Former White House Press Secretary Jay Carney will be joining CNN as a political commentator, starting Wednesday night covering President Barack Obama's address to the nation, the news network announced.
"Jay's unique experience as both a journalist and a White House press secretary make him an invaluable voice for the network as we cover the final two years of the Obama administration and look ahead to the coming campaigns," Sam Feist, senior vice president and Washington bureau chief, said in a
CNN press statement.
Feist said the network is "fortunate to have Jay on our air tonight to provide analysis and insight surrounding the president's address to the nation" about the administration's strategy on combating the Islamic State (ISIS).
CNN's quick decision to bring Carney to the network drew questions about independence from some media analysts.
Howard Kurtz, former Washington Post media reporter who now works at Fox News, tweeted: Jay Carney joining CNN as a commentator, Politico reports. Can he be an independent voice?
Brian Stelter, host of CNN's media analysis program, "Reliable Sources," simply tweeted the news of Carney's hiring and noted "he'll be a part of tonight's coverage of Obama's ISIS speech."
Carney joined the Washington Speakers Bureau in July, a position in which he could earn as much as $100,000 a speech, according to
Politico.
"I'm thrilled to be joining CNN at a time when there is so much happening in the nation and the world," Carney said in CNN's announcement.
Prior to joining the Obama administration, Carney worked as a reporter for Time magazine.
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