CBS News Launch Online Live Show 'What's Trending' with Shira Lazar

CBSNews.com has announced the launch of "What's Trending", a weekly live interactive show hosted by television and Web personality Shira Lazar. 

As host and Executive Producer, she will take a close look at the online trends, stories and people who are driving the week's most popular online conversations that are shifting our culture.  Sponsored by AT&T, the live online show will be available every Tuesday (10 AM, PT/1 PM, ET) at www.cbsnews.com/whatstrending.

Every week, Lazar will cover the Internet to find the news, world events and topics that are capturing people's attention, using some of the most innovative social media tools available.  Recently named as one of Fast Company's "2011 Most Influential Women in Technology," she will bring her experience and expertise of using social media to dig deeper into the stories that people are sharing with their friends and families.

For her first show, Lazar interviewed rapper Talib Kweli where he talked about his online conversation last week with Fox over fellow rapper Common's appearance at the White House, the Cali Bone shooting, and the future of music online.  Lazar also welcomed actress and "Dancing with the Stars" contestant Chelsea Kane and political commentator Cenk Uygur from "The Young Turks."  NPR's senior strategist Andy Carvin and political strategist Joe Trippi also joined video chat to lend their expertise.

"More and more people now rely on social media platforms like Twitter, Facebook and others to discover, share and consume their news," said Lazar.  "It's an important change that is happening today and one that empowers and connects people around the stories they want to hear more about.  I'm very excited to be a part of a ground-breaking news show that embraces the way we live online."

As an Emmy and Webby-nominated television and Web personality, Lazar has been the host of some of the biggest live-streaming events on the Web, including the Oscars and the Grammy Awards, among many others.  She joined the CBSNews.com team in September 2009 as a video blogger and Digital Correspondent for the blog, "On the Scene," and is also the host and creator of the "Partners Project" on YouTube. 

"Social media has made a profound impact on the world today; it's connecting people and giving them an opportunity to share their thoughts on the major events happening around the world.  This show was created with this shift in mind," said Mark Larkin, Vice President of CBSNews.com.  "Shira has a passion for social media.  She's a part of the community and has an innate understanding of how people are connecting with each other to share news and contribute to the conversation.  She is the perfect person to bring this innovative new show to CBSNews.com."

In addition to the live weekly show, the "What's Trending" blog (www.cbsnews.com/whatstrending) serves as the central hub, and is constantly updated with video, stories and news trending online.  It also includes ongoing updates from contributors who are experts in their field, including tech guru Chris Pirillo, Social Good expert Beth Kanter, Gov 2.0 expert Alan Silberberg, Social Media scientist Dan Zarrella, What The Trend's Liz Pullen, O'Reilly Radar's Alexander Howard, Boxoffice.com,  Altimeter Group's Brian Solis, Cheezburger Network,  Hollywood.com's Paul Dergarabedian, as well as commentary from The Webby Awards daily newsletter, Netted.  The show will also feature partnerships with companies such as Sulia, who allow the curation of Twitter stories from experts around the world, as well as Buzzfeed, What The Trend, and others.

Viewers can submit questions and comments, and interact live with the show via Gigya's socially connected chat widget, Twitter (@whatstrending), and Facebook (facebook.com/whatstrending).