MUMBAI: CNN/US has announced that it has hired four journalists for its San Francisco, Los Angeles and Chicago bureaus. The appointments are designed to bolster the network's broadcasting and newsgathering efforts in these regions.

CNN/US executive VP, GM Princell Hair said, "These new hires demonstrate CNN's commitment to maintaining a deep bench of experienced, versatile correspondents across the United States. They are top-flight journalists, and we are delighted that they have joined CNN. Their deployment will strengthen our original reporting from these key areas, allowing us to develop even more news leads before stories hit the national stage."

Sibila Vargas, formerly of KTLA in Los Angeles, will join CNN's Los Angeles bureau. Vargas will serve as an entertainment correspondent. Ted Rowlands, formerly of KTVU-TV in San Francisco will join CNN's bureau in that city. Former CBS correspondent Christopher Lawrence will be based in Chicago along with Jonathan Freed. Freed was formerly an anchor and editor with the Global Television Network in Montreal Canada.