Al Jazeera America announced on Wednesday its new evening newscast anchor: Joie Chen, formerly of CNN and CBS, will lead "America Tonight" when the channel launches Aug. 20.
Trevor Aaronson has been named to its 16-member investigative unit, the channel also announced.
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"I'm thrilled to create world-class journalism with some of the best in the business," Chen said in a statement. "'America Tonight' will bring together the powerful and diverse voices of Al Jazeera America and stand out from other networks with its fearless, unbiased reporting."
"Joie is a strong journalist with a natural, warm presence on screen and we’re excited to see her at the heart of our primetime schedule," Al Jazeera America's deputy launch manager in charge of programs, Paul Eedle, said.
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Chen spent over a decade at CNN and six years at CBS, winning awards for her work at both outlets. Former CNN producer Kim Bondy was named senior executive producer of "America Tonight" in June.
Al Jazeera also announced that Trevor Aaronson has been brought on as an "investigative digital reporter." Aaronson co-founded the nonprofit Florida Center for Investigative Reporting and worked for the state's Miami New Times and New Times-Broward Palm Beach. His book "Terror Factory: Inside the FBI's Manufactured War on Terrorism" was published in January.
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Aaronson's new boss, Ed Pound, the head of the investigative unit, said: "Trevor is a determined, no-nonsense reporter who will shed light on the dark corridors of power in government and uncover abuses of the public trust."
"We are headed to American's halls of power to tell the stories that aren't being told," Aaronson said.
Al Jazeera America made its long-awaited announcement of its new president on Monday. ABC News vet Kate O'Brian will head up the network. Ehab Al Shihabi, Al Jazeera's executive director in charge of international operations who had been overseeing the American version's launch, will stay on as the channel's interim CEO.