Coordinates	50°8′″N21°0′″N
name	Ann Curry
birth date	November 19, 1956
birth place	Guam, United States
alma mater	University of Oregon
occupation	Television personalityTelevision journalist
years active	1978–present
gender	Female
status	Married
title	Correspondent/Anchor
spouse	Brian Ross
children	McKenzieWilliam Walker
credits	''Today Show''   (1997–present)''Dateline NBC''   (2005–present) ''Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade''   (2011–present)
url	http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/12536386/ }}

Ann Curry (born November 19, 1956) is an American television news journalist and co-anchor on NBC's morning television program ''Today''. She is the former news anchor on ''Today'', a role she began in March 1997, and has been host of ''Dateline NBC'' since May 2005.

Curry is a Board Member at the IWMF (International Women's Media Foundation).

Biography

Curry was born in Guam to Bob Curry, of French, Irish, and Dutch descent from Pueblo, Colorado, and Hiroe Nagase, originally from Japan. Her American father, a career Navy man, met her mother during the U.S. occupation of Japan following the Second World War. The U.S. military initially did not allow the marriage, but her father returned to Japan two years later to marry Nagase.

Curry lived in Japan for several years as a child, attending the Ernest J. King School on the military base in Sasebo. Later she moved to Ashland, Oregon, where she graduated from Ashland High School. In 1978 she graduated with a BA in Journalism from the University of Oregon.

Curry is married to software executive Brian Ross, whom she met in college. They have a daughter, McKenzie, and a son, William Walker Curry Ross. The family lives in the Gramercy Park neighborhood of New York City.

Professional career

Curry began her broadcasting career in 1978 as an intern at then, NBC-affiliate, now CBS-affiliate KTVL in Medford, Oregon. There she rose to become the station's first female news reporter. In 1980, Curry moved to NBC-affiliate KGW in Portland, where she was a reporter and anchor.

Four years later, Curry moved to Los Angeles as a reporter for KCBS-TV and received two Emmy Awards while working as a reporter from 1984 to 1990.

In 1990, Curry joined NBC News, first as the NBC News Chicago correspondent then as the anchor of NBC News at Sunrise from 1991 to 1996. Curry also served as a substitute news anchor for Matt Lauer from 1994 to 1997 at Today. From 1997 to 2011 she served as news anchor at Today, being the show's second-longest serving news anchor, behind Frank Blair, who served in that capacity from 1953 to 1975. During this time, she also served as a substitute anchor for Today. In May 2005, Curry was named co-anchor of ''Dateline NBC'' with Stone Phillips; she remained as the primary anchor when Phillips left in June 2007. Since September 2007 Curry has been one of the three anchors for TODAY's third hour.

Curry has been known at NBC News for anchoring three of the four major broadcasts. She has read the news on ''The Today Show'' since March 11, 1997, she has anchored Dateline NBC. From 2005 to 2011, she was the primary substitute on NBC Nightly News. In 2007 after Lester Holt took over weekend editions (Holt had previously been the primary substitute but left that position to become weekend anchor, giving Curry the position). There have even been days when Curry has anchored all three broadcasts in one day. A segment on ''Today'', Ann on the Run, follows Curry around a day where she must read the news on ''Today'', tape ''Dateline'', and fill in live for Brian Williams on ''Nightly News''.

Curry is known for her international reporting of major stories, filing stories from places such as Baghdad, Sri Lanka, Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Albania, and Darfur. Curry hosted NBC's primetime coverage and highlights of the Live Earth concerts on July 7, 2007 and also contributed with interviews for the special with New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Al Gore. Curry reported from the USS Theodore Roosevelt during the invasion of Afghanistan in November 2001, and had an exclusive interview with General Tommy Franks. She reported from Baghdad in early 2003, and then from the USS Constellation as the war in Iraq began. Ann was also the first network news anchor to report from inside the Southeast Asian tsunami zone in late 2004.

On December 17, 2007, Curry bungee jumped off the world famous Transporter Bridge in Middlesbrough, England to raise money for charity. Her jump was shown live on the Today show at about 8:13 am. During a February 4, 2008, appearance as a guest on NBC's ''Late Night with Conan O'Brien'', asked if she would ever bungee jump again, Curry said she would if O'Brien would jump with her.

In 2009, Curry appeared as an Agent in ImprovEverywhere's 'I Love Lunch! The Musical'.

Ann Curry replaced Meredith Vieira as co-host on June 9, 2011, with national correspondent Natalie Morales replacing Curry as news reader.

In August 2011, Ann Curry appeared in the PBS Kids Sprout "Kindness Counts" PSA.

Volunteerism

Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation Americares Save the Children Médecins Sans Frontières Airline Ambassadors Buildon

Awards

Emmy Awards, presented for coverage of the 1987 Los Angeles earthquake; another presented for reporting on the explosion of a San Bernardino gas pipeline, and a third in 2007 for her reporting on NBC Nightly News about the Darfur crisis.

Golden Mic (4), presented by Radio & Television News Association of Southern California (RTNA)

''Certificate of Excellence'', Associated Press

Gracie Award, presented by The Foundation of American Women in Radio and Television

''Excellence in Reporting'', presented by the NAACP

''National Journalism Award'', presented by the Asian American Journalists Association, 2003

''Pioneer Award'', presented by University of Oregon, 2003

Hall of Achievement induction, University of Oregon School of Journalism and Communication, 2002 ''Sexiest Newscaster'' and "Hottest MILF Newscaster" as voted on by readers of Ask Men magazine

Common Wealth Award of Distinguished Service, presented by PNC Bank for outstanding achievements in mass communications, 2008

''Honorary Doctorate in Journalism'' from Southern Oregon University on 6/5/2010 after giving the commencement address

Curry received an honorary degree from Providence College in Providence, Rhode Island on May 16, 2010.

She received an honorary doctorate from the Wheaton College in Norton, Massachusetts on May 22, 2010. There she delivered the graduation keynote address. However, she gaffed as she cited several famous alumni, only one of which graduated from that college. The others graduated from the Wheaton College near Chicago. Curry apologized for the gaffe.

Funded scholarship

''Ann Curry Scholarship for University of Oregon School of Journalism and Communication Broadcasting Students'', 2002

References

External links

Bio on About.com

Category:NBC News Category:American television reporters and correspondents Category:American television news anchors Category:American people of French descent Category:American people of Japanese descent Category:American people of Scotch-Irish descent Category:Emmy Award winners Category:Television news anchors in Los Angeles, California Category:People from Ashland, Oregon Category:Guam journalists Category:American journalists of Japanese descent Category:Portland, Oregon television anchors Category:University of Oregon alumni Category:1956 births Category:Living people Category:Guam people of Japanese descent Category:American women journalists Category:People from Guam

fr:Ann Curry nl:Ann Curry ja:アン・カリー pl:Ann Curry fi:Ann Curry

Coordinates	50°8′″N21°0′″N
name	Meredith Vieira
birthname	Meredith Louise Vieira
birth date	December 30, 1953
birth place	East Providence, Rhode Island, United States
occupation	JournalistGame show host
years active	1975–present
spouse	Richard M. Cohen (1986–present)
children	3
credits	''Dateline NBC'' (2006–present)''Who Wants to Be a Millionaire'' (2002–present)''Today'' (2006–2011)''The View'' (1997–2006)''60 Minutes'' (1989–1991)''West 57th'' (1985–1989) }}

Meredith Louise Vieira (born December 30, 1953) is an American journalist, television personality, and game show host. She is best known for her roles as the original moderator of the ABC talk program ''The View'' and co-host of the long-running NBC News morning news program, ''Today''. She contributes to ''Dateline NBC'' and currently hosts the syndicated version of ''Who Wants to Be a Millionaire'', having replaced Regis Philbin in 2002. She also presented ''Intimate Portrait'', a series on Lifetime.

Early years

Vieira was born in East Providence, Rhode Island, to Mary Louisa Elsie Rosa Silveira Vieira (October 28, 1904 – November 5, 2004) and Dr. Edwin Vieira (May 15, 1904 – February 1987), both first generation Portuguese Americans. All four of Vieira’s grandparents came from the Azores, three from Faial Island, one of the nine islands in the archipelago. They all left for a better life in New England in the late 19th and early 20th centuries – settling around Providence, RI. She is the youngest of four children, with three older brothers. Vieira was raised Roman Catholic, but has stated in recent interviews that she has "spirituality, not a religion." Vieira attended the Lincoln School, a Quaker all-girls school in Providence. She graduated magna cum laude with a degree in English from Tufts University and began her career in 1975 as a news announcer for WORC radio in Worcester, Massachusetts. She began a career in television working as a local reporter and anchor at WJAR-TV Providence, eventually making her way into the newsroom at WCBS-TV in New York City where she was an investigative reporter from 1979 to 1982.

Career

Vieira first gained national recognition as a CBS reporter based in their Chicago bureau from 1982 to 1984. She later became a correspondent for nationwide news-magazine shows including ''West 57th'' (1985–89) and ''60 Minutes'' (1989–91). Her final assignment at CBS was as co-anchor of the ''CBS Morning News'' (1992–93). She moved to ABC initially as a correspondent for the news-magazine show ''Turning Point'' (1993–97). Following the cancellation of ''Turning Point'', Vieira realized:

''The View''

Vieira served as the original moderator and co-host of ABC's ''The View'' from its debut in 1997 through the spring of 2006. As moderator, she introduced "Hot Topics," guided conversations, and broke to commercials. She began each live episode saying "Hello! And welcome to ''The View!''" Vieira's final appearance on ''The View'' was June 9, 2006. Her co-hosts gave her a roast to commemorate her final appearance.

In August 2006, Vieira told ''Time'' that she hasn't watched ''The View'' since she left the show, except the episode when Star Jones announced she was leaving. She said it was "very sad" what's happened to it: "I'm proud of the work we did there, but it's not a good time in the history of the show... It's hard to watch. It sort of became a joke." On August 29, 2006, Vieira told the ''New York Post'' that she didn't mean that ''The View'' was a joke. She said the interview was taken out of context. "I felt that the media was turning [''The View''] into a joke, not that the show was a joke," she says. ''Time'' added a clarification to its website, saying "[Vieira] assures ''Time'' that in no way were her comments meant to be insensitive or derogatory..."

In 1999, Vieira began hosting Lifetime's ''Intimate Portrait'', which chronicles the lives of women in art, entertainment, politics, business, science, journalism, and sports.

''Who Wants to Be a Millionaire''

Vieira has hosted the American syndicated version of ''Who Wants to Be a Millionaire'' since 2002—a continuation of the primetime show hosted by Regis Philbin. The daytime quiz show is syndicated by Buena Vista Television, a division of ABC. In 2005 and again in 2009, Vieira won a Daytime Emmy Award as ''Outstanding Game Show Host'' for her role on ''Millionaire''. As an executive producer, Vieira has a financial investment in the show.

Vieira was a celebrity contestant on the Philbin version of ''Who Wants to Be a Millionaire'' before she hosted the syndicated version, winning $250,000 for her charity. She even made an appearance on the ABC version during the show's 10th anniversary series, hosting its final segment while Philbin himself was given the opportunity to answer one question in order to win $50,000 for his selected charity.

''Today''

Vieira accepted an offer to succeed Katie Couric as co-anchor of ''Today'' on April 6, 2006, the day after Couric announced that she would depart the show to become anchor of the CBS Evening News. Vieira hosted the show with Matt Lauer from September 13, 2006 through June 8, 2011, also becoming a contributing anchor for ''Dateline NBC''. The following day, Vieira announced on ''The View'' that she would be leaving the show to be co-anchor of ''Today'', a role ''View'' co-host and ABC News journalist Barbara Walters had filled nearly four decades earlier during her tenure at NBC during the 1960s and 1970s.

Vieira continued as host of ''Millionaire'' while appearing on ''Today''. As part of her contract with ''Millionaire'', Vieira agreed not to appear on ''Today'' during hours that would conflict with the airing of the game show on competing stations. As a result, she rarely appeared on the third or fourth hours of ''Today''. Her first appearance during the third hour came on June 25, 2008, for "''Today'' Throws a Wedding". She also appeared during the entire third hour during the Beijing Olympics, Vancouver Olympics and the Barack Obama inauguration on January 20, 2009.

Vieira announced on May 9, 2011 that she would depart as co-host in the following month, but would remain at NBC News in an as-yet undetermined role. Her last appearance was on June 8.

Other appearances

Vieira "hosts" a spoof of ''Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?'', called ''Who Wants to Be King of the Jungle?'' on the second disc of the Special Edition DVD of ''The Lion King 1½''. Timon the Meerkat serves as the contestant; Pumbaa as an audience member for the "Poll the Herd" lifeline as well as being the "Phone an Animal" lifeline.

Vieira is a former spokesperson for Bayer, serving as an on-air personality in their commercials.

In 2000, she hosted the Academy Awards pre-show for ABC. Vieira had a brief stint in the Broadway show ''Thoroughly Modern Millie'' in 2003, appearing in various scenes.

Vieira had a cameo as the host of a proposed game show in the 2004 version of ''The Stepford Wives''.

Vieira also hosts a series of featurettes that are included on the first season DVDs of the ABC television show ''Desperate Housewives''. Vieira interviews cast members and the show's creators in California. Vieira was required to sign a secrecy agreement in order to allow her access to script secrets.

Vieira made her first guest appearance on ''The View'' since leaving the show on Monday, Oct. 8, 2007.

Vieira had a guest appearance in the NBC sitcom ''30 Rock'' in the episodes "Greenzo" and "Larry King." In another episode, it is implied that she sexually harasses Kenneth Parcell.

Vieira made a cameo role as a news reporter in ''Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa''.

Vieira made an appearance as Broomsy Witch in ''Shrek Forever After''.

Vieira made an appearance on the "Chumdog Millionaire" episode of ''Pawn Stars'', in which, in a dream sequence, she reads the million dollar question to Chumlee.

Vieira appeared in the 2010 film ''Get Him to the Greek'' as herself in a scene where the main characters appear on ''The Today Show''.

Vieira made an appearance on ''The Ellen DeGeneres Show'' as herself in a scene where she wanted to be the 300,000th audience member of the show, but instead was the 300,001st.

Vieira is set to make a cameo appearance in the sixth series finale of ''Doctor Who''.

Personal life

Vieira married Emmy-award winning CBS News journalist Richard M. Cohen on June 14, 1986. They reside with their three children in Irvington in Westchester County, New York. Richard Cohen has had multiple sclerosis since he was 25 years old, and has had two bouts of colon cancer, one in 1999 and one a year later.

Balancing family and career

Vieira joined ''60 Minutes'' in 1989 following the birth of her first child. Don Hewitt, executive producer of ''60 Minutes'', allowed her to work part-time for two seasons so she could care for her child. After that, she would work full-time. But after two years, she became pregnant again and asked to continue the part-time arrangement. Hewitt declined her request, deciding instead to hire someone who would work full-time. Her departure from the show garnered headlines, as a national debate started to take place about whether women could balance both family and career. She turned down opportunities to co-host ''The Early Show'' on CBS, and ABC's ''Good Morning America'' when her children were young.

Vieira discusses her family and career decisions in the book ''Divided Lives: The Public and Private Struggles of Three American Women'' by Elsa Walsh.

Honors

In 2006, Vieira received the P.T. Barnum Award from Tufts University for her exceptional work in the field of media and entertainment.

Career timeline

1985–1989: ''West 57th''

1989–1993: ''60 Minutes'' correspondent

1992–1993: ''CBS Morning News'' co-anchor

1993–1997: ''Turning Point'' correspondent

1997–2006: ''The View'' moderator

2002–present: ''Who Wants to Be a Millionaire'' host

2006–present: ''Dateline NBC contributing anchor

September 2006–2011: ''Today co-host

June 2011–Present: NBC News Special Correspondent

References

External links

Meredith Today Meredith Vieira's official blog at iVillage.com

Goldberg, Alan B. Meredith Vieira talks about husband's MS, cancer battles." ABC7Chicago. February 2, 2004.

Category:1953 births Category:Living people Category:People from East Providence, Rhode Island Category:American people of Portuguese descent Category:60 Minutes correspondents Category:American game show hosts Category:American television news anchors Category:American television reporters and correspondents Category:American television talk show hosts Category:Daytime Emmy Award winners Category:American women journalists Category:NBC News Category:American people of Azorean descent Category:Tufts University alumni Category:Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?

de:Meredith Vieira es:Meredith Vieira fa:مریدیت ویرا fr:Meredith Vieira pt:Meredith Vieira fi:Meredith Vieira

Coordinates	50°8′″N21°0′″N
Post	President
Body	Iran
Insignia	Coat of arms of Iran.svg
Insigniasize	100px
Insigniacaption	Official emblem
Incumbent	Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
Incumbentsince	3 August 2005
Appointer	Popularly Elected
Termlength	Four yearsrenewable once
Formation	February 04, 1980
Residence	Sa'dabad Palace
Inaugural	Abulhassan Banisadr
Formation
Website	www.president.ir }}

The President of Iran is the highest popularly elected official in, and the head of government of the Islamic Republic of Iran; although subordinate to the Supreme Leader of Iran, who functions as the country's head of state. According to the constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran the president is responsible for the "functions of the executive", such as signing treaties, agreements etc. with other countries and international organizations; the national planning and budget and state employment affairs; appointing ministers, governors, and ambassadors subject to the approval of the parliament.

Unlike some other countries, for example the United States, in Iran the office of president does not bestow full control over foreign policy, the armed forces, or the nuclear policy of the Iranian state, which are ultimately under the control of the Supreme Leader.

The President of Iran is elected for a four-year term by the direct vote of the people and may not serve for more than two consecutive terms.

The current President of Iran is Mahmoud Ahmadinejad since the 2005 Iranian presidential election. He was re-elected after the disputed 2009 Iranian presidential election.

Background

After the Iranian Revolution of 1979 and referendum to create the Islamic Republic on March 29 and 30, the new government needed to craft a new constitution. Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, ordered an election for the Assembly of Experts, the body tasked with writing the constitution. The assembly presented the constitution on October 24, 1979, and Supreme Leader Ruhollah Khomeini and Prime Minister Mehdi Bazargan approved it.

The 1979 Constitution designated the Supreme Leader as the head of state and the President and Prime Minister as the heads of government. The post of Prime Minister was abolished in 1989.

The first Iranian presidential election was held on January 25, 1980 and resulted in the election of Abulhassan Banisadr with 76% of the votes. Banisadr was impeached on June 22, 1981 by Parliament. Until the early election on July 24, 1981, the duties of the President were undertaken by the Provisional Presidential Council. Mohammad-Ali Rajai was elected President on July 24, 1981 and took office on August 2. Rajai was in office for less than one month because he and his prime minister were both assassinated. Once again a Provisional Presidential Council filled the office until October 13, 1981 when Ali Khamenei was elected president.

Ali Khamenei, Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, Mohammad Khatami and current president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad were each elected president for two terms.

Qualifications and election

The President of Iran is elected for a four year term in a national election by universal adult suffrage for everyone of at least 18 years of age. Candidates for the presidency must be approved by the 12-member Council of Guardians. Half of the Council's members are appointed by the Supreme Leader and are intended to preserve the values of the Islamic Republic. According to the constitution of Iran candidates for the presidency must possess the following qualifications:

Iranian origin;

Iranian nationality;

administrative capacity and resourcefulness;

a good past record;

trustworthiness and piety; and

convinced belief in the fundamental principles of the Islamic Republic of Iran and the official madhhab of the country. Within these guidelines the Council vetoes candidates who are deemed unacceptable. The approval process is considered to be a check on the president's power, and usually amounts to a small number of candidates being approved. In the 1997 election, for example, only four out of 238 presidential candidates were approved by the council. Western observers have routinely criticized the approvals process as a way for the Council and Supreme Leader to ensure that only conservative and like-minded Islamic fundamentalists can win office. However, the council rejects the criticism, citing approval of reformists in previous elections. The council rejects most of the candidates stating that they are not "a well-known political figure", a requirement by the current law. The President must be elected with a simple majority of the popular vote. A runoff election may be required to achieve this. The President serves for a term of four years and is eligible for a second term.

Presidential council

According to the Iranian constitution, when the President dies or is impeached, a special provisional ''Presidential Council'' temporarily rules in his place until an election can be held. The President automatically becomes the Head of the Council of Cultural Revolution and the Head of the Council of National Security.

Powers and responsibilities

Head of Government and Cabinet

Head of the Council of National Security

Head of the Council of Cultural Revolution

Sends and receives all foreign ambassadors

Selection of Vice Presidents

Oath of office

:''I, as the President, upon the Holy Qur'an and in the presence of the Iranian nation, do hereby swear in the name of Almighty God to safeguard the official Faith, the system of the Islamic republic and the Constitution of the country; to use all my talents and abilities in the discharge of responsibilities undertaken by me; to devote myself to the service of the people, glory of the country, promotion of religion and morality, support of right and propagation of justice; to refrain from being autocratic; to protect the freedom and dignity of individuals and the rights of the Nation recognized by the Constitution; to spare no efforts in safeguarding the frontiers and the political, economic and cultural freedoms of the country; to guard the power entrusted to me by the Nation as a sacred trust like an honest and faithful trustee, by seeking help from God and following the example of the Prophet of Islam and the sacred Imams, peace be upon them, and to entrust it to the one elected by the Nation after me.''

Last election

Iran's tenth presidential election was held on 12 June 2009, with incumbent Mahmoud Ahmadinejad running against three challengers. The next morning the Islamic Republic News Agency, Iran's official news agency, announced that with two-thirds of the votes counted, Ahmadinejad had won the election with 62% of the votes cast, and that Mir-Hossein Mousavi had received 34% of the votes cast. The European Union, the United Kingdom the United States, and several western countries expressed concern over alleged irregularities during the vote, and many analysts and journalists from the United States, Europe and other western based media voiced doubts about the authenticity of the results. Meanwhile many OIC member states, as well as Russia, China, India, and Brazil, have congratulated Ahmadinejad on his victory.

Mousavi issued a statement saying, "I'm warning that I won't surrender to this charade," and urged his supporters to fight the decision, without committing acts of violence. Protests, in favour of Mousavi and against the alleged fraud, broke out in Tehran. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei urged the nation to unite behind Ahmadinejad, labeling his victory as a "divine assessment". Mousavi lodged an official appeal against the result to the Guardian Council on 14 June. On 15 June, Khamenei announced there would be an investigation into vote-rigging claims, which would take seven to ten days. On 16 June, the Guardian Council announced it will recount the votes. However, Mousavi stated that 14 million unused ballots were missing, giving a chance to manipulate the results. On 29 June, Iran's electoral board completed the partial recount, and concluded that Ahmadinejad won the election, amidst protest from the opposition.

The President of Iran is the highest official elected by direct popular vote, but does not control foreign policy or the armed forces. Candidates have to be vetted by the Guardian Council, a twelve member body consisting of six clerics (selected by Iran's Supreme Leader) and six lawyers (proposed by the head of Iran's judicial system and voted in by the Parliament).

The inauguration of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was held on 5 August in Tehran amid protests held outside the Parliament.

See also

List of Presidents of Iran

Vice President of Iran

Politics of Iran

References

External links

The President's Office

Iran's Presidential Office of Scientific and Industrial Studies

Ahmadinejad's blog

Iran Electoral Archive - President

Category:Government of Iran

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