Alison Rudnick serves as Vice President, Communications, HLN (formerly CNN Headline News). Based in New York, Rudnick has held this position since 2014. In this role, she is responsible for directing executive and brand strategy, external and internal messaging and crisis communications. Returning to HLN in 2011, Rudnick oversaw the public relations efforts for network milestones, including morning anchor Robin Meade’s 15th anniversary, the infamous Casey Anthony trial and re-positioning HLN (twice) in five years. Rudnick began her career at CNN in 1996, and would have celebrated 20 years with the company this year, had it not been for (two) other opportunities.

Prior to re-joining the CNN family, Rudnick was Director, Corporate Communications, Discovery where she oversaw advertising sales communications and ratings for the then eight Nielsen rated networks (that’s a lot of numbers). During her tenure, she executed the PR strategy for Discovery Communications Upfronts in locales across the U.S., and was part of the launch teams for OWN, Planet Green and The Hub (two-out-of-three networks now defunct).

Before that, Rudnick worked at WNBC and Hispanic-sister network WNJU, leading the local affiliates' PR and community efforts, including the annual Rockefeller Tree Lighting, NYC mayoral debates and the station’s move to HD. Prior, Rudnick held the position of Manager, CNN, Communications (her second stint) where she oversaw trade press, ratings and the transition of Headline News to HLN. Additionally, she served as Manager, CNBC, during the historic tech bubble burst.

Rudnick began her career at CNN in Atlanta in 1996 where she served as a VJ (video journalist). During her tenure as a glorified newsroom grunt, Rudnick earned the moniker, “Prompter Queen” for her excellent work on the TelePrompTer. In 1998, she joined the CNN PR group, overseeing award submissions, features unit publicity and launched CNN Interactive on the World Wide Web, now known as CNN.com.

Rudnick is cool under pressure, and lives by the motto bestowed to her by her mentor…'it’s cable not cancer.'