Lisa Ling

To obtain material for her latest documentary -- a look inside North Korea's secretive culture -- Lisa Ling went undercover last June, posing as a medical coordinator documenting the work of a Nepalese eye surgeon who was allowed in the country on a rare humanitarian mission. Ling, a correspondent for National Geographic Channel's "Explorer," gave officials her real name and nationality but did not reveal that she was a journalist.

In a speech last year at Tufts University in Massachusetts, TV reporter Lisa Ling shared one of her own personal FAQs: No, she was not in "Charlie's Angels. " That would be Lucy Liu. Then she told students what shaped her world view. "The best education I have ever received was through travel. You'll become more conversant, poised and smarter," she said, according to Abroad101, a study abroad blog that recapped the speech.  Ling, who hosts the TV show "Our America" on OWN and often reports on CNN, will appear at this weekend's L.A. Times Travel Show at the L.A. Convention Center.

"It is frustrating when people say to me, 'Do you want to be the next Connie Chung?' " says an exasperated Lisa Ling. This type of stereotypical question comes with the territory when you're a young, female Asian American TV reporter. But Chung would hardly seem to be a likely model for this intrepid 24-year-old.

Over the last quarter-century, "The Oprah Winfrey Show" introduced viewers to controversial topics, intriguing guests and Oprah's friends — many of whom later launched their own shows. Some of them reflect on the daytime queen's tenure. Dr. Phil McGraw ("Dr. Phil") Oprah told me one time, she said, "You know what, I'm like a viewer with a microphone, I ask the questions that everyone wants to know the answer to. " That's what I aim to do every episode. To have that in the back of my mind.

Departure: Viewers watching ABC's daytime series "The View" were told Monday that co-host Lisa Ling will be leaving Dec. 5 to become a reporter for National Geographic Television and Film. Celebrity guests will fill in for her until a new co-host is named. Arrival: Tom Touchet, who worked at ABC's "Good Morning America" for more than five years, was announced Monday as the new executive producer of NBC's rival "Today."

The statement posted on the lauraandeuna.com website said it all: "Our girls are coming home . . . we are counting the seconds to hold Laura and Euna in our arms." In some circles the release of journalists Laura Ling and Euna Lee revolved around complex questions of nuclear security and global politics.

The release came suddenly, heralded by a familiar face. In an emotional homecoming Wednesday at Bob Hope Airport in Burbank, journalist Laura Ling told family members and friends about the moment when she and her colleague, Euna Lee, knew they were about to be freed after nearly five months of detention in North Korea. "We feared that at any moment we could be sent to a hard-labor camp," Ling said. "And then suddenly we were told that we were going to a meeting.

In a speech last year at Tufts University in Massachusetts, TV reporter Lisa Ling shared one of her own personal FAQs: No, she was not in "Charlie's Angels. " That would be Lucy Liu. Then she told students what shaped her world view. "The best education I have ever received was through travel. You'll become more conversant, poised and smarter," she said, according to Abroad101, a study abroad blog that recapped the speech.  Ling, who hosts the TV show "Our America" on OWN and often reports on CNN, will appear at this weekend's L.A. Times Travel Show at the L.A. Convention Center.

Over the last quarter-century, "The Oprah Winfrey Show" introduced viewers to controversial topics, intriguing guests and Oprah's friends — many of whom later launched their own shows. Some of them reflect on the daytime queen's tenure. Dr. Phil McGraw ("Dr. Phil") Oprah told me one time, she said, "You know what, I'm like a viewer with a microphone, I ask the questions that everyone wants to know the answer to. " That's what I aim to do every episode. To have that in the back of my mind.

"A queen is not afraid to fail," Oprah Winfrey once said. "Failure is another steppingstone to greatness. " Now the television queen may have a chance to prove the adage. Her Los Angeles-based Oprah Winfrey Network has been hobbled by missteps, ego clashes, a revolving door in the executive suite and, most important, low ratings. OWN's stumbles suggest, at the least, that even in celebrity-obsessed America, fame alone doesn't guarantee success. PHOTOS: 25 great "Oprah" moments The network was born 15 months ago with high hopes of becoming the television equivalent of Winfrey's O magazine.

The release came suddenly, heralded by a familiar face. In an emotional homecoming Wednesday at Bob Hope Airport in Burbank, journalist Laura Ling told family members and friends about the moment when she and her colleague, Euna Lee, knew they were about to be freed after nearly five months of detention in North Korea. "We feared that at any moment we could be sent to a hard-labor camp," Ling said. "And then suddenly we were told that we were going to a meeting.

The statement posted on the lauraandeuna.com website said it all: "Our girls are coming home . . . we are counting the seconds to hold Laura and Euna in our arms." In some circles the release of journalists Laura Ling and Euna Lee revolved around complex questions of nuclear security and global politics.

To obtain material for her latest documentary -- a look inside North Korea's secretive culture -- Lisa Ling went undercover last June, posing as a medical coordinator documenting the work of a Nepalese eye surgeon who was allowed in the country on a rare humanitarian mission. Ling, a correspondent for National Geographic Channel's "Explorer," gave officials her real name and nationality but did not reveal that she was a journalist.

Departure: Viewers watching ABC's daytime series "The View" were told Monday that co-host Lisa Ling will be leaving Dec. 5 to become a reporter for National Geographic Television and Film. Celebrity guests will fill in for her until a new co-host is named. Arrival: Tom Touchet, who worked at ABC's "Good Morning America" for more than five years, was announced Monday as the new executive producer of NBC's rival "Today."

"It is frustrating when people say to me, 'Do you want to be the next Connie Chung?' " says an exasperated Lisa Ling. This type of stereotypical question comes with the territory when you're a young, female Asian American TV reporter. But Chung would hardly seem to be a likely model for this intrepid 24-year-old.

EVENTS Two days of informative and inspiring travel talks and panels featuring a wide array of leading travel experts at the Los Angeles Times Travel Show. Speakers include Arthur Frommer, Rick Steves and Lisa Ling. Additional highlights include a destinations stage, a culinary stage, Xtreme Adventure Zone, a Travel in Style Pavilion and more. Los Angeles Convention Center, 1201 S. Figueroa St., downtown. 10 a.m.- 5 p.m. Sat.-Sun. $10. (800) 448-7775. events.latimes.com/travelshow

The tribe has spoken: Elisabeth Hasselbeck is the new co-host on "The View." Hasselbeck, who made it to the finale on "Survivor: The Australian Outback," was chosen Monday after a three-month search for a replacement for Lisa Ling, the youngest member of the ABC talk show's panel who left last year.