Ali Velshi: How a kid from Northern Secondary became CNN’s chief business correspondent and a trusted voice in these turbulent times

WITH NORTH AMERICA mired in a recession, the auto sector flirting with collapse, energy and gas prices fluctuating by the week and the housing market at extreme lows, money is on the minds of North Americans. That’s especially the case for North Toronto’s Ali Velshi who, as CNN’s chief business correspondent, has become a trusted voice during what is for many a stressful time.

Flick to CNN at any point in the day, and you’re bound to come across Velshi, 39, recognizable in his trademark three-piece suit, distinctive glasses and bald pate, dissecting the latest market fiasco and explaining how to interpret the news.

But with the increased gravity of the times comes heightened responsibility for the man to whom many turn for advice.

“We’ve learned in the last four months here at CNN how seriously people take our reporting, how much they depend on it and how much they act on it,” he says. Because many viewers don’t fully understand the intricacies of the financial system, Velshi says a vital part of his job is converting econobabble into a more digestible form. That’s no small task.

Complete at the source.