(2005-01-05) -- Cable News Network (CNN) president Jonathan Klein today announced that his 24-hour news channel would conduct a telethon early next week to raise money for desperately needed news coverage of the aftermath of the tsunami in South Asia.

Mr. Klein said he will personally step before the camera to plead with CNN viewers to "flood the phone banks" with calls pledging money to help pay for the cost of charter airplanes, satellite linkups and industrial-strength hairspray incurred by CNN while reporting from the disaster area.

"The need is great, so we're asking our viewers to open their hearts and wallets to pay for this round-the-clock coverage," said Mr. Klein. "Like any other altruistic agency, our need for funding continues year round but it takes a colossal crisis like this to put a human face on it -- or at least the face of Anderson Cooper.

Despite the urgency of the crisis, President George Bush has not yet made a public statement about the plight of CNN. However, a spokesman said the White House paid its cable bill this month and will assess the need for further contributions when the next bill arrives.