night cheesy TV commercials attempting to hype the news and stir the audience up.

Egad, he was HORRIBLE to watch while hurricane Andrew was barrelling down on S FL.

MKM

[optik_b]

[Helms]

Looking for the chisled look, ala Arnold Schwartzenegers wife? Or another example of roadkill on the media information highway. (Recall to McCain?: "How does it feel?)

Personally I have a crush on Jennifer Eccleston of FOX (ah, yes).

[Paleo Conservative]

Personally I have a crush on Jennifer Eccleston of FOX (ah, yes).

Have you ever noticed how she always uses her left hand to get her hair out of her face? She has a rather impressive ring on it.

[Helms]

Eccleston received her Bachelor of Arts in government and philosophy (Consortium degree) from Catholic University/Georgetown University and

..received her Master of Science in Western European Politics from London School of Economics.

[habs4ever]

That summit was in '93 or '94, where the noted geo-strategist Sharon Stone entertained Bill.The researcher got the dates wrong.

[Hillary's Lovely Legs]

There you go and blow my joke.

Is it true that you will be staying at the Toronto Sheraton tonight?

[Timesink]

Sanchez isn't going to be around much longer. He's been reduced to doing morning news burps on CNBC, and isn't happy about it. Scuttlebutt is he's already got an offer to go back to Miami's NBC O&O and be their lead anchor, and he's going to take it as soon as they can get the contracts sorted out (which shouldn't take long since they are all One With The Peacock).

[optik_b]

Jennifer Eccleston used to be on CNN.