Soledad O'Brien joins Al Jazeera America

NEW YORK, July 1 (UPI) -- Al Jazeera America says it has hired Soledad O'Brien as a special correspondent.

Deadline.com said the former CNN journalist's production company, Starfish Media Group, will produce hour-long documentary specials for the Qatar-financed cable network.

"I look forward to beginning a relationship with Al Jazeera America, which has made a commitment to producing quality programming and pursuing underreported stories," O'Brien said in a statement Monday.