While leaders around the globe praised media mogul and philanthropist Ted Turner, who died at the age of 87, for his bold moves that changed the face of television news, Sonia Tucker remembers him fondly for one of his lesser-known, yet equally important initiatives – as a mentor to journalists around the globe.
Tucker, the founder and CEO of Global Media Connection, under Turner, administered CNN’s International Professional Program (later called the CNN Fellowship) from 1989 to 2022.
It brought in television journalists from around the world for a multi-week immersive experience that included media training, best practices, and the opportunity to learn about CNN’s operations “unfiltered, from the inside out,” she said.
Tucker estimated that more than 1,000 journalists from more than 350 countries participated in the fellowship during its ongoing iterations.
Turner committed time to program even after buyout
Even after Turner left CNN in 2003 after what he called a “disastrous” buyout, he continued to meet with his mentees one-on-one until 2019, Tucker said, offering his insights into industry trends and answering any questions posed to him by the group.
“The [Fellowship] program was the only connection he had to CNN after he left,” Tucker said. “He would come down [to Atlanta] from Montana to spend exclusive time with the fellows, and nothing was ever held back.”
Turner often told his mentees that he was most pleased when a CNN story, which, despite representing both sides of an issue, ended up with both parties “angry about it,” she said.
“He said, ‘That’s when I knew that I got it right,'” Tucker recalled.
Turner’s legacy continues
Tucker said she was proud to have helped build a legacy “rooted in diplomacy, media strategy, cultural intelligence, and connecting global leaders.”
“That’s why I founded Global Media Connection: to carry that legacy forward and continue empowering changemakers and business leaders on a global scale,” she said.
Tucker said she received a message from a former mentee from Germany after news of Turner’s passing, which she shared with Rough Draft.
“Ted inspired millions around the world with his bold vision and fearless spirit. There will never be another media maverick, environmentalist, or journalism pioneer quite like him,” the fellow wrote. “His extraordinary personality and global influence forever changed the media landscape. Ted inspired generations to think bigger, lead boldly, and make an impact on the world.”
