21 Facts About Burt Reinhardt

Burton Reinhardt was an American journalist and news executive, who served as executive Vice President of CNN from 1980 to 1982 and the second President of CNN from 1982 to 1990.

Burt Reinhardt was born to a Jewish family in New York City on April 19,1920.

Burt Reinhardt began working as an assistant cameraman for the Movietone News newsreel company in 1939.

Burt Reinhardt served as a combat cameraman with the United States Army's pictorial service in the Pacific theater during World War II.

Burt Reinhardt became Fox Movietone News' managing editor following the end of World War II.

Burt Reinhardt then became the executive vice president of United Press International's television film division, the UPI Newsfilm.

Burt Reinhardt then co-founded UPI's television news agency, United Press International Television News, during the late 1960s.

Burt Reinhardt departed Paramount Pictures to help launch CNN at the invitation of its founder Ted Turner.

Turner, who actively recruited Burt Reinhardt to CNN, later wrote that Burt Reinhardt was "a seasoned professional who knew how to get things done," in his autobiography, Call Me Ted.

CNN was launched in 1980, with Burt Reinhardt serving as the network's executive vice president from 1980 to 1982.

Burt Reinhardt recruited and hired most of CNN's first 200 employees, including Bernard Shaw, who became CNN's first news anchor.

Burt Reinhardt was responsible for all financial decisions made by the network during the first two years of CNN on-air.

Burt Reinhardt would serve as CNN's president for the next eight years.

Burt Reinhardt arranged for CNN to charge other news organizations a price for the reuse of CNN's on-air news pieces.

Burt Reinhardt created to share news with local news affiliates in the United States, later expanding the exchange program to include international broadcasts, including China.

Burt Reinhardt expanded much of CNN infrastructure, including the establishment of approximately twenty news bureaux around the world.

Burt Reinhardt spearheaded live coverage of all Space Shuttle launches during the 1980s.

Burt Reinhardt placed the CNN logo in the lower right-hand corner of the television screen in 1988.

Burt Reinhardt stepped down as president of CNN in 1990 and was succeeded by broadcast executive, Tom Johnson.

Burt Reinhardt died at his home in Marietta, Georgia, of complications from a series of strokes on May 10,2011, at the age of 91.

Burt Reinhardt was survived by his wife of 59 years, Diana Shaw Reinhardt and two children: Cheryl Reinhardt and Gary Reinhardt.