Soledad O'Brien Becomes Al Jazeera America Correspondent

Soledad O'Brien has landed at Al Jazeera America, the broadcaster confirmed Monday morning.

O'Brien, who was formerly an anchor at CNN, will become a special correspondent for the new network's flagship primetime show, "America Tonight," and will also produce documentary specials. She is perhaps the highest-profile name to join AJA, which has been on a hiring spree in preparation for its launch in the late summer or early fall.

It's a move that makes sense for O'Brien, who ended her day-to-day job at CNN amidst that network's rebranding. Al Jazeera has promised a less celebrity and politics-focused network, something that jibes with O'Brien's high-brow approach to TV journalism. She has also inked a deal to appear on HBO's "Real Sports," and will continue to produce documentaries for CNN.

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