Leif Coorlim

Leif Coorlim is an award-winning journalist and executive editor of the CNN Freedom Project. Coorlim has overseen the broadcast of hundreds of stories on modern-day slavery from the network's global headquarters in Atlanta and produces feature programs and documentaries. The CNN Freedom Project is a network-wide campaign that aims to shine a light on the horrors of modern-day slavery and amplify the voices of both the victims and the many dedicated workers fighting to end this global issue. Coorlim has produced a number of award-winning documentaries on human trafficking including, "The Fighters," "Common Dreams," "Slavery in West Africa," "Taking a Stand: Making a Difference," "Trafficked in Plain Sight," "Slavery's Last Stronghold," "A Stand in the Sinai," "Chocolate's Child Slaves" and "Innocence for Sale", which won the 2010 CINE Golden Eagle Award. In less than three years of broadcasting the CNN Freedom Project, CNN has helped free more than 1,000 people held in slavery, won more than two dozen awards industry and humanitarian awards, catalyzed public rallies and government commissions, inspired the formation of grassroots charities, facilitated life-saving surgeries for tortured victims of trafficking, and changed federal laws and business practices from Cambodia to California. Coorlim's expertise on the subject - and passionate storytelling - drives this unprecedented campaign across all of CNN's platforms. Since joining CNN in 2008, Coorlim has crisscrossed the globe producing documentaries and specials for the network such as "Be the Change," "Witness to War," and "Sumatra: Paradise Lost?" Previous to his work on human trafficking, Coorlim oversaw the network's environmental programming, producing both of CNN's long-standing series; "Eco-Solutions" and "Going Green." He's also produced a number of documentaries on the subject, including: "Mirador: The Forgotten City," "The Fall of the Khmer: A Climate Change Catastrophe" and the "CNN/YouTube Debate on Climate Change" at the 2009 COP15 climate conference in Copenhagen. He also has led CNN International's "Impact Your World" segment, an initiative that empowers its global audience to take action and make a difference in response to the stories they see.