CNN Partners With Essence Magazine

CNN, HLN, CNN.com and Essence Communications, Inc., have announced a partnership to develop What Matters, a series of weekly news segments focused on issues of importance to the African-American community.

The segments will be an extension of the regular news items and features in ESSENCE magazine, as well as the ongoing multicultural programming on CNN.

What Matters is sponsored by McDonald's, who is also the presenting sponsor of CNN's Black in America 2, the sequel series to 2008's groundbreaking initiative. Reported by CNN anchor and special correspondent Soledad O'Brien, Black in America 2 reveals the stories of community leaders and innovative pioneers who are creating solutions to challenges within African-American communities -- closing achievement gaps in education, reducing health disparities, and launching business enterprises.

The two primetime documentaries for the series premiere on Wednesday, July 22, and Thursday, July 23.

The 2009 co-production with Essence Communications, CNN & Essence: Reclaiming the Dream 2, will be filmed on July 4 at the Essence Music Festival in New Orleans.