'Showdown: Iraq - A CNN/New York Times Special Report' Examines Push for Regime-Change in Iraq; Special Collaboration Between CNN Presents and The New York Times Provides Detailed Look at Multi-Faceted Issue.

Business Editors

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 24, 2002

CNN and The New York Times will jointly report on Iraq for a documentary that will air first on CNN/U.S. Sunday, Sept. 29, at 8 p.m., E.T., it was announced today by Sid Bedingfield, executive editor of the CNN News Group.

CNN Presents' "Showdown: Iraq - A CNN/New York Times Special Report" will re-air at 11 p.m., E.T., on Sept. 29, and again on Saturday, Oct. 5, at 8 p.m., E.T.

The documentary features the reporting of CNN correspondents and Times reporters with extensive experience covering Iraq, the Middle East and the Bush administration's war on terror. CNN's Wolf Blitzer will serve as lead reporter and narrator. Other CNN contributors include Christiane Amanpour, Jane Arraf, Mike Boettcher, David Ensor, John King, Sheila MacVicar, Jamie McIntyre and Barbara Starr. The Times's reporters include John Burns, Michael Gordon, Eric Schmitt and Patrick Tyler.

The program will examine key questions regarding Iraq, including whether Saddam Hussein is stockpiling weapons of mass destruction, whether the United States will go to war to remove him from power, how such a war would likely be carried out and what the possible consequences of a war would be in Iraq and the Middle East.

The documentary will air first on CNN/U.S. and as an encore presentation on Discovery Civilization Channel, Friday, Oct. 11, at 8 p.m., E.T. It will air as part of Discovery Civilization's evening of programming dedicated to the history and context of the situation in the Gulf. Discovery Civilization Channel is co-owned by The New York Times Company and Discovery Communications, Inc.

Additional information on "Showdown: Iraq - A CNN/New York Times Special Report," will be posted on CNN.com the week before the premiere at CNN Presents' companion page located at http://www.cnn.com/CNN/Programs/presents/.

"Both CNN and The Times bring special expertise to this important story," said Bedingfield. "By working together, we believe we can create a program that brings the debate over Iraq into sharper focus for our viewers."

"This partnership with CNN is inspired by our belief that on vital issues we serve our audience best by seeking the widest distribution for our journalism - in print, over the Internet and on television," said Michael Oreskes, assistant managing editor and director of electronic news for The New York Times. "There are few issues more vital than the question of going to war."

About The New York Times Company

The New York Times Company (NYSE: NYT), a leading media company with 2001 revenues of $3.0 billion, publishes The New York Times, The Boston Globe and 16 other newspapers; owns eight network-affiliated television stations and two New York radio stations; and has more than 40 Web sites, including NYTimes.com and Boston.com. In 2001 the Company was ranked No. 1 in the publishing industry in Fortune's list of America's Most Admired Companies. In October 2000 the Company was ranked No. 1 in the publishing industry in Fortune's survey of the Global Most Admired Companies. The Company's core purpose is to enhance society by creating, collecting and distributing high-quality news, information and entertainment.

About CNN

CNN, a division of Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., an AOL Time Warner Company, is one of the world's most respected and trusted sources for news and information. Its reach extends to 15 cable and satellite television networks; three private place-based networks; two radio networks; wireless devices around the world; 12 Web sites, including CNN.com, the first major news and information Web site; and CNN Newsource, the world's most extensively syndicated news service.