CNN's 'global voices' speak out about US election

David Smith, director of Okapi Consulting

Smith lives and works in Johannesburg and is attached to the UN and the African Union. According to CNN's Global Voices campaign, he is particularly interested in what Obama and McCain have to say on foreign policy in the next debate as this will directly affect the people of Africa. He hopes that Obama's Kenyan roots will mean that he has a soft-spot for the continent.

CNN is inviting people to share their views on the US election: "CNN International recognises the global impact of the US presidential election," says Katherine Green, senior vice president of CNN International. "And that is why resources worldwide are being devoted to this initiative, to engage our audiences through platforms like iReport, giving a greater perspective of how this election touches individuals all over the world."

Leading up to the election, CNN International's coverage includes the following:

• iReports: CNN's iReport correspondent Errol Barnett brings viewers iReport submissions from universities in all parts of the world, highlighting their 'campaigns' and asks why the US election is important to them.

• Global Voices: CNN selects six people - each representing a different country, profession and background - to shadow, as election day nears and hear why they are interested in the US presidential election. CNN's Global Voices are Debasish Chowdhury (China); Amanda Berenstein (Mexico); Maria Obelchenko (Russia); David Smith (South Africa); David Forman (Israel); and Nick Jefferson (United Kingdom). The Global Voices appear regularly on CNN international programmes and their full biographies can be found online at www.cnn.com/worldview.

• American Immigrant Series: Airing during the week of 13 October, this special series includes daily reports on the American immigrant view of the election, the candidates and their policies. These reports look at immigrant hotspots like South Florida and Queens, New York and how their communities are preparing for the election as well as the expectations these communities have set for the next president.

• CNN.com/worldview: CNN.com's special section for America
  Votes: Worldview includes special content from CNN correspondents, profiles of the Global Voices and an interactive map where users can see how the US election is impacting major cities around the globe.

• Global Perspective: CNN correspondents around the world regularly report on how the US presidential election affects the people in their regions, but during the week of 13 October, CNN International will focus on a specific region and the major cities within it:

  Monday - Europe (London, Madrid, Moscow, Paris, Rome)
  Tuesday - Asia (Bangkok, Beijing, Islamabad, New Delhi, Tokyo)
  Wednesday - Middle East (Baghdad, Beirut, Dubai, Jerusalem)
  Thursday - Africa (Lagos, Nairobi, Johannesburg)
  Friday - Latin America (Bogota, Havana, Mexico City)

  On election day, CNN correspondents worldwide will contribute live to the comprehensive output from the New York-based CNN election centre, the Washington DC bureau and Atlanta headquarters on how the world views the unfolding results from the United States.